Micro-Escape by the Sea
2023
this project tells the story of a longing for retreat on the smallest scale. the 12.6 sqm holiday apartment on the adriatic coast was designed for a working couple who wanted to recharge by the sea while working remotely for several weeks. the tiny flat proves: luxury is not a matter of square meters, but of design.
every centimeter contributes to enhancing the holiday atmosphere: sensually staged materials and colors, fluid transitions between living, working, and sleeping zones, cleverly concealed functions. the result is an apartment that adapts to the rhythm of the day – a calm workspace in the morning with views of the red rooftops and the sea, and in the evening, a retreat where light and colors shift, and the sky becomes part of the interior through the window. here, luxury is measured not in square meters but in atmosphere.
the color scheme draws on le corbusier’s 1957 architectural polychromy. muted tones convey calm and relaxation, while targeted accents of color and pattern bring vibrancy to the space. the design is rooted in evidence-based insights from neuroaesthetics: colors, materials, and proportions were chosen to radiate comfort, suggest spaciousness, ensure orientation, and relieve the senses. even the client’s 80-year-old, visually impaired mother can move about safely and enjoy an independent holiday here – a concept grounded in the principles of universal design.
our tiny project also convinced professional juries: the “micro escape by the sea” was selected in 2025 by callwey, bdia, ait, md, baunetz, and schöner wohnen as one of the 50 most beautiful residential concepts (best of interior 2025) and was also honored by the expert jury with the universal design award 2025. this recognition confirms what we felt from the very beginning: even the smallest spaces can feel expansive when designed with unconventional ideas, attention to detail, and sound scientific knowledge. a tiny apartment that demonstrates how architecture can touch and positively influence people in their everyday lives.
find out more about the awards:
https://www.callwey.de/buecher/best-of-interior-2025
https://www.universal-design.org/micro-escape-am-meer
