MM is a loft in Bilzen, Belgium, rebuilt by C.T. Architects in 2012. The project converted a former ground-floor storage space in a historic commercial building into an accessible apartment. The plan is only three meters wide and thirty meters long, so the home uses an open, carefully sequenced layout: living room, dining area, a narrow corridor with the kitchen on one side and the bathroom on the other, and the bedroom at the end. The spaces remain connected to one another, but sliding wooden panels can separate them when needed. Daylight enters from the street-facing windows and from sliding doors that open to a terrace at the rear. Rather than treating the rooms as separate boxes, the design creates an evolving sequence of spaces that takes advantage of natural light and views of street life.
Modern apartment for a wheelchair user
The modern apartment was designed for a wheelchair user without looking institutional. Materials in the living and sleeping areas create an elegant, calm atmosphere. The dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, and storage are built into the walls and hidden behind rough-sawn oak sliding doors. At the push of a button, the kitchen cabinets can be lowered so everything is reachable from a wheelchair; the cooking area can also be concealed completely.
Modern apartment equipped for special needs
A similar strategy is used in the bathroom. Large panels separate the toilet, shower, sink, washer, and dryer; they can rotate to hide the laundry area and reveal the shower, or to open both zones. Almost all of the furniture is custom made, giving the resident comfort while meeting Belgian accessibility requirements. The dining table seats five, includes shelves at both ends, and extends into a corner of the kitchen. The bed, combined with a floating seat, contains the technical functions of a hospital bed, including adjustable height for the whole bed, head and foot adjustment, removable side rails, and electronic controls for both the bed and other devices. These controls are hidden in a nearby custom lamp, which also serves the bed and desk.
narrow corridor
Custom furniture
Small kitchen with dining area
Appliances hidden in the wall
Mood lighting
Hallway to bedroom
Open design
Theresa V. Adams
Peter Dark
miranda_shida
Yolande A. Bow
