THE STRIPES APARTMENT

The Stripes Apartment by Martini Design Studio is located in Tirana, in one of the most quiet residential neighborhood, that maintains a very low profile. Located near the lake of Tirana dam, in a not very new building, but surrounded by greenery, aromatic pines and chirping birds, despite the fact of the present traffic chaos. The exterior of the building has a simple, modest taste and aesthetic. Meanwhile, when you enter inside you are faced with a surprise: a contemporary, clean, minimalist architecture, but able to convey color and emotion.

“For a long time, we were looking for a suitable place where we could create a calm and simple atmosphere” – say the owners of this apartment.

And to help them, for the realization of this project, they chose to collaborate with Ingrid Martin, known in the Albanian capital as one of the architects with a clear and distinct style in each of her works.

“It took time and attention to reach an optimal variant, based on the requirements, preferences and lifestyle of the new occupants of the apartment.” – says Ingrid.

The first time we went to the building to see the apartment, the previous occupants had just left and the house had a good, beautiful, tribal “scent”. Although there were still the existing furniture, lighting fixtures, etc., its atmosphere suited the new residents. Therefore, it was decided to keep some of the previous finishes, such as parquet, doors. It just took a trained eye to bring them back to adapt to the new situation.

The utilization plan, taking into account the time and way of previous design, was maintained as it was, with some minor modifications. One of the two toilets accessed from the hallway was linked with the matrimonial room. Space was added in the hallway in order to make room for a coat stand, which the apartment lacked. Also a small storage room for cleaning environment and related accessories.

Whereas, the style of the interior, after some consultations to understand the tastes and preferences of the owners of the house, it was decided to give it a calm atmosphere, in terms of combining colors and finishes, having a specific preference for a natural palette .

Also, the decorative elements were chosen to be as essential and simple as possible. Practically, “stripes” were selected as a basic element of minimalist decor.

Therefore, it is no coincidence that we see the used stripes on the main wall of the living room, in the lights over the large dining table, in the large bedroom, on a wall with dimensions that do not leave you indifferent, conceived in glass and wood and also on the lids that cover the storage at the entrance of the apartment.

It is the persistent demand for clean lines and meticulous attention to detail which make the decor intertwine with the architecture as a whole, a sign that the aspirations of the owners are intertwined with the vision of the architect. By the force of simplicity.