This apartment, designed from scratch by architect Alexandru Oprița from MRPK, is the definition of contemporary luxury: minimalist lines, neutral tones, and many hidden solutions that emanate a distinct elegance.
The apartment is located on Șoseaua Nordului in Bucharest, and its renovation took three years. Design Radar contributed with architectural lighting solutions, sockets, switches, doors, baseboards, blinds, tables, and chairs.
The living area, separated from the kitchen by a glass door, utilizes all three types of lighting:
1. Ambient lighting
As the name suggests, this type of light ("ambient lighting") creates the mood of a space and influences the state of mind of those using the interior.
"In an apartment, you need to have a VIBE. We can go classic, turn everything on, make it look extremely bright, but, from my point of view, it's not necessarily in the best taste, or we can place specific lights, in a controlled manner, so we can play with light and shadow," architect Alexandru Oprița expresses his vision on lighting.
For ambient lighting, the following Design Radar solutions were used here:
- the Infinito system by Davide Groppi, an ultra-thin strip made of special stainless steel, only 18 mm wide, which "cuts" through the space to produce indirect light;
- wall sconces arranged on the sides of the painting, like a frame of light.
Aden black wall sconce, Design Radar
In the bedroom, we also find multiple sources of ambient lighting: recessed spotlights ("invisible") for circulation areas, track lighting with adjustable spots for a play of light and shadows, and black wall sconces with a narrow beam angle above the nightstands.
2. Accent lighting
To highlight a piece of furniture or decor, we use accent lighting. Our favorites are invisible spotlights, because they disappear completely into the ceiling surface. They create a special decorative effect while remaining completely hidden from view. The spotlights have different angles, allowing them to illuminate narrower or wider sections.
Invisible spotlights with hidden trim, Design Radar
The group of three statues in the corner of the living room is illuminated by a track lighting system with adjustable spotlights, which channels light toward the desired area without glare.
"We have three statues, made by a local artist, and we have three spotlights directing light onto them from three angles, so that each statue multiplies into three shadows," the architect explains.
3. Task lighting
This light category has a functional role and is used to illuminate areas or objects required for an activity: a countertop, a desk, etc.
In the dining and kitchen area of this apartment, for the dining space, three Stick pendant lights from Arkoslight, part of our portfolio, were used.
Stick 48V is a pendant light consisting of an extremely thin vertical line.
Other minimalist solutions in the apartment
For a contemporary minimalist look, Shadow Gap profiles made of aluminum were used in all spaces for both the ceiling and the floor. Used at the junction with the ceiling, they do not reduce the ceiling height like outdated coves and create a floating wall effect. As an invisible baseboard, they are easier to maintain and clean than classic baseboards.
The doors in the apartment are concealed frame doors (filomuro) by Next from Albed Italia, to create the effect of a continuous wall.
The horizontal wooden blinds are produced in Romania. Beyond their practical role, they have a distinct ambient effect, require less maintenance, offer numerous usage scenarios, and provide increased privacy.
As for furniture, products made in Italy or pieces custom-made by local suppliers were chosen. The dining table and chairs are from Calligaris, via Design Radar. The Elle swivel chairs have black legs and finishes in neutral tones, and the Cameo dining table has a ceramic and bronze glass top: the dark finish matches the rest of the decor.
If you have a project for an apartment, restaurant, office, or any other space, we can help you for free with state-of-the-art solutions and systems, plus architectural lighting consulting. Contact us or visit our showroom in Bucharest.
Video: GrosuMedia
