ACompactHomeRebornonGellértHill

This hidden gem in a 1920s Stadtvilla on Gellért Hill has been completely reshaped—energetically, spatially, and atmospherically. What once felt like a narrow, dark cave has been transformed into a generous, bright, and warm home with a distinctly Scandinavian, modern, yet cozy character. Soft wooden surfaces and clean whites are complemented by room-specific accent colours, giving each space its own personality.

Designing a fully functional two-bedroom family home for four on just 67 m² was the core challenge. Every millimetre was used with purpose, resulting in meticulously crafted built-in furniture tailored to the family’s needs. A highlight of the project is the foldaway bed, which converts the bedroom into a bright, peaceful space for yoga and exercise.

The apartment’s spatial composition subtly references Adolf Loos’ Raumplan: interconnected spaces on varying levels, linked through small sets of stairs and offering differences in ceiling height depending on function and position.

To enhance openness and daylight, the roof was opened and fitted with new roof lights, while bedroom galleries further developed the stacked-space principle, maximising usable area and introducing playful verticality.

Sustainability and circular thinking were central to the intervention. The main staircase was crafted from leftover CLT, upcycled from other Equinox Design+Build projects—an expression of our commitment to circular economy principles. Energetic performance was improved by installing triple-glazed windows, insulating the interior facade and roof, and eliminating gas entirely. The new water–air heat pump paired with underfloor heating provides efficient hot water and heating, and can even deliver gentle surface cooling when needed.

The result is a light-filled, efficient, and emotionally warm home—proof that even the most compact spaces can unfold beautifully with thoughtful design, craftsmanship, and sustainability at heart.