30 square meters (320 square feet) is not much to work with in the first place, but with slopes on all sides it sounds nearly impossible.

The trick is to make the best possible use of even the low-ceiling areas, tucking in sinks, counters, seating and beds (all with views to draw the eye outside), while leaving open space for walking in the center. A clever space saving design incorporates lost of built-in elements and visual tricks.

Dutch architects Queeste Architecten (images by Teun van den Dries) created this third-story apartment to be an autonomous floor, sleeping two and seating more, with storage tucked into every possible nook and cranny.

A generous allocation to fenestration combined with bright white surfaces keep the space feeling light and open.

“Maff Apartment is a hotel room located on the third floor in the attic of a private house in The Hague. The client and owner lives in the same building. A communal staircase provides access to the apartment, which functions autonomously from the rest of the building. The limited floor space of 30m2 has been equipped with the following functions: – a sleeping accommodation for 2 people; – a dining area for up to 4 people; – a kitchen; – a toilet; – a bathroom with shower; – an installations area; – various storage facilities.”

“The goal of the design was to create a living environment that would be spacious despite the small volume, providing all the comforts belonging to luxurious contemporary lodging. In addition, Maff Apartment was to have a clear and strong identity to provide a sense of uniqueness for its users. The various areas are grouped around a central open space, where one enters the apartment.”

“The installations area, the toilet, the washbasin and shower are located at the rear (north-east) of the apartment. Brushing one’s teeth at the washbasin, one has a view of a central courtyard through a small garret window. The kitchen links the two parts of the apartment across the central living area and is bathed in a breathtaking amount of daylight, which floods into the apartment through 4 large skylights. Adjacent to the kitchen, a dining area has been placed as a continuous sofa encircling a table. “