This Brunswick Studio by RN+S is an Example of the Transformative Power of Colour.

This fifty-one square metre Melbourne studio apartment has received a transformative makeover by RN+S with little more than a lick of paint. Offered by Milieu and Neometro in collaboration with Fieldwork and Design Office, the space came with a minimal yet considered fit-out that allowed the architect to devise a residential space full of energy and individuality for himself.

The apartment shell came with generous 3.4m off-form concrete ceilings, timber oak flooring and extensive glazing that opened onto a full-width balcony. With meagre space available the team chose to highlight each function and exaggerate the sense of separation between the different areas.

With this in mind, colour was used dramatically. In the hallway, algae walls and ceiling define the arrival space only interrupted by a burnt orange bathroom door, an intense contrast as you round the corner. RN+S worked the pigmentation the hardest in the confined areas not only to accentuate them but to also offer a clearly defined variation to the living areas.

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In the tall open plan space, the wall colour takes a step back with a natural paint chosen to compliment the cool concrete ceiling. Central to this space is a floor-to-ceiling custom-made room divider in black, with back panels in the same algae and burnt orange, matching with the hallway and bathroom. This installation along with some bespoke cabinetry is key to the spatial arrangement of the interior, defining the various functions of the dwelling—bedroom, dining and living.

While still small in plan, the space now feels much larger. The apartment’s strong and distinctive personality is delivered thanks to a simple configuration and a calculated and compelling use of colour.

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[Images courtesy of RN+S. Photography by Jack Lovel.]