A Meditative Reset: Inside a Reimagined Apartment at Gardens of Beijing

Sometimes an interior begins not with a clear idea, but with a quiet unease – a sense that everything has already been done, yet nothing truly works.

This was the feeling that brought the homeowner of a nearly completed apartment to Artimitro studio in 2021. Construction was almost finished and only furniture and decoration remained, yet the closer the move-in date approached, the clearer it became that something was missing. On paper, the layout appeared convincing. In reality, the space felt fragmented: passages were tight, some areas lacked space, and shifting ceiling heights disrupted the rhythm of the entrances. None of these issues were dramatic on their own, but together they unsettled the apartment as a whole.

A Home Designed for Restoration

The 120-square-metre apartment, located in the Gardens of Beijing residential complex, was conceived as a space for restoration, designed to slow life down. The idea was simple: the interior should appear as a place of liberation. The layout of the building shows the complexities of grandeur, with proportions that are similar to Stalinist-type of architecture, while its name subtly hints a bit of Asian influence. The designers took it upon themselves to distil the feeling into the atmosphere.

Quiet Interiors, Carefully Composed

The living room reflects the calmness and sensibility of the project. The seating area centres around a generously placed Baxter sofa – initially questioned for its unconventionality, but ultimately one of the apartment’s most comfortable pieces. Furnishings from Henge and lighting by LucePlan accompany a large artwork by Li Chevalier, whose Beijing roots subtly echo the project’s overall narrative.

Opposite the seating area stands a stone wall that evolved significantly during construction. Glass display cases which were originally planned for this area were replaced by a monumental plaster bas-relief by Kimart studio. Stretching more than five metres across the wall, the hand-crafted piece now acts as the conceptual heart of the interior.

Reworking the Architecture

The greatest transformation came through the layout.

Today, entering the apartment immediately reveals the full volume of the living room – the space is clear from the first moment. To achieve this, the designers abandoned the usual strategy of hiding structural supports. Instead, the columns became part of the composition: one left exposed, others subtly highlighted with lighting.

A continuous axis now runs along the line of windows, linking the living room, study and master suite. Stone flooring and a lowered ceiling with slim black lighting tracks mark this path, tying the apartment together. When sliding partitions open, the full width of the room its three windows are revealed at once, creating the rare sensation that the interior expands rather than confines.

Spaces That Flow

The kitchen is intentionally minimal, created not as a working hub, but as a quiet backdrop to living. Custom cabinets integrate appliances from Miele and Liebherr into a single composition, while a bespoke island is home to an induction cooktop with an integrated downdraft extractor from Swiss brand V-ZUG. It is a kitchen designed more for breakfasts and appetisers than elaborate cooking.

Two walk-in wardrobes extend this architectural story. Finished in dark wood, metal and glass with soft lighting, they form part of the apartment’s circulation. Moving through them connects the bedroom with the living areas along the window axis, reinforcing the sense that the apartment flows rather than divides into separate rooms.

Moments of Expression

Some rooms introduce stronger sculptural gestures.

The guest bathroom, positioned opposite the entrance, was designed to create an immediate impression. A full-height mirror expands the space, while a freestanding cylinder sink and dark storage form a careful composition. 

In the study, a custom metal shelving structure defines the room. Weighing nearly 800 kgs, its installation was an engineering challenge, but the piece gives the space a slightly industrial character.

The master bedroom is the apartment’s most private and emotional space. A suede Minotti bed, layered textiles and tinted glass create a darker, softer environment. The connecting bathroom remains visually connected through glass partitions and a floating stone console, allowing the bedroom and bathing areas to feel like one continuous environment.

Invisible Technology

Behind the simplicity lies advanced engineering. A Control4 smart-home system manages lighting, climate, sound and blinds throughout the apartment.

The technology remains deliberately discreet, just like the home itself.

What began as a frustrating almost-finished apartment ultimately became a project defined by clarity. By stripping everything back and starting again, the designers created a home where architecture, technology and atmosphere finally align.

Credit

Photographer: Nikita Teplitsky

Styling: Artimitro

Artimitro Team:

Head / Designer: Artur Mitroshkin

Art Director / Architect: Margarita Doktorovich

Architect: Yana Evseeva

Procurement Manager: Olga Tarbо