A home within a room, this self-contained bachelor space maximises function within a tiny footprint, playing on visible versus hidden through a system of finely crafted, removable timber panelling.

Contained within the four walls of a bright Sala Nobile, Oggi’s Box_Room is a timber, monochromatic box that sits in the most prestigious room of a Sliema Townhouse. Its panelled sides and traditional proportions harmonise with its host surroundings, while its inner contents are hidden at first sight.

Removable panels are folded and stacked away by hand into the sides of the structure, unveiling the space held within. Once opened, a divan appears, working in visual harmony with a lounge chair and ottoman outside the box. Climbing inwards, a bachelor’s desk and library are revealed, with appliances and storage for accommodating daily needs organised behind foldable timber panels. Cold drinks, a coffee maker, whisky collection and selection of neatly hung jackets and shirts are all held within cleverly concealed compartments. A staircase is built into this arrangement, ascending to the roof of the box, which houses the sleeping area – reminiscent of elevated Japanese bedrooms.

Stemming from the client’s desire to make use of an under utilised room, initial design attempts considered the insertion of a mezzanine floor into the Sala Nobile’s four metre-high interior space. This idea was abandoned in favour of a more innovative solution – a compact, multi-functional volume that celebrates logical use of space and the beauty of fine carpentry.