Third Wave Architects opted for restrained colour and material palette in their overhaul of Apartment in Minsk, which is set within a 1950s residential block.It had previously featured a dark and "cellular" layout where rooms were only accessible via a single corridor.

The floor plan now comprises a single open-plan living space – one half plays host to the sitting room, while the other has the kitchen. A double bedroom is set off to one side.Walls are covered with ash-coloured plaster, complemented by pale grey soft furnishings and sheer curtains that are hung in front of the street-facing windows.

Wood veneer with an oxblood-red stain features on kitchen cabinetry and two sliding doors that slide across to give additional privacy to the bedroom. The wood was also used to create the wardrobes and headboard in this room.There are a few touches of metal, in the steel tap faucets and a pendant lamp that is suspended above the dining table.