Fle·ibility of Spaces 公寓丨埃及开罗丨Omar Abdelkhalek

Interior designer Omar Abdelkhalek renovated the Flexibility of Spaces apartment in Cairo, Egypt to create an adaptable living area. Designed in 2023, the home mixes modern elements with classic features such as folding doors. The open-plan space is easy to reconfigure, featuring a central living area that connects to a bedroom, kitchen, dining, and reception through sliding doors. A wooden storage spine adds flexibility and functionality, serving as both a practical element and a visual focus.

Omar Abdelkhalek’s Flexibility of Spaces apartment in Cairo, Egypt, was designed to accommodate the daily needs of its residents, creating a versatile and adaptable living environment. The designer’s aim was to transform traditional enclosed spaces into a continuous, interconnected area that adapts to a family’s daily moods and functional needs.

“Flexibility allows the apartment to adapt to various moments and uses, adding diversity and comfort to everyday life,” Omar Abdelkhalek told ArchDaily. To achieve this, the traditional layout of the building was redesigned, removing unnecessary walls to reveal the full potential of the space. This allowed Abdelkhalek to rethink the interior and maximize functionality.

The original design included a large reception area, dining room, closed kitchen, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. For a small family of two adults and a child, at least two rooms were unused, which created a feeling of rigidity and wasted space. The team removed all the dividing walls to create a more fluid and flexible layout. Abdelkhalek placed the living room in the center of the apartment, serving as a “main artery” to connect all the additional spaces. Today, it adjoins the master bedroom, the kitchen, the dining room and the reception area.

The simple pieces of furniture chosen by Abdelkhalek provide a sense of unity and avoid visual clutter. To complement the new layout, Abdelkhalek introduced a clever design feature: a “spine” that runs through the apartment, housing storage spaces for all the rooms. This element acts as a functional and visual focal point, while maintaining the elegance and calm of the design. The wallpaper decorated with wood patterns enhances and defines this element.

A central feature of the design is the introduction of folding doors, which can be opened or closed as required to transform the space. With the doors open, the apartment becomes completely open plan, creating continuity and space, ideal for parties or large family gatherings. By closing the door between the living room and bedroom, one member of the family can enjoy tranquillity and rest, while maintaining some connection with the rest of the apartment.

Abdelkhalek’s strategic use of white paint throughout the apartment provides a neutral backdrop and emphasizes openness and serenity. In addition, he opted for raised furniture with legs, which creates a feeling of lightness and transparency in the spaces.

Combining functionality and aesthetics, the Flexibility of Spaces apartment offers a new way of thinking about residential interiors. It demonstrates that, even within familiar forms, intelligent design can provide greater utility and livability for modern living.