Changing Housing Market
As people regard a house as a unit of living, not a concept of real estate- a means of property, they are trying to fulfill dreams of building an own house in the busy city and want to enjoy a daily life in there.
Of course, this change in perception is important. But the most valuable starting point is that the price of an apartment as a representative housing type in the city center is THE same as the construction cost of a small single house.
As mentioned above, the obstacle to build small houses are lowered than before and the housing market is also expanding. Simultaneously, the groups of designers and builders with a sense of vocation let the work come true and such a good atmosphere forms affirmative mood in the market.
Changes in Family Members
The change of residents’ number also forms a suitable situation to build a tiny housing. All kinds of changes like the number of family members, and various forms of families; single people, DINKs, and not-aged-couples that live separately with their children are also one of the main reasons why interests in small houses are emerging rapidly.
A small house is a physically tiny sized house. It creates a multi-purpose space by overlapping small living spaces. It is planned so that one-or-two residents of can use the space efficiently together in the reduced minimum living unit. To more than 3 people, the minimum living unit is expanded. This is because the private boundaries are further expanded in the residence. This small-scale change in family members creates proper conditions for a small house.
Misconceptions about the Cost of Construction
We need to correct the misconception that a small house means “low construction cost”. A multi-story structure in a small space to replace the horizontal space in a small house, results in a longer construction period than a single-story house with the same single floor area. And also due to the narrow space of the work space, more temporary or incidental costs besides the actual direct costs increases the construction cost per unit area. For the same reason, we should not think the construction cost would be as low as the limited area of the small house.
Creation of Small Town Houses in a City
As an alternative to building an own house in the city center, the commercial housing depends on the size and the location.. Therefore, the decision of usage and section zoning (composition of the program) are reviewed in detail from the beginning. In particular, the ratio of each usage becomes very important in order to create a small house + a commercial complex (small commercial house) that expects profits on a small-scale land.
If the one or two story shopping mall ratio is raised for profitability, the housing ratio will decrease in proportion to the increase in the common area. Moreover, when the main gate of the house would be on the upper story on purpose, fatigue with single-sided zoning stairs is increasing. On the other hand, if you expand your housing ratio, the profitability will decrease.
After all, balancing both the size of the house (one's living space) and the size of the shopping mall (profitability) is the first step to plan the small house with shops.
Making Outer Space Inside of a Small House in the City (Window Optimizing)
Generally in case of windows as functional limited inner space, we put them as a room on the functionally suitable place. However, if you consider the functional aspects as well as the spatial and relational ones, we have to change window planning.
Most of all, when it comes to a window as a boundary, we consider outside situations like nearly buildings, suitable view, and a scale of skylight. In addition, we think thoroughly the other inner places((L↔D↔K, MR↔L, and so on), too. Scheming expandability, we balance the relationships among windows. After feedback of the rhythm and proportion of outer window, finally we can make the starting point of elevation.
To build small houses, we need more delicate plans because of lack of the physical space. In the limited inner space, windows become a conception of an opening and closing in harmony with an outer space. Hence, windows can be a room and also a method to expand a small space visibly only after organizing the relation between places.
Residential floor plan_3F, 4F, RF 3 floors
- 3F bedroom + bathroom + powder room (dry sink + laundry + dryer)
- Planning Flat composition by reflecting functional resident usage patterns from the residential entrance on the 3rd floor
| Entrance > Powder Room > Wardrobe > Bathroom > Washing Machine > Bedroom
- By creating a hierarchy with the depth of the space in the direction of entry from the 3rd floor entrance to the bedroom, secure privacy in case of guests’ visit
- 4F (L+D) +K Independently, kitchen is located between the outdoor deck and L+D, split level 450
- Locating common space on the top floor to secure the most buildable height in semi-industrial areas.
- Setting the stairs of the RF outdoor deck from the kitchen to make better use of a space
- Planning a compact kitchen using the 4F K 450 split level
Team:
Architect: TIUM Architects
Photography: Lee Hanul
Structural Engineer: Synergy Engineering Consultants
Mechanical Engineer: CODAM Technology Co
Electrical Engineer: J&Young E&M
Constructions: THEPLAN Construction
Material Used:
1. Facade cladding: Stucco
2. Flooring: Wood flooring
3. Windows: PVC system window / Low-E insulated glass
4. Roofing: Pre-coated metal roof
