Compact living
An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about compact living
Project • By INSADA Integrated Design Team • Apartments
L Residence Micro Apartment
As urban density continues to increase across Indonesia, compact apartments have become an increasingly important housing typology for young professionals. Rather than viewing limited floor area as a constraint, this project explores how thoughtful interior architecture can transform micro living into a comfortable and highly functional everyday experience.
Designed by INSADA Integrated Design Team, these two show units, measuring 18 sqm and 22.5 sqm respectively, demonstrate how intelligent planning, multifunctional furniture, and restrained materiality can maximize the potential of compact residential spaces without compromising comfort or quality of life.
The first unit is an 18 sqm studio apartment conceived around the idea of Urban M... More
Project • By kit | architects • Private Houses
Tower House
In a Swiss village just beyond the picturesque city of St. Gallen, Kit Architects has reinterpreted local vernacular with Tower House: a family home for four built from prefabricated timber and assembled onsite in just three days. The architects explain that the three-storey home demonstrates "how industrialised construction can enable resource-conscious and high-performance residential architecture." The result, contemporary in form and environmentally conscious in construction, sits in perfect harmony with the surrounding built landscape.
Till Forrer
Till Forrer
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Location
The building is located on a triangular site at... More
Project • By Studio Arte architecture & design • Offices
Digital Nomad Studio
Digital Nomad Studio apartments. It was a puzzle to create this on 32m2 . An urban hideaway in the center of Portimao, to be rented on the condition that you are creatively connected. It's based on mini housing concept for Digital Nomads, keeping it minimal yet multifuncional. All functions are hidden and integrated, giving extra space.
Zavial Studio
Zavial Studio
Zavial Studio
The apartments are designed to maximize space utilization and keep all functions hidden and integrated, giving extra space to the residents. These studios are an excellent choice for those who want to live a minimalist lifestyle, as they offer everything one needs in a small space. From a fully equipped kitchen to a cozy bed and a workspace, eve... More
Project • By studio203 architects • Housing
Studio Reuss
GADIGAL COUNTRY. A compact secondary dwelling above a new carport set amidst Glebe’s prime Heritage buildings as a contemporary interpretation of Reuss Street’s simple historic stable forms.
The brief for a “granny flat” in its literal meaning evolved over the course of the project into flexible small-scale living. Plus a steel-framed awning and exterior joinery to the rear of the existing home.
David Haseler
A simple material palette of Cemintel Barestone with matching Colorbond roof and Danpalon walling to the rear keeps focus on the form of the surrounding historic stables. The modern, non-traditional garage-top studio envelope together with the proposed 2 1/2 storey height and uncovered historic pipe... More
Project • By eNJOY architects • Individual Buildings
K33 Student Residences
K33 Student Residences is a 4-apartment building located in the heart of Thessaloniki above the campus. It is an example of making the most of a 68sqm plot to get a 206sqm building.
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Fundamental questions about site, context and compact living have been the driving forces behind the design of K33 Student Residences.
eNJOY architects
Almost half of the building’s footprint is dedicated to the vertical movement and the rest is organized to the student apartments. The latter have been conceived as compact dwelling units that anticipate a balance between the student’s nomadic life, the minimum requirements for a contemporary home and the relationship of private and public space. Each unit is about 23-25sqm a... More
Project • By Brette Haus • Hotels
Brette Haus in Hollenbek
On the 15th of September 2022, the Brette Haus showcased its brand new folding house in Europe. The “Rustic 20 XL” was installed in Hollenbek, Germany.What is it?
This is a 30 sq.m. tiny wooden house for hospitality accommodation. It was developed and manufactured in March 2021 in collaboration with cross-laminated timber manufacturer WIGO Group.
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The key feature of this cabin is its compact transportation size. The folding feature allows optimizing delivery two times. Three modules are connected with hinges and fold inside each other. Thus, no air is transported only multiple layers of the cabin. This is a game-changer for hospitality businesses because delivery usually adds 10-15% to the price.There is a ground f... More
Project • By F:L architetti • Private Houses
Countryside Chapel
The project involves converting a former chapel in the country into a 25 sq m mini-loft surrounded by greenery focusing on the uniqueness of small space living. A concept of living outside of space and time in contrast to many extreme demands of modern life. The project underlines the concept of simplicity to transmit the idea of essentiality in living: small space and compact living becomes a choice, both in terms of lifestyle and design.
Beppe Giardino
In terms of architectural design this means a deep attention to detail: every single element in the space, as well as every living relation, looking for a perfect balance between objects, materials and functions. The project develops a peculiar spatial arrangement where space subdivis... More
News • News • 20 Dec 2021
Brooks + Scarpa’s Magnolia Hill presents a model for more compact, responsible living in Los Angeles
On the site of a former gas station in Los Angeles, Magnolia Hill is a 19-unit mixed-use multi-family building comprising three storeys of flats and a double-height mezzanine loft apartments. Designed by Brooks + Scarpa, the project is a model for more compact, responsible living.
Tara Wujcik
A perforated aluminium façade creates the effect of an ever-changing screen that sparkles in the sun and then glows at night. The perforated nature of the façade also serves to enhance privacy, while still allowing for views outwards, good quality natural light and the site’s prevailing winds. Perforated aluminium is also used strategically on screens to the east, west, and north-facing walls, lending the exterior a... More
Project • By Co in Collaborative Lab • Apartments
Slow Hill , Micro Apartment
This 25sqm studio apartment is located in the center of the business district in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, where most of the city's foreign embassies and the tallest skyscrapers are located in the area.
Having limited space to accommodate the needs to live and work and the same, the owner commissioned the local design studio Co+in Collaborative Lab to come up with a tailored design solution for the apartment to fulfill all basic living functions and adaptive with remote work lifestyle.
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The main design challenge is to create generous storage spaces to avoid the visual clutter of the small-size apartment. Within the enclosed space, the client also wants to have a multifunction space that allows the space t... More
Product • By Dizzconcept • Pop-up kitchen PIA Nova
Pop-up kitchen PIA Nova
It takes only 1,6 m2 of space to place this two door cabinet with TV which opens up to a fully functional kitchen. It can be placed in a niche, against a free wall or free standing in the centre of space. To achieve full functionality, it is necessary to provide water, electricity and network connections. These connections can be pulled from anywhere in the width of the back of the kitchen.
Design brief at first was a kitchen for singles who work intensively and live in small apartments. Even though they often eat out and don’t want the kitchen occupying a lot of their space, they do need a quality food preparation area. During the development and presentation of the prototype, it became clear that this product has a much wider area... More
Project • By STAR strategies + architecture • Universities
Minimum Housing
How to add more programme without increasing the surface?
Spain has suffered in recent years from an incredible rise in the cost of a square metre of housing. Housing regulations are adapting to allow smaller minimum sizes for apartments as it becomes unaffordable to buy and to rent for ever more people. The University of Zaragoza plans to build 500 new apartments for students and guest teachers following this change in regulations, and fixing apartments with one bedroom at 30 m2, and two bedroom apartments at 37 m².
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To fight these rising costs we propose a growth in space (m3) without increasing the floor area (m²). The plan will remain as small as possible, while finding new opportunities in the section. This will... More