Perhaps that’s why Jakub Szczęsny designed this hermitage, this “studio for invited guests – young creators and intellectualists from all over the world.”- it will drive them completely crazy.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of living in small spaces. I write about them all the time. But the Keret House is 122 cm (48.031″) at its widest, 72 (28.34″) at its narrowest. I know people wider than that.

I will admit that it has some clever attributes; I like the way the stair pulls up and the treads go flat so that you can use it as living space. It does use space efficiently. But it only has two dinky windows and an even dinkier skylight, for no discernible reason. It’s like living in a squished ping pong ball.

Jakub Szczęsny would be an architectural hero in Flatland, but here in Spaceland, it is nice not to have to walk sideways. More images at Archdaily and an interesting take from Robert Krulwich on NPR.

By Lloyd Alter.

Images via Centrala
Other unusual home work spaces:
1. Cargo Container Backyard Studio

2. Treehouse

3. Concrete Tube’s Turned into Living Spaces

“There’s big and then there’s Houston BIG. In a city known for embodying the idea of gigantic Texan proportions, Chris Nguyen’s extremely modest sized 500 square foot apartment is an anomaly. It also happens to capture exactly everything we hope to showcase here on Unplggd: a small space with an excellent eye for incorporating technology with carefully considered style, all with homegrown solutions. The space may be limited in space, but it’s rich with inspiring ideas for home theater, wireless audio, and creating a flexible living space which suits a self-described “technologically inclined and obsessed individual.”

For more images and the full interview go to Unplggd.