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Balance, Design December 27, 2011

Treehugger: World’s Thinnest Home Includes a Home Office

By


Aristotle said “No great genius was without a mixture of insanity.” Marcel Proust wrote “Everything great in the world is created by neurotics. They have composed our masterpieces, but we don’t consider what they have cost their creators in sleepless nights, and worst of all, fear of death.”


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

Comments (19)

Design by and for people without kids!!!

very unique. If we keep using up our space like we have been we will be forced to live this way. I look forward to enjoying life under my own fig tree.

I know! I think this is a pre-kids abode. Can’t imagine my two kids plus our dog, cat and fish sharing this space.

For a single person or couple, maybe, but there’s no shower or tub! How would you wash up completely!?

You know, not everying in the civilized world revolves around children and families.

You are right! The great thing about design is it can respond to us at all our different life stages…this home is definitely pre-family. Maybe a series of interconnected modules would broaden the scope of the project. I think the main purpose of this design, though, is not to be a house for everyone. It’s there to make us think about how we use and mis-use our urban spaces.

Good question! I guess if there’s just one of you and you never entertain there wont be too much washing up!

or you could just move out of the city, there is life in the suburbs, god forbid. City living is over rated and we are obsessed with the urban. Cities are over priced, noisy and don’t start me on the air pollution you breath. This place would drive you nuts, you can’t even get in the bed without climbing over the frame, ridiculous. Imagine have friends over you. You couldn’t even lift the cat let alone swing it, glad it is just an idea.

and no before anyone starts i can’t spell or string a sentence, just woke up sorry. This house sucks

So glad you are reading us when you just wake up! Love that…and I live in the suburbs so I know what you mean. But I do think higher density living is more sustainable – although perhaps not this dense!

Why is this unique? This is a fairly common theme in many cities around the world; I was in he “Skinny House” in Amsterdam and that was in 1967. This is just a remake of past efforts with a few modern gimicks thrown in.

http://weburbanist.com/2007/10/05/cramped-urban-living-9-of-the-narrowest-city-houses-in-the-world/

Interesting idea. Obviously not for couples/entertainers/children. I just wish the ventilation, lighting and outer surfaces were better resolved. It could be so sleek, so what is with that bulbous front edge? Also, why no shower?
Lastly, is the design meant to be modular? (other units to stack on top with slight variations in layout) Otherwise, why limit to triangular shape?

I agree with Cerentha’s comments about the purpose of the design. It isn’t a house for everyone, nor does it need to be. I question whether or not it could ever be called a “home”. Could anyone truly be comfortable enough in this space to call it that?

I believe there is a shower in the WC; the shower head with hose on the wall and the water drains below; shown in the section/elevation view.

Great Idea!!!! I could have an apartment in different cities at low cost.

oh please i bet it would have a high turn over of residents as it would send you mad.

If you put a glass wall on it, you’d feel like you were living inside an ant farm.

Daisy
http://www.sandiegocubicles.com/blog/

Oh, I don’t know about this. Just watching the model even makes me claustrophobic. It’s just far too thin compared to my current space, which is in one of condos in downtown Austin. Though it’s a great idea and is sure is really useful for those who wouldn’t mind the thin space.

Violet
http://www.theaustonian.com

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