Houzz Tour: A Tiny, Narrow House Gets an Ingenious Makeover
With a space of only 2.1m wide to play with, it’s mind-boggling just how much was squeezed into this skinny city home
When it came to renovating this apartment in the centre of Madrid, nothing discouraged the owner, a creative advertising executive. Neither its size – 21 sq m – nor the fact that it was narrow and on the first floor, with no other light source than a skylight opening into an internal courtyard, got to him. He could clearly see the problems, but the advantages, such as the 4.75m height, prevailed.
With the help of MYCC Oficina de Arquitectura, the owner created a surprisingly spacious home. Take a look at the incredible results.
With the help of MYCC Oficina de Arquitectura, the owner created a surprisingly spacious home. Take a look at the incredible results.
The entrance, which now houses the kitchen, is one of the few areas of the house that has been left at its original height. This project made the most of each downward-gained metre through a clever distribution of the different living areas.
The study has also been left at its original level. It’s located right under the only natural light source in the home: a skylight opening to the internal courtyard of the building. The mezzanine can be accessed only by a fixed wall ladder.
As with many other elements in this house, the mezzanine study is multi-purpose: just rolling out a futon there can turn it into either a chill-out corner or a bedroom for an unexpected guest.
This is one of the advantages of the project. “The height of the space has been used to create a great number of rooms,” says Casares. “Each room is well demarcated while maintaining a visual connection with the rest of the home.”
This is one of the advantages of the project. “The height of the space has been used to create a great number of rooms,” says Casares. “Each room is well demarcated while maintaining a visual connection with the rest of the home.”
There are gaps between each room, both vertically and horizontally, so the transition from one space to another is not only clear, but “can also be realised in a physical way”, according to the architect.
“Going up to the kitchen from the living room or down to the bedroom – both of which are located next to the living room, but on different levels – emphasises the transition and provides a different perception of each single, independent area, along with the home as a whole.”
“Going up to the kitchen from the living room or down to the bedroom – both of which are located next to the living room, but on different levels – emphasises the transition and provides a different perception of each single, independent area, along with the home as a whole.”
The living room is the core of the home, both vertically and horizontally. Steps lead down to the lower levels on either side (occupied by the bedroom and the bathroom), as well as up to the kitchen.
The space under the living room deserves special mention – it’s been equipped to be a storage unit, which can even house the bed when extra space is needed in the bedroom.
Discover ways your home’s architecture can give you more storage space
The space under the living room deserves special mention – it’s been equipped to be a storage unit, which can even house the bed when extra space is needed in the bedroom.
Discover ways your home’s architecture can give you more storage space
The storage unit is accessed through a trap door in the living room floor. This area and two roomy cupboards, one at the entrance and one in the bedroom, provide plenty of space to stash everything from clothes to crockery to exercise equipment.
See 10 clever ways to fit a wardrobe into a small bedroom
See 10 clever ways to fit a wardrobe into a small bedroom
A few more steps lead from the central living room up to the kitchen. Despite the obvious size restrictions of the property, the design is generous, since it allows for a lot of space and many different rooms.
The bathroom is cleverly arranged. The bath is the standout element and was made on site. A half-height wall holds a basin and toilet, and behind is a shower, with storage in the corner behind the bath.
“The construction and finishing were simple, as white dominates the whole space,” says Casares. The use of smooth, minimalist finishes is a constant throughout the whole project.
“The construction and finishing were simple, as white dominates the whole space,” says Casares. The use of smooth, minimalist finishes is a constant throughout the whole project.
The home is a true brain-teaser, so a 3D model is the most useful way to get an overall idea of the different elements involved.
“The idea of light structures at different heights, which make it look as if you could almost jump from one to another, has always been present since the first sketches and somehow evokes a feeling of the old platform computer games,” says Casares of the inspiring idea for this complex project.
Could you live in a space this narrow? Tell us what you think of the design in the Comments below.
“The idea of light structures at different heights, which make it look as if you could almost jump from one to another, has always been present since the first sketches and somehow evokes a feeling of the old platform computer games,” says Casares of the inspiring idea for this complex project.
Could you live in a space this narrow? Tell us what you think of the design in the Comments below.
Who lives here A creative advertising executive
Location Madrid, Spain
Size 21 sq m
Architects Carmina Casajuana, Beatriz G Casares and Marcos González of MYCC Oficina de Arquitectura
Before its restoration, nobody could see in this narrow, first-floor apartment anything but a hole extending several metres into the ground. “We couldn’t do anything else; the floor had almost disappeared in an attempt by the previous owner to find some extra space in the only possible direction – downwards,” says architect Beatriz G Casares.