Cities have become incredibly overcrowded—so much so that you might think that most of the space in them has been used up. But there are a lot of narrow spaces between buildings and in vacant, awkwardly shaped lots which are just getting wasted. But do they need to be wasted? Definitely not!
There are some intrepid urban architects out there finding creative ways to utilize these awkward, seemingly cramped spots and transform them into livable spaces. One of those brilliant architects is Mizuishi Architects Atelier in Japan. Just wait until you see what they were able to do with a narrow triangular lot next to a river!
As you can see, the tiny house is constructed in a narrow lot which tapered to a point. Naturally nobody else thought that they could squeeze a proper house into this little section of lot. How wrong they all were! Here you can see another angle:
And another:
Below is a view from across the street. Notice how there is a big picture window in each of the walls so that the light can shine straight through. You will discover when we get to the interior shots how this increases the sense of space and prevents the home from feeling cramped.
Now we are walking up the steps to the front door:
In standard housing design, the kitchen and living room are downstairs and the bedrooms are upstairs. This tiny house turns that layout upside-down. When you walk into the house, you actually reach the bedroom first. It looks anything but cramped!
The Helm—2-Story Container Home close to Magnolia Market
Notice how a sense of openness is maintained by choosing not to partition this area of the home. You also note how there is a large gap in the ceiling above the stairs, allowing in some light and a sense of vertical space.
Now let’s head upstairs into the kitchen and dining area. There is a cathedral ceiling, which helps to again provide a feel of openness and plenty of space despite the narrow walls. From here you can also see the little loft, which has been converted into a play area.
Remember those large windows that we saw from outside? Here is a view which shows you one of those windows from the interior, looking out on the same street we were standing across from before.
Here is another view of the kitchen. Just because you live in a tiny house doesn’t mean you need to work in a cramped kitchen!
Check out this angle to really get a feel for what those big picture windows do. This room is all space and openness. Looking at this room, I feel totally envious! It looks amazingly cozy!
Now we are looking down from the loft for an overhead view of the kitchen:
Here are a few photos of the loft:
And let’s take one more look at the exterior of the home, this time at night. Now that you know just how incredible the interior is, you really get a comfy feeling looking at the lights shining through the windows. Isn’t it also interesting how the tapering lot almost gives you the sense of a houseboat?
Be sure to visit Mizuishi Architects Atelier at the link below!
Architect Page: http://www.miz-aa.com/
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