LittleDiggs

INSPIRED BY ORIGAMI

Barcelona
529 sq ft (49 m sq.)

Ok, not quite less than 500 sq. ft. but almost, plus, it's full of useful nooks and crannies. Inspired by Japanese origami art; one wall separates all functions of the apartment. When the designer create the wall the apartment already had a shell of simple concrete walls. While contemporary, the interior still retains some rustic elements.

The presence of the separation wall can be felt from the entrance and throughout the apartment, imbues a feeling of movement and hidden spaces due to its diagonal form.  The apartment design with all its elements makes the small space look much bigger than it is.

 

+ DigsDigs

THE MINIMUM HOUSE

Architect: Makoto Koizum
538 sq. ft. (50 sq. meters)
Japan

Reknowned Japanese architect Makoto Masuzawa designed this small, elegantly simple house in 1952.

The reason for its tiny size is that after World War II, the housing corporation of Japan would only provide loans to build homes that were no larger than 50 square meters.

If you had the means to build a bigger home, you were perceived as being wealthy and not in need of a loan.

The Masuzawa house was dubbed "the minimum house," but Makoto Koizumi, who reintroduced the house to the current Japanese market, said this is a misnomer.

"It should be called the maximum house," he said. "Despite its small space, Masuzawa-san's creativity made the house seem open and spacious."

In 1999, a structural model of Masuzawa's 1952 house was shown at an exhibition in Japan, and Shu Hagiwara decided he wanted to live in such a house and commissioned Koizumi to design a space based on the original blueprint.

Shortly after the home was built, it attracted attention not only from curious onlookers but also from the Japanese media.

Yasuyuki Okazaki, the head of commdesign, a Japanese design firm, took notice and realized that consumers, fed up with drab household design, would be interested in purchasing similar models.

He began selling the house online in 2002.

Branded the "9-tsubo home," it can be purchased for ¥10.9-¥14.6 million ($98,000-$146,000, but that's irrelevant since as of now they're only sold in Japan), and takes 5-6 months to construct.

+ 9tsubo House

'BIG' LITTLE HOUSE

Berkeley, California
540 sq. ft.
Architect: John Hopkins

As if designing a 540 sq. ft. house wasn't enough of a challenge, architect John Hopkins had a 12-ft. height limit and a protected California live oak on site to preserve. Hopkins integrated the live oak into the deck design which ultimately served to make this little house feel big. The deck extends the outdoor space while creating a welcoming entrance into the house. All the doors in the house are 8 ft in height and you'll also notice his generous use of glass which also helps to maximize the light and create a sense of open space.

Hopkins consistently used elements and details that gave this small home a feeling of largeness from every perspective. Starting with the front door which is 8ft in height w/ single glass pane — the over proportioned door helps to open up the space while letting natural light in. Hopkins also incorporated ceiling height windows — again, to allow maximum light in while opening up the space visually.

In the kitchen, Hopkins utilizes a combination of visual tricks which visually expands the space; the cabinets have space between it and the ceiling, while the counter cabinets are on legs so the floor is disappears beyond and not defined by the cabinets. Additionally, he incorporates smaller appliances that take up a smaller footprint. All of the home's hot water needs are met with a tankless water heater which is located on an exterior wall to save space on the inside. Hokins was also able to create a built-in office/work desk!

The living room has a floor to ceiling built in unit that serves as a display case, storage, and entertainment unit. It also frames a small but powerful gas fireplace which has a furnace rating — it's the only heat source in the house. Throughout the house there are beamed ceilings which adds to the openness.

Onto the bedroom — there's a walk-in closet with a single unit washer/dryer. Again, you'll see a repetition of ceiling height windows, as well as a single glass paned door that open up onto the deck.

Hopkins integrated a wall of glass blocks for create privacy while again, maximizing the natural light into the space.

Floor Plan:

+ Hopkins Studio
+ Watch a video tour of the house

OPENING UP A 500 SQUARE FOOT APARTMENT

SOHO, NYC
500 sq. ft.
Architect: Adam Kushner of Kushner Studios

One of the best things about showcasing small living spaces on Littlediggs is the opportunity to demonstrate value and potential. At just over $700K, in a nabe where 2 bedrooms can go for $1 million, this two bedroom, 1 bath, 500 sq. ft. is a steal. Architect, Adam Kushner, created an oasis in an otherwise trapped spaced apartment with boxed in layout, cramped quarters, and outdated in every respect. Kushner lays out a central functional/utilitarian structure which serves to create space and divisioin between the living space and the bedroom. To create more space, Kushner extends some of the windows to become terraces, as well as a sleeping space. I've mentioned the use of extended spaces as a trend in a previous post. Because the space is small, the cost for renovation is nominally low – approx. $150K.













+ Architect: Adam Kushner / Kushner Studios
+ New York Times Real Estate: NYTimes
+ New York Times Photographer: Rudy Washington