England

July 13, 2015

YO! Home So Small You Gotta Put Your Bed on the Ceiling

When I posted about the YO! Home prototype apartment a few years ago, I was impressed with its features: the big lounge, the hydraulic table and seating that sprung from the floor and, of course, the Darth Vader-worthy bed that dropped from the ceiling. But I also thought it more architectural confection than viable design. It was too flashy, too complex and, frankly, at 800 sq ft for what was effectively a studio apartment, too damn big. But like all prototypes, the YO! Home was and is a work in progress, subject to refinement and tweaking. Well, since we last looked at the YO! Home, Simon Woodroffe and his YO! Company have been doing a lot of tweaking…their prototype apartment that is. Their YO! Home Prototype 2 is subtler, simpler and smaller than its forebear, looking ever closer to something people would want to live in.

YO! Companies has some big ambitions for the little apartment, seeing it fulfill an important role in the global urban real estate market. YO! Home Managing Director Jack Spurrier wrote to me in an email, “YO! Home aims to transform the way we live. Space is at a premium in city centres around the world. YO! Home simply expands that space, and acts as the reinvention of the urban apartment, offering a completely new concept for compact living. The global recession has given rise to an additional compelling factor–funds for home buying are severely limited, therefore buyers are seeking maximum value (and space) for their money.”

The new apartment has evolved quite a bit from the first. Spurrier said that the moving parts were tested and re-prototyped where necessary to ensure they were reliable enough to be marketed to the public (more on that in second). There was a major aesthetic overhaul, making the whole thing look a lot less flashy. Instead of various shades of red and purple, the new apartment has a muted color palette of whites and woods, giving a clean, less polarizing look.

The apartment retains most of the functionality of the previous apartment, but at 430 sq ft, it is almost half the size. The whole interior sits on a raised platform, which houses storage as well as a telescoping dining table and seating area that hide completely when not in use. The lounge and sofa are half sunken into the platform, reducing the visual noise on the floor’s plain. There is still the same bed that descends from the ceiling to cover the ample lounge area. I’m still not convinced this setup is preferable to a wall bed considering the added complexity, though it is a big win for people who don’t like making their beds. It also frees up wall space for more storage. Speaking of, the walls are covered with tall cabinets as well as a hideaway desk and pocket kitchen.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the apartment is that it will be the basis for an upcoming building in Manchester, England. The building will be made with 24 prefabricated units based on the Prototype 2’s design. Spurrier said that, “The size, space, layout and moving parts or ‘tricks’ are right in Prototype 2. There may be tweaks here and there for the Manchester YO! Homes, but these will be minor, and more likely aesthetic as we continually improve the look and feel of design details such as colours, finishes and lighting.”

If what Spurrier says proves to be true, this could be a pretty big news for transforming, compact architecture. While there have been a number of compelling furnished micro-apartments brought to market, most are fairly conventional in their execution. They are more or less well laid out studios with wall beds, built-in storage and appropriately sizes appliances and fixtures.

YO! Home is something altogether different. There aren’t many apartments that look or act like it, and if there are, they certainly aren’t for sale in quantities of more than one. Simon Woodroffe grandly said, “Since the invention of the city centre apartment, we’ve never really re-invented it. YO! Home is that new invention.” Looking at its elaborate design and clever features, I’m inclined to agree and look forward to seeing how the project unfolds.

Keep up with YO! Home on their website, Facebook and Simon’s Twitter.

June 16, 2015June 15, 2015

Posh and Compact Flat in London

Got a million bucks (£695K) burning a hole in your pocket and looking for some awesome compact digs in London? No, neither do I, but if I did, I would totally consider buying this 501 sq ft apartment by Italian architects Archiplan Studios currently up for sale (well, it might be in contract, but maybe another couple hundred grand would sway things in your favor).

One whole side of the long and narrow space is fitted out with a continuous bank of uber-high quality looking (cherry?) floor-to-ceiling millwork. This bank houses a small, closable kitchen in the main room and lots of storage in both the main and bed rooms.

The bedroom has the bed sitting on a box, which appears to have more storage.

The cherry continues into the bathroom, which has several cabinets made of that wood. By far the most interesting aspect of the bathroom, is its, um, sink, which is a wood grate (over a drain presumably). It looks nifty and has a very sleek, shallow profile, though I’m not sure if it’s an improvement on the porcelain bowl..I’m actually pretty sure it’s not an improvement.

Funny enough, even though the $2100/£1387 per sq ft seems outrageously high, a quick search reveals that it’s far from abnormal in the Hatherley neighborhood where the apartment is located. Considering its location, the amount of built-in furnishings and its top notch design and construction, this little apartment might just be a bargain (for some).

HT to Karina D

Images Credit Archiplan Studio

October 1, 2014October 1, 2014

Tiny House, Big City

Tiny Houses, as popularized in the news, are typically trailer-mounted and set up either in someone’s backyard as an ADU or are plopped out in the middle of the country. For obvious reasons, throwing them in the middle of an already-dense cityscape is an unlikely scenario. This tiny house in London is funky little exception. While not trailer mounted, its 188 sq ft dimensions and lofted layout are reminiscent of many tiny houses we’ve seen on this site.

The house has a pretty clever configuration with a stairway that descends onto the kitchen counter, a seating area perfect for lilliputians and the loose-jointed, under which are storage areas. There’s a loft bed up top with some built-in storage. There’s a wet bathroom that would look about right in an RV. The windows and light-colored walls make the space feel pretty inviting.

The space is located in London’s desirable Islington neighborhood, which explains the house’s £275K price tag (US$448K). This price translates to $2300 sq ft, which is about $1K more per sq ft than the neighborhood’s average. But in terms of total costs, you’re unlikely to find anything cheaper in the area.

What do you think? Great little deal in awesome neighborhood or big ripoff for tiny digs?

November 22, 2012June 27, 2013

Man Goes Into Deep End in Quest to Edit Life

Each week we are profiling real people who are editing their lives for more freedom and happiness. This week we hear from Mike, who is giving up his spacious Bath, England flat to live out his dream, living aboard a 42 ft “Gentleman Cruiser” motorboat, while creating a simpler, more financially sane life.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Mike. I’m 52. I work as an IT consultant, part time film extra (you can see me briefly in Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix) and occasional performance artist (Captain Teapot, I took part in a project on the empty plinth in Trafalgar Square in 2009). I’m single and currently living in the UK in the Georgian city of Bath.

What makes your life an ‘edited’ one?

My life is becoming an edited one due to my imminent move from a large apartment in Bath, ceiling heights nearly 12 ft, living room and bedrooms are both 18 ft x 14 ft, built in the late 1700’s. I’m moving to London and I’ll be living on a motorboat that is only 42 ft x 12 ft with a ceiling height of 6 ft. There is no room for freestanding furniture, but there is some built in furniture, a table and 3 bunks and of course a shower and galley kitchen.

living rooms now and later

How long have you been living this way, and do see yourself continuing to live this way?

I’ve been living in houses and apartments all of my life. I’ve never lived on a boat before, but have sailed a little. I see my move to the boat as a long term one, perhaps a permanent one. It was motivated by a long held dream of a life afloat and by the fact that property prices in the UK are too high.

What are the biggest advantages of living this way?

Advantages are more money and time, as most of my work in the past has been in central London I’ll be able commute using public transport and on good days I’ll be able to walk to work.

What are the biggest challenges?

The biggest challenges are the reduced space, plumbing aboard a boat is not as straightforward as it is in an apartment, water has to be pumped aboard. Also I’ll probably have to move the boat on a regular basis, residential moorings in London are difficult to find so I’ll have to relocate every few months for a while until I can find one..

Do you think you could maintain this lifestyle with a family?

It could be done with a family, but I’d need a bigger boat.

What is the number one suggestion you’d give to someone looking edit their lives?

Look carefully at what you think you need. If its been sitting in a box out of sight for years, you don’t need it. I had many items that belonged to my youngest brother who died several years ago, a castle and soldiers I bought him for Christmas when he was 8 years old, and some of his personal items. I was keeping them for sentimental reasons but realised that he wasn’t in them. He’s in my heart, in me and always will be. The things are ultimately not important and now someone else can enjoy them. Items that belonged to him I gave to local charity shops and I had a home sale that enabled me to sell most of the furniture and other items I’ve accumulated over the years and a poster for the film ‘Charade’ has gone to an auction in London.

What item(s) have made your lifestyle easier?

A computer has made a big difference, CD’s, DVD’s and even books are no longer neccessary now that they can be stored on a laptop that fits into a small bag. Also the fact that I’m currently single has helped. I’m the only one that I have to consider, it wouldn’t be quite so easy with a partner or family.

Do you have any design or architectural suggestions derived from your lifestyle?

A boat is made for a purpose, size is limited and there’s a purity to it that I like, also there is a little romance about life on a boat. I intend to do a little work to her and will have good quality fabrics etc on board and I can do that because the boat is small. I’ve lived in many different places over the years but could never afford to decorate them properly, corners were cut and the sheer size of the places meant that decorating was almost a never ending task. With the boat I can decorate easily and afford to do it well.

Anything else?

If your looking for boats for sale in the UK www.apolloduck.com. For information about moorings www.bwml.co.uk.

September 26, 2012August 28, 2013

The LuxPod: Micro-Unit from Across the Pond

Japan, with its one-room-mansions and Kyosho Jutaku homes, gets a lot of attention for small space living, but England deserves recognition as one of the small-space-living world capitals. The country is packed–the densest in Europe in fact.

According to The Guardian England has no minimum space standards! While this doesn’t create a lot room for storage, it does leave room for innovation…or, as The Guardian suggests, developers looking to pulp every dollar from every square foot.

Like the fellow London Yo Home! flat we looked at last week, we think the LuxPod falls in the innovative category. The experimental space was built in 2008. According to LuxPod’s website, it’s 11 sq m/118 sq ft, which is by no means the smallest space we’ve seen, but it’s pretty damn small. It was initially used as a vacation property. It is not clear what it’s being used for now (we’re looking into it).

It’s really an impressive little space. The finishes are top notch. There are a number of cool features like a retracting countertop that creates a dining bar. There’s a cool “wet” bathroom. All of the appliances and furniture look high end. The layout–as far as a 118 sq ft spaces go–is great.

The important thing to note about micro apartments like these is they are not intended for everyone. For example, when this author moved to New York City 11 years ago, 118 sq ft of my own would have been palatial. As there was nothing like this available, I had to share an illegally divided apartment with 4 other people. Two of the bedrooms had no windows.

There is a worldwide market for small spaces. Many people, like my younger self, want a clean space for themselves in major cities and beyond. Now it’s a matter of making them available, livable and affordable for the people who need them.