Everyone needs their own personal space. However, the cost of housing is constantly rising. As a result, tiny apartments are gaining popularity in many countries around the world. How small can the smallest apartment be, and where is it located? Today, we'll take a look at the homes of ordinary people, not the rich and famous. So, let's get started!
Our top 5 list of the smallest apartments in the world:
Studio in Madrid - 28 sq m
A small apartment that was once an office space until recently has two advantages: its location in the historical center of Madrid and high ceilings (3.5 meters). However, it also has its drawbacks, such as
- a small area and only one window
- it is impossible to divide the apartment into rooms.
Interestingly, during the space transformation, the client insisted on having a separate bedroom and was strongly against a sofa bed. The architects at Beriot Bernardini, who were responsible for the project, had to work hard. In the end, they managed to overcome all the drawbacks. They proposed leaving half of the space as it was (creating a spacious and bright living room) and transforming the other half into a two-story space ("mini-loft").
They divided the total height of 3.5 meters into two levels of 2 meters and 1.5 meters, allocating them to functional areas. This allowed the apartment to contain a kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area, hallway, and even a full 2-meter wardrobe. Almost the entire "mini-loft" was made in a carpentry workshop from plywood sheets and assembled on-site in just a couple of days. Due to the fact that each functional zone is connected with a spacious "window" to the large and open living room, there is no feeling of tightness despite the small size of each separate part of the "loft." According to the architects, the "windows" on the façade of their designed "mini-loft" gave depth to the space, which is often lacking in small apartments.
Apartment in Paris - 8 sq m
The smallest apartment in Paris was designed and built by Kitoko Studio designers. In 2014, the company surprised everyone with its project. The apartment, with an area of 8 sq m, is located in a prestigious area of the city in an old building. The mini-apartment was created from an abandoned room for servants, which are now rarely used for living, often becoming storage rooms.
The designers faced a challenging task - to turn a room the size of an average kitchen into a fully functional living space, albeit without a high level of comfort but with all the necessary functional zones: a sleeping area, a kitchen, and a shower. So, when you enter the apartment, you'll see a transformer wardrobe in front of you. On the left side, there is a sliding staircase that houses shelves for storing things and books. Climbing the stairs, you'll reach a relatively spacious sleeping area.
On the right side of the sliding stairs, there are cabinets for storing clothes, and further to the right, there is a pull-out dining table. Next to the window is the kitchen, and to the left of it is a full-sized and, it should be said, quite a good shower. The quality of the interior finishing deserves a special mention - it is of high quality. All joints fit perfectly, and the level of materials ensures a long period of use. By the way, designers compare this apartment to a Swiss knife - compactness, functionality, and quality in a single design. The apartment is designed for the residence of only one person: a dining area for one, a single bed, and even cutlery for just one. It's hard to imagine how two people could fit here. However, it's worth giving credit - the project is truly impressive.
Apartment in America - 6.3 sq m
The rental housing market offers an attraction of unprecedented generosity: apartments on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City, are rented for $950 per month. Of course, there are pitfalls the size of the Statue of Liberty. The most important thing to know is that the living space is 6.3 sq m! With your permission, from now on, we will put the word "apartment" in quotation marks.
Somehow, in an area comparable to the kitchen of a Soviet Khrushchyovka apartment, they managed to fit a refrigerator, stove, sink, and built-in wardrobe. The only window is located on the ceiling, so the owner won't be able to charge extra for the view. As you may have already guessed, the staircase is the only way to the bed (better to call it a sleeping area) under the ceiling. And that's not all! The "apartment" is located on the fifth floor of a classic stone building with no elevator. However, this is not such a serious drawback compared to the fact that the bathroom will have to be shared with the occupants of other apartments on the floor, and it will even need to be cleaned in turns with other residents.
Apartment in Poland - 2.5 sq m
In Krakow, there is an apartment that is considered the smallest not only in Poland but in the entire world. Its area is only 2.5 sq m. Nevertheless, the apartment always exudes real comfort and coziness. However, those who suffer from claustrophobia should avoid entering it.
The apartment is for rent, and there is simply no shortage of people who want to stay there, which is not surprising at all. The apartment doesn't even have windows, and it may seem like the walls are ready to crush the inhabitant, but at the same time, the space is very bright, so there is no particular discomfort from living there.
The apartment itself is two-story. The entire second floor is occupied by the bedroom. However, you'll have to sleep on a mattress rather than a bed, but it's so soft that it doesn't cause any particular difficulties for the residents. Downstairs, there is a kitchen with a microwave, an electric kettle, a chair with a table, a cupboard with dishes, and a sink. Next to the kitchen is a bathroom with a toilet and a shower. You can go up from the first level to the second via a convenient staircase.
Apartment in China - 2 sq m
Hong Kong is a city with a multimillion population and a huge contrast in people's living standards. The reason for this is that many Chinese people live in very small rooms, similar to our storage rooms. This solution to the housing problem is due to two factors: urban overcrowding and incredibly high housing prices.
"Living cages" have been assessed by the United Nations as an affront to human dignity and, accordingly, condemned. However, this fact does not change the essence of the issue, unfortunately. Currently, about three hundred thousand people have such living conditions, and this is the only alternative for them.
To rent an apartment in Hong Kong, you will have to pay 35% more than, for example, in New York. And this is despite their small size of only 2 sq m. In some cases, you can find an "apartment" with an area of 5 sq m, which is considered a luxury. The most interesting thing is that the monthly rent for this tiny "apartment" ranges from $250 to $350 US dollars. We all know that the country's population increases significantly every year. People need somewhere to live, and unfortunately, there is no more space. In order to somehow support their citizens and provide them with personal housing, the authorities found a solution by building tiny room-apartments.
As for Cypriots, they are real lucky ones! And this is not a joke!
You are unlikely to find small-sized housing on the Island of Aphrodite. According to official statistics, the average area of the smallest apartments here is 45 sq m, and the typical house is 141.4 sq m.
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