What to do if you've got a 20 foot wide plot of land and want to build a home on it? Make the most of it! This 16-foot wide home--dubbed "The Shaft"--is a two and a half story structure that makes the best of its tiny footprint. See the interior, after the jump.
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This isn't really a new idea. Just go to Japan and you will see thousands of these types of homes, though the interior is different.
My parent's house is only about 18 feet wide. It doesn't look anything like this however. It is really unassuming.
2 and a half stories? What's on the half story? A door to Milla Jovovich's brain?
I'd guess at least half of all Chicago apartments are between 16 & 20 feet wide. It's small, but not craaaazy narrow. My apartment's interior width is 19 feet.
It's not even any narrower than its neighbors to the right (in the photo).
I don't think the impressive thing is supposed to be that it is 16 feet wide. I think what's impressive is how they used that footprint to the fullest while being efficient and eco friendly. I like it.
Single-wide mobile homes are about that wide.
But it's definitely pretty!!
As the owner of a 14-foot wide Philly row home, I'm not all that shocked by a 16-ft home. We'd love that extra two feet!
I lived in an apartment for 10 years where all the rooms were between 8 and 10 feet wide. Sixteen feet is, well, luxurious in my book!
I think the house fits in quite well. Granted, I'm not a fan of the earth killing Jeep in the front (eco-friendly house, but not car?). The grey colour of the house compliments the houses on the right. The large widow on the second storey calls on the large second storey windows of the house on the left. The natural wood material relates to the large trees in the back and foreground. The open carport is more welcoming then the closed in porches of the smaller houses. And what is the brightest feature? But, the front door, it's very well lit, if that's not welcoming, I don't know what is. I live in Toronto where there are many neighbourhoods (mine included) that are seeing beautiful modern homes being built among very traditional homes, and they all work together. The key is using complimentary and native colours and materials to the area and homes. Although, mildly jarring at first, if you take a moment to take all aspects in, the "shaft" house isn't as much of a sore spot as one might think.
Having recently built a house of a similar width, I know the challenges. In my case, the plot of land was a lot smaller (only 36 ft deep).
In the end, 16 ft isn't that narrow. It's perfectly doable.
But it is a pretty house. I love the facade.