We love a good small space around here. Though we feature many an urban studio, Nano House by Phyllis Richardson showcases 40 examples of well-designed freestanding homes around the world, like this 215 square foot bubble-shaped space in Belgium.
In other news, shipping containers transform into classrooms, and a rocking chair that knits you a hat. See the headlines after the jump.
• Smaller Than Your Living Room: 7 Of The World's Best Nano Houses | Co.Design
• Converted Shipping Containers Help Educate Underprivileged Children In South Africa | Architizer
• Die-Hard Knitters, This Rocking Chair Is Going To Blow Your Socks Off | Architizer
(Image: via Co.Design)
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The Nano Houses shown are cute, but I wouldn't want to live in them. The second pic of the ovoid egg, err, house makes it look big, but taken with a very wide angle lens. A common theme I see is lots of curves and innovation, but very little functionality. They will always be the designer's space, never yours.
The flip side is the container school: humble structure, well thought out and built as a synergistic whole (garden, play, meet and learn). Innovation is not just making something that looks good: it's also about using what you have more efficiently, with a dash of style to sweeten the pot.