When writer Etgar Keret built his 4-foot-wide home in Poland, we debated the practicality of living in such a tight space. He's not the only one willing to try it — Japanese firm ondesign just built their own version of a skinny home in Tokyo. The results are airier and sunnier than you might expect…
The home's interior belies its narrow footprint — elegant glass walls, wood staircases, and clever architectural details combine to create an almost delicate-looking space. Designed by Osamu Nishida and Naoko Mangyoku, the house fits into a 300-square-foot bit of land in the Bunkyo-Ku ward of Tokyo. From the street, it looks a little bit modern and a little bit like an art project. What do you think? Could this be a new way to live? Would you be willing to try it?
See more pictures at ondesign's website.
Via: Spoon & Tomago
MORE SKINNY HOUSES ON APARTMENT THERAPY:
• A Peek Inside: 5 Super Narrow City Homes
• Narrow House in Greenwich Village
• Moving into the World's Skinniest House
(Images: Ikunori Yamamoto for ondesign)
Which Wall Color Gives the Best Sleep?
Marisa and Peter's Playfully Eclectic Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
10 Low-Budget Pantry Items Everyone Should Have
Summer Recipe: Gluten-Free & Vegan Strawberry Shortcake
They certainly appear to have done a better job with lighting than Szczasny did with Ermitaz. That place was supposed to be light-filled by the skylight but the photos I've seen, apparently taken on a nice bright day, show everything but the very top and very back (areas not covered by the floor of some other space) to be rather gloomy. I can't tell if they didn't do the skylight right or if there needed to be a re-think about the placement of the various floors. This place is somewhere I'd consider staying for more than 30 minutes, Ermitaz is not.
It's all good until you hit the bathroom. Holy claustrophobia! (I agree with denisegk, though... this is much better than the microhome in Poland. It sort of looks like you could fit two people into this one.)
Ok, let me get this straight: there is a tiny parcel of land between two buildings. The lot is narrow so the building is going to be narrow. So, what do the architects do? They split the building in two making both parts impractical. Is there a zoning for this or did they just have money to burn and a healthy sense of humor?
Nope. Not for anything! (Maybe for one night as a hotel space, but otherwise, no way!)
I dont care how they try to glamorize it,its still just living in a hallway!
Much nicer and warmer - but agree about splitting the building. There probably wouldn't be any light. I wonder what's in the smaller half. Closets? Murphy bed that goes across the split? :)
Would I live in this? If it was a choice between this and living on the street—yes. Otherwise, not in a million years.
Too claustrophobic for me.
Do you suppose the split building is because the alley goes across property lines?
I do wish I could read the Japanese website to find out how they stabilized such a narrow pair of towers for earthquake country!
I think they've split it in two so that they get more light in.
In the narrower half they just have stairs, which means in the wider bit they don't have to destroy the floor space with holes for stairs/ladders.
Seems like a really really clever design. I'd definitely live here!