Amazing Spaces

[zulu89delta]

Hello!

I want to start a little thread here about an idea I've had, this idea is inspired by the 'Amazing Spaces' TV series by architect George Clarke. If you haven't seen the series, and have an interest in design/architecture, I advise you give it a watch.

Anyways, the idea is this.

We live in a world of dwindling resources, one that is rarely discussed is the resource of space. We as a species are continually growing and quickly running out of desirable livable space. So...why not design a smaller home?

Designer small spaces, that have all the comforts and commodities of a normal home, but in the footprint of say...a structure no bigger than a standard 20 foot shipping container? (6.058m x 2.428m x 2.591m).

So, that's the task I set myself. Using inspiration from some of the structures in the 'Amazing Spaces' series, and just my general ideas on what would make an exciting small space.

My design is in the next posts, and I'd love some feedback about it. Do you think it'd work, would you want to live in a space like that. What do you think the issues would be?

And more than that...

I invite you to have a go yourself. Design a living space in the footprint of a 20 foot shipping container (you can change the height based on a custom roof design, like I have).

Let's see what we can come up with?

Cheers,

Ziggy.

PS.

Everything is as close to scale as I could get it, I've tried to keep everything in the realm of 'possible'. There's nothing in the structure that can't be produced using standard building techniques. The bed is UK Queen in size. The kitchen cupboards, etc and based on standard depths.

If you would like to download and view the model itself, you can do so here.

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=4362888dd10f36409d9d73aaa1dcbd79&prevstart=0

Exterior View 1

Exterior View 2

Birds Eye View (roof off)

Seating Area (storage visible)

Seating Area (view 2)

Corridor (entrance to bathroom)

Interior of bathroom (140mm bath, electric shower, toilet and sink all fit)

Kitchen View

The bed (steps up to the queen size bed)

Bed visible through the roof

Through the window

Through the window 2

 

[Edge]

I don't think that's necessarily true. I believe I read somewhere that if we lived in New York style skyscrapers, the entire world's population would fit into the size of Texas. However, it's an interesting concept. I remember watching a video of a guy who had a tiny apartment with convertible rooms. Personally I'd prefer not to have to build my house every day.

 

[zulu89delta]

I don't think that's necessarily true. I believe I read somewhere that if we lived in New York style skyscrapers, the entire world's population would fit into the size of Texas. However, it's an interesting concept. I remember watching a video of a guy who had a tiny apartment with convertible rooms. Personally I'd prefer not to have to build my house every day.

Cheers for the comment Edge,

I definitely think you're right. If super structures like the ones we often see in New York were more prevalent then the issue wouldn't exist. However I don't like the idea of a future were the human race lives in Mega Cities along the lines of Judge Dredd, though it is no doubt a valid solution.

I was thinking along the lines of designs which were small enough to be essentially picked up and put on a truck, like a mobile home. But were fitted in a way that created the space and comfort of a normal home.

I've seen lots of a transformational design, e.g. Beds that come out of walls, tables that rise out of the floors, etc. And while it is very cool. Like you, I can imagine it getting very tedious very quickly.

Cheers again.

 

[Edge]

Cheers for the comment Edge,

I definitely think you're right. If super structures like the ones we often see in New York were more prevalent then the issue wouldn't exist. However I don't like the idea of a future were the human race lives in Mega Cities along the lines of Judge Dredd, though it is no doubt a valid solution.

I was thinking along the lines of designs which were small enough to be essentially picked up and put on a truck, like a mobile home. But were fitted in a way that created the space and comfort of a normal home.

I've seen lots of a transformational design, e.g. Beds that come out of walls, tables that rise out of the floors, etc. And while it is very cool. Like you, I can imagine it getting very tedious very quickly.

Cheers again.

No worries! I can see your designs now, all looks very interesting. Could be a very good value way to get a modern, contemporary home without shelling out for massive apartments or plots to build on.

Here's that video I was speaking about. Perhaps it'll provide more inspiration!

 

[Remmy]

What a fun idea Zulu I love the bunk bed style bathroom and bed, though it'd get a bit annoying if your partner kept going to the loo through the night xD

I think you could make big improvements by not having everything in the house fixed, and have many things as fold out furniture/storage etc.

I don't think I'd be moving in one yet, but I'd love to see what it's like living in a real house like this for a month or so, and if that's how the future is going to be, get a headstart with some amazing designs and capitalise on the demand when it comes around

 

[tinytomlogan]

Im instantly looking at that render and thinking my bed sheets are going to stink of food all the time

 

[zulu89delta]

What a fun idea Zulu I love the bunk bed style bathroom and bed, though it'd get a bit annoying if your partner kept going to the loo through the night xD

I think you could make big improvements by not having everything in the house fixed, and have many things as fold out furniture/storage etc.

I don't think I'd be moving in one yet, but I'd love to see what it's like living in a real house like this for a month or so, and if that's how the future is going to be, get a headstart with some amazing designs and capitalise on the demand when it comes around

Thanks for the kind words. I definitely think you'd have to get on well with anyone you lived there with. I definitely think the future of housing needs some creativity. So perhaps there is a market for it.

Im instantly looking at that render and thinking my bed sheets are going to stink of food all the time

Haha. You make a wonderful point TTL. I guess there'd be no curries on the menu!

But in all seriousness. I think it'd be no worse than your average studio apartment. Especially with a decent extractor over the hob. But it's something to consider.

Cheers for taking the time to look and comment!

 

[AndyN]

It makes for a pretty interesting challenge. Have you thought to look at the overlanding community for any inspiration, as they have been putting their homes on the back of a truck and travelling around the world with it for a few years now.
http://www.unicat.com/en/terracross.php is a pretty good example of what can be done.

 

[B3rni3]

Its a cool idea for a design but from a practicality and planning pov it would never be allowed.

One question have you ever been inside a 20 foot shipping container? We use them in college for office space to segregate the studios of each year of the different courses and let me tell you while they are long they are quite narrow. see below

http://culturenightcork.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cit-architecture-factory.jpg

http://architecture.cit.ie/contentfiles/images/stockphotos/Architecture-Factory-15.jpg

I don't know if it is the same over in the uk but over here you wouldn't get planning for something like that if you were to built it rather than convert an interior space of an existing building. Primarily on disabled persons access and requirements. There simply is not enough room for them and over here your application would be shot down.

Now with all that mumbo jumbo bs out of the way from a design pov its cool but I would change the roof for a few reasons. One is you wont meet building regulations for the u-values with the roof made of glazing. Secondly even if you use triple glazing the frame work to hold it would be so large and so expensive it would be insane to go down that route. You will also have privacy issues so at the very least you will need blinds and might I suggest never turning on the lights if you ever bring someone home ha. Lastly noise, rain falling on glass is very loud and it will keep you up at night if its 2 feet from your head. I would change the roof to a more traditional material and maybe put in some tubular skylights/light wells. Something like these.

http://azenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/skylight_roof.jpg
http://www.designtavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/pedro-lira-house-6.jpg

Edit: had a quick mess around here is my version. This is missing a wardrobe though. It will have a traditional flat roof. The bathroom is sunk 500mm and is a total wet room. The internal doors slide into the internal walls. The bed is sunk into the wall and folds out onto the couch and table which act as its supports to keep it off the ground. The kitchen isn't quite to scale but you get the jist of it. The reason I sunk the bathroom is to allow for additional storage above the bathroom and for the cold water storage tank to sit there.

 

[zulu89delta]

It makes for a pretty interesting challenge. Have you thought to look at the overlanding community for any inspiration, as they have been putting their homes on the back of a truck and travelling around the world with it for a few years now.
http://www.unicat.com/en/terracross.php is a pretty good example of what can be done.

Thank you for the comment. Checked out the website and they've got some pretty cool furniture inside those trucks!

Cheers

Its a cool idea for a design but from a practicality and planning pov it would never be allowed.

One question have you ever been inside a 20 foot shipping container? We use them in college for office space to segregate the studios of each year of the different courses and let me tell you while they are long they are quite narrow. see below

http://culturenightcork.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/cit-architecture-factory.jpg

http://architecture.cit.ie/contentfiles/images/stockphotos/Architecture-Factory-15.jpg

I don't know if it is the same over in the uk but over here you wouldn't get planning for something like that if you were to built it rather than convert an interior space of an existing building. Primarily on disabled persons access and requirements. There simply is not enough room for them and over here your application would be shot down.

Now with all that mumbo jumbo bs out of the way from a design pov its cool but I would change the roof for a few reasons. One is you wont meet building regulations for the u-values with the roof made of glazing. Secondly even if you use triple glazing the frame work to hold it would be so large and so expensive it would be insane to go down that route. You will also have privacy issues so at the very least you will need blinds and might I suggest never turning on the lights if you ever bring someone home ha. Lastly noise, rain falling on glass is very loud and it will keep you up at night if its 2 feet from your head. I would change the roof to a more traditional material and maybe put in some tubular skylights/light wells. Something like these.

http://azenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/skylight_roof.jpg
http://www.designtavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/pedro-lira-house-6.jpg

Edit: had a quick mess around here is my version. This is missing a wardrobe though. It will have a traditional flat roof. The bathroom is sunk 500mm and is a total wet room. The internal doors slide into the internal walls. The bed is sunk into the wall and folds out onto the couch and table which act as its supports to keep it off the ground. The kitchen isn't quite to scale but you get the jist of it. The reason I sunk the bathroom is to allow for additional storage above the bathroom and for the cold water storage tank to sit there.

Thank you for the lengthy and detailed reply, I really appreciate it!

I have been in a few 20 foot shipping containers, and while I agree they are very narrow, I think with some creative design they can become livable spaces. I think both mine and your designs demonstrate that.

Planning isn't something I'd given much thought to, but I would think it'd fall under the same category of any other 'mobile' home. It certainly seemed the case with the houses on 'Amazing Spaces'. Research is needed I think.

The roof is something that definitely needs further thought and planning. Initially I thought it'd be great to have a fully glazed roof (like a large conservatory) so that the occupants could lie in bed and look up to the night sky. So that's what I went with. But there's certainly a few issues with it noise, weight and cost being the main three. Something I'll have to look in to for my next design.

I enjoyed looking over your design. Thought sinking the bathroom was a good idea, and having it as a wetroom certainly saves on space. I especially like the fold down bed and how it interacts with the sofa, very ingenious. Pocket doors are also a great idea, think they'll be something I'd use for the bathroom door on my design.

Thanks again.

Ziggy

 

[tinytomlogan]

Every gamer loves bacon....... no extractor can deal with the aroma of cooking bacon - it gets EVERYWHERE!!!!!!