Getting on the housing ladder requires a Herculean effort these days.
So if you are fortunate enough to get on the property ladder, you might be willing to take whatever you can get, even if that space is smaller than you anticipated.
But if you thought you were struggling for space in your city rental, spare a thought for the ‘thinnest house’ in the world.
At its tightest point, Keret House in Warsaw, Poland, is just 92 centimetres (3.02 ft), while the widest is 152 centimetres (4.99 ft). Cosy, hey?
Built by Polish architect Jakub Szczesny, the property was constructed to provide temporary accommodation for travelling creatives rather than somewhere to call home. The very first person to stay there was writer Etgar Keret – and this is how it got its name.
Jakub discovered the site when he was walking home one day and started to wonder what he might be able to do with it, if anything at all.
‘It started with the space,’ Jakub previously told Dezeen.
‘I started to think who could live there. It had to be a person that would like to be a hermit, someone who would like to spend time alone doing something, but doing what?’
Naturally, staying in a place this tiny isn’t right for everyone, and as Jakub said at the time it was built in 2012, it ‘requires a sense of humour.’
Wondering how he managed to fit all the furniture inside? It was all custom-made as, inevitably, much of what was on the market was too large to even construct inside, let alone fit into the home’s tiny corners.
Inside, there’s more space than you think, with one bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom and a living area split across two floors – though anyone who stays there will need to be comfortable using a ladder to move between levels.
It’s not completely dark in there either, as there are two windows (though they don’t open) and a few translucent panels that welcome in the sun.
The innovative installation doesn’t have its own electricity supply though, as it obtains this from its neighbours.
However, there is water and a working sewage connection – so, if you qualify to stay there, you’ll be comforted by the knowledge that you won’t have to rely on a public toilet to do your business.
In the 12 years since it opened, it’s made quite the impression: so much so that in 2019, it was listed as one of the world’s most notable homes by Iconic Houses, despite the fact that it doesn’t technically qualify as a house because of local building codes. Instead, it’s listed as an ‘art installation.’
Warsaw isn’t the only city that’s home to a seriously narrow home. These types of properties are also relatively common in Tokyo, where space is limited and housing costs are high.
For perspective, the population density is 6,158 people per square kilometre, which makes it the most densely populated city in Japan – and one of the most densely populated places in the world.
As per figures from Reuters, a 60 square metre flat now costs 15 times a skilled worker’s salary – which is now more than the likes of New York City, London and Singapore, all of which are infamous for having expensive housing markets.
Along these lines, RoomPa, Japan’s largest estate agent, recently took a look inside one of the narrowest properties in Tokyo, which measures just 11.5 square metres.
It might sound tiny, but it has everything you might need, including a kitchen with a sink and just the one hob, a toilet and a sink, shower, and two floors of living space – including a loft, where a bed could sit.
There’s even ample room to place a projector against one of the walls and enjoy a cosy film night, as well as a skylight to flood the property with natural light.
Wondering how you might wash your clothes? There’s even room for a washing machine, so you won’t need to familiarise yourself with the laundrette any time soon.
Honestly? We think regularly-sized homes could be overrated.
Is it feasable to live in a such a narrow home?
With all that in mind, you might be wondering whether it’s actually doable to live in a narrow home – and whether it has an impact on your health and wellbeing.
‘It’s not unusual to come across overly narrow homes, particularly in major cities where space for development is limited and it’s certainly an inventive way of bringing more homes to market,’ co-founder and CEO of
GetAgent.co.uk, Colby Short, tells Metro.
‘They can also present a more affordable option due to the smaller square footage which makes them attractive to buyers looking to climb the ladder.’
But, as Colby says, homes like these aren’t likely to have an abundance of natural light, typically ‘due to the fact that they’re squeezed between other larger buildings, as well as only being wide enough for a single window per floor.’ And, along these lines, outdoor space is also likely to be limited.
‘Any prolonged period of time spent in a more cramped, darker space will inevitably have an impact on your personal wellbeing,’ Colby adds.
‘So if you are planning on a narrow property purchase, it’s important you also lead a balanced lifestyle that allows you to escape it from time to time.’
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