Why There's No Cause for Compromise in Small (but Smart) Homes
Discover 8 design techniques for gaining more with less, from the homes that prove it's possible
Henri Sayes
23 July 2016
Houzz New Zealand contributor + Architect Based in Auckland.
Designing a home is about deciding how best to live. Designing a small home, in particular, forces you to rethink many of the values and assumptions we don’t even realise we have tied up in our idea of what a home is, and provides an opportunity to gain even more in having less – think of it as a kind of built philosophy on how to inhabit the world.
This is an important topic to consider, in context of the increasing sizes of average new builds (and the steady decrease of the number of occupants within them), as well as how this is affecting the housing market. In fact, we have to remember that deciding on using less space doesn’t have to reduce the amenity or comfort of a home. What it does require, however, is for ideas to be concentrated, and for spaces to work harder, more efficiently, and more engagingly.
This is an important topic to consider, in context of the increasing sizes of average new builds (and the steady decrease of the number of occupants within them), as well as how this is affecting the housing market. In fact, we have to remember that deciding on using less space doesn’t have to reduce the amenity or comfort of a home. What it does require, however, is for ideas to be concentrated, and for spaces to work harder, more efficiently, and more engagingly.
The genesis of a good small house lies in a tight and concise brief. A good brief should go beyond numbers of bedrooms and rather define what you need, want, and can do without. The priority should be framing up what the essentials are and designing in line with them. Smaller houses typically have a simplicity and clarity, a purpose to the spaces and a defined relationship within them.
Despite a global trend for houses to get ever bigger, a small number of architects and adventurous homeowners have challenged the bigger-is-better paradigm, showing that small can be functional, beautiful and interesting. The homes below don’t use size as an excuse for compromise, but as a springboard to a better lifestyle. Here are some space-saving techniques that we can borrow from them.
Despite a global trend for houses to get ever bigger, a small number of architects and adventurous homeowners have challenged the bigger-is-better paradigm, showing that small can be functional, beautiful and interesting. The homes below don’t use size as an excuse for compromise, but as a springboard to a better lifestyle. Here are some space-saving techniques that we can borrow from them.
1. Building quality not quantity
Building smaller allows for potential savings from fewer square metres to be spent on richer materials, which can create a more dramatic atmosphere. In this compact family home designed by Michael O’Sullivan of Bull O’Sullivan Architecture, what he gave up in size he more than compensated for in high-quality and unusual finishes. This includes the hand-crafted timber ceiling and brass kitchen island seen here.
Building smaller allows for potential savings from fewer square metres to be spent on richer materials, which can create a more dramatic atmosphere. In this compact family home designed by Michael O’Sullivan of Bull O’Sullivan Architecture, what he gave up in size he more than compensated for in high-quality and unusual finishes. This includes the hand-crafted timber ceiling and brass kitchen island seen here.
2. Spaces that borrow space
In the small house that I designed for my wife and I, the small footprint of the dining and living space is amplified and visually extended by borrowing space from other areas. Not only does the double-height space make the room feel much larger, but the unhampered view into the bedroom mezzanine and tucked-away kitchen both extend the edges of the room. Every room ‘borrows’ from another area, making it feel larger than its floor area would imply.
In the small house that I designed for my wife and I, the small footprint of the dining and living space is amplified and visually extended by borrowing space from other areas. Not only does the double-height space make the room feel much larger, but the unhampered view into the bedroom mezzanine and tucked-away kitchen both extend the edges of the room. Every room ‘borrows’ from another area, making it feel larger than its floor area would imply.
3. Changes in floor level
Walls are the most obvious way to divide space, but walls inevitably make a house feel more compartmentalised, and smaller as a result. Open planning often suffers from the opposite – so much openness and not enough demarcation of different areas. Changes in floor (or ceiling) levels create clearly defined spaces while maintaining an open, generous atmosphere. In addition, steps allow for changes in materiality and for extra seating as guests can perch on the transition.
Forget open-plan – try ‘broken plan’
Walls are the most obvious way to divide space, but walls inevitably make a house feel more compartmentalised, and smaller as a result. Open planning often suffers from the opposite – so much openness and not enough demarcation of different areas. Changes in floor (or ceiling) levels create clearly defined spaces while maintaining an open, generous atmosphere. In addition, steps allow for changes in materiality and for extra seating as guests can perch on the transition.
Forget open-plan – try ‘broken plan’
4. Built-in furniture
Window seats and built-in furniture allow the functional purpose of a room to be pushed to the edges of the space, so you’re able to utilise the full extent of the floor area. In our house, rather than a couch taking up space, the deep window seat provides cosy seating while leaving a wide expanse of floor for other uses.
Window seats and built-in furniture allow the functional purpose of a room to be pushed to the edges of the space, so you’re able to utilise the full extent of the floor area. In our house, rather than a couch taking up space, the deep window seat provides cosy seating while leaving a wide expanse of floor for other uses.
5. Maximising lawns
Not all small houses need to be tucked onto tiny sites. Even on a large site, a well-positioned house with a small footprint frees up more land for lawns and gardens. This property is pushed hard to the street boundary, with a defensive skin of corrugated steel. The interior side, shaded by a full-length verandah, is then able to open up to a large lawn.
Not all small houses need to be tucked onto tiny sites. Even on a large site, a well-positioned house with a small footprint frees up more land for lawns and gardens. This property is pushed hard to the street boundary, with a defensive skin of corrugated steel. The interior side, shaded by a full-length verandah, is then able to open up to a large lawn.
6. Capturing the long view
Carefully positioned windows can crop out surrounding houses while opening up carefully framed views, making a small interior feel much more open and spacious.
Windows that make the most of the view
Carefully positioned windows can crop out surrounding houses while opening up carefully framed views, making a small interior feel much more open and spacious.
Windows that make the most of the view
7. Build up, not out
As sites gets smaller, it’s not always possible to build out. Building up not only allows you to make the most of any views while maintaining a small footprint, but the verticality (both on exterior elevations and with high stud-heights internally) also adds to a sense of generosity.
As sites gets smaller, it’s not always possible to build out. Building up not only allows you to make the most of any views while maintaining a small footprint, but the verticality (both on exterior elevations and with high stud-heights internally) also adds to a sense of generosity.
In this Dunedin house, architect Rafe Maclean overcame a narrow site by stacking rooms up on top of each other, while big expanses of glass open the place up to the view – it’s not a large house, but it makes the most of a small piece of land.
8. Creating defined spaces outside the house
The house doesn’t end at the edge of the cladding. Maximise the full extent of the site by creating courtyards and outdoor rooms that blur the boundaries between the interior and exterior, extending the visual sense of the house beyond the built boundaries.
The house doesn’t end at the edge of the cladding. Maximise the full extent of the site by creating courtyards and outdoor rooms that blur the boundaries between the interior and exterior, extending the visual sense of the house beyond the built boundaries.
In my opinion, there is no such thing as a perfect house; rather, there are several perfect houses for different stages of life. Sure in New Zealand, for example, there are plenty of extraordinary homes with large floor areas and budgets to match, but we’re also experiencing one of the world’s worst housing bubbles, making housing unaffordable for many.
We have to think smarter and stop judging a good home design by its size. Living small should be considered as a way of living, rather than a prescribed number of square metres.
TELL US
What do you think of these space-saving tricks? Would you use them in your own home? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments below.
MORE
See more stunning New Zealand homes
We have to think smarter and stop judging a good home design by its size. Living small should be considered as a way of living, rather than a prescribed number of square metres.
TELL US
What do you think of these space-saving tricks? Would you use them in your own home? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments below.
MORE
See more stunning New Zealand homes
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That's a really good point Liza. My house was built in 1952. It had small rooms , smaller closets and nearly no storage. I've learned to deal with that by making sure all my furniture is dual purpose. Instead of a sofa we bought a small love seat. The beds have drawers under them. The ottoman has storage in it. We have hanging shelves on many of our walls. I don't buy anything without thinking about how it will fit and where. We did redo the kitchen and bath , it had to be done, but outside of that we've embraced the size of the home.
While I was attracted to the idea of this story, NONE of the photos look small at all (maybe the vertical stack), I think that we have become so used to grossly bloated houses that we have forgotten what small is.
key to good storage is less stuff, the ”haves” have SO much!