STORING STUFF

Challenging convention when it comes to finding extra space

Traditionally, the design of storage in homes has considered it as part of a room’s space. A closet, for example, will be built as part of a bedroom’s existing area. In other spaces, the occupant will place free-standing storage cabinets they’ve bought or have them custom-made to fit a specific spot.

A new concept in storage design and fabrication, though, fits the occupants with their storage needs at conception or the sale phase. A catalogue of different storage modules can provide a range of sizes and designs to accommodate, among other things, a TV, library, pantry and home office. In the process of purchasing a home, the buyer will choose the number of storage items, their configuration and preferred location within their new home. In prefabricated modular production, the storage elements can be assembled in the plant and transported to the site, with the chosen storage elements ready for occupancy. This process guarantees that a buyer will select and pay only for the components they need and can afford, while choosing the preferred materials and colours. To maximize the storage potential, shelves, drawers, baskets and rods can be used to allow occupants to accommodate an entire wardrobe, often eliminating the need for an additional armoire or chest of drawers, saving space and money.

Innovation in computer programming and digital manufacturing are facilitating the process. Some large cabinetmakers already allow the buyer to adjust their choices according to their budget and need. Orders can be transferred from a sales centre to the factory floor for a just-in-time delivery. There has also been innovation in furniture partitions. Using storage or shelving systems to divide spaces reduces the need for interior partition walls. Additionally, furniture partitions help make small spaces feel larger by blurring boundaries between rooms, allowing the eye to see beyond them, preventing a boxed-in feeling.

Consider 3500 Millimetre House by AGo Architects in Jakarta, Indonesia, which was designed for the architect’s family. Named for its width (3.5m (11.5ft) wide, it’s also just seven metres in length. With only three storeys to fit all family home functions, finding space for storage was an issue. But by determining what they needed rather than wanted, the firm was able to design a comfortable home for a family of three.

The master bedroom is on the ground floor along with social spaces, while the son’s bedroom and play area benefit from higher views. Although the house has distinct floors, there are additional levels between them that blur the divisions, creating one cohesive space throughout. The staggered levels allow for a double-height living area, creating a spacious atmosphere. The home’s facade is a screen of perforated steel and polycarbonate, filtering the sunlight that reaches in. Behind the facade is a space that feels neither indoor nor outdoor. Plants grown in this transition space connect it with the exterior, while bringing nature into the home.

Many walls have been eliminated, with storage integrated into dividers and stairs. The kitchen island contains two-sided cabinets and cupboards above. The living area offers built-in storage beneath the wooden ‘floor’ surrounding the sofa. The TV console and additional storage are nestled into the stairs. The son’s bed is raised above a study space, with more shelves tucked behind stairs—all of it reducing clutter.

This plug-in storage system has transformed the narrow 3500 Millimetre House into a spacious, efficient experience.

Avi Friedman IS AN ARCHITECT, PROFESSOR, AUTHOR AND SOCIAL OBSERVER. AVI.FRIEDMAN@MCGILL.CA