Never Too Small

The Painter's Palette

Michael Roper of Architecture Architecture subscribes to the principle of multiplicity in Micro Apartment design. With a 23 square meter (247 square feet) footprint, Roper was deliberate in ensuring that the space, no matter how small, would have everything an inhabitant would expect in a house, that is, somewhere to cook, eat, study, relax and sleep. Items and spaces that in a much larger footprint would serve a single purpose take on one, two or three different functions. And yet, there’s a careful balance. Empathy for the future inhabitant is critical. While multiple functions provide extra utility, a designer needs to be careful in not creating too many ‘tricks’, too many items that convert, get folded or tucked away. In his Cairo Flat conversion, Roper strikes the perfect balance. The first thing noticed when entering this art deco, 1936 apartment is how green it is. Floor to ceiling, wall to wall north-facing windows open to an expansive garden and let in an abundance of warm light. Ventilation on both sides of the apartment and three meter ceilings (ten feet) ensure that despite the small size, the room feels expansive. The Cairo Flats was the culmination of a period of experimentation called ‘the minimum flat’ by Architect Best Overend who was exploring ‘maximum livability with a minimum footprint’. While these ‘serial’ apartments are small and densely packed, the size is offset by generosity in the things that create a feeling of more space: ceiling height, window size, ventilation and greenery, contributing to a feeling of airiness, and calm. Second only to the garden, is the striking (and very theatrical) curtain that serves three purposes: a stunning floor to ceiling feature, a cover to the busyness of the open storage behind it, a cover to the floor to ceiling windows for those Sunday morning sleep-ins. Sliding the curtain to either side reveals storage to the ceiling. A bookshelf towers above the reading corner, with the footrest tripling up as a second seat, and a step for the hard to reach top shelves. The bed, when folded away reveals a servery window between the kitchen and the living space. In turning what used to be a kitchen door into a window, Roper has given this space a dual purpose, an avenue between the kitchen and the dining and living space while preparing meals, and at night, a bedside table to place books, water, and if the blackout curtain is drawn, an alarm.

The Painter’s Palette 23m2 (248ft2) Architecture Architecture Fitzroy, Melbourne

RIGHT The distance didn’t stop Tasmanian born architect Best Overend applying an ocean liner theme.

OPPOSITE The distance didn’t stop Tasmanian born architect Best Overend applying an ocean liner theme. Cairo Flat

Any architect or interior designer who has remodeled a micro space will tell you that it’s a game of numbers. Numbers measured in feet and inches, centimeters and millimeters. In the confines of an apartment, there is only the space within the four walls to move. Add space to the bedroom? Lose it from the kitchen. Add a dishwasher? Say goodbye to important storage. It doesn’t have to be a game of give and take. Some of the cleverest apartments Never Too Small have seen ask how one item, or space can serve multiple purposes depending on the need of the inhabitant or time of day.

Cairo Flat

Cairo Flat 29

REIMAGINING SMALL SPACES

JOEL BEATH & ELIZABETH PRICE

Small living, at its best.

While grandiose houses on television might be fun to look at, it’s hardly a newsflash that they’re unaffordable for most of us. Cities are growing more and more crowded, and real estate is at an all-time premium. Many of us are turning to smaller spaces, looking to create a home in tiny studios or micro apartments. Smaller, however, doesn’t mean worse. Never Too Small features over 30 projects from award-winning designers in Australia and across the globe, who transform small apartments into tiny design marvels. Through smart choices and the creative use of space, sustainable, smarter living can mean a better quality of life. Joel Beath showcases the best that tiny spaces have to offer, and an inspired look into the future on a greener planet.

Joel Beath and Elizabeth Price provide a window into the world of Small Footprint Living, featuring award-winning designers on his website and YouTube channel. This is their first book.

ARCHITECTURE

256 pages, 84 x 9U” 200 color photographs HC: 978-1-92-241721-3 $35.00 Can: $47.00 October 5, 2021 Rights: US/Canada, Latin America, Asia SMITH STREET BOOKS