Space is a valuable commodity. It's time we rethink our approach to affordable housing in big cities. It is a luxury to live in a city centre, within walking distance from daily amenities, within a stone's throw away from friends and family and a short commute to and from work. The existing regulation that defines the minimum size of an apartment in London is outdated and negates the implementation of ingenious design solutions. Making more efficient use of the spaces we have available to us can not only create more affordable housing stock in the city centres in which we live and work, but it can also improve the lives of their residents. It also provides a more sustainable solution to the current housing crisis, less but better building materials and efficient use of space.
The concept presented here is the first in a series of transformable flat solutions. The concept seen here is based on a high-rise apartment block in Pimlico, central London. The floor plan for each 1-bed apartment has been separated into two 1-bed apartments while maintaining the same effective square footage. As shown above, the main area is utilised by 3 separate living operations; dining, sleeping and working out. An expandable, 6-person dining table retracts into a wall cabinet, creating a 4m x 6m space. In the evening, a king-size bed, and two bedside tables, slide out from underneath a staged lounge/office space, into the main area. A large height-adjustable desk also rises up from within the stage. In the evenings, the room dividers can be used to separate living spaces, creating a cosy snug area perfect for watching movies on the large 80-inch projector screen.
The apartment is fitted with a full-width kitchen, providing ample kitchen surface area, a large sink, a standard-sized cooker and a large fridge. There is also a kitchen island for everyday use which provides additional storage and a place to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner for the two residents. There is a walk-in wardrobe and bathroom off to the left. The building would contain a communal washing room, garden space and gym, which provides a more modern, social and sustainable approach to large-scale developments in city centres.
