The Background of Compact Living

 Compact city and developing countries:

               In the 21^st century population grew and the urban environment was expanding. In 2001, the population grew to 6 billion but the researcher’s “ Hideki Kajiv, Hidehio keneagae, ken-chi isbashi, nobuhiro hera” mentioned that the population will reach 78 billion by 2025.

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This graph shows how population will grow in the years coming.

When the population growth was growing problems were arising which were the environment, energy problems and food crisis. As the living environment is not in a good condition as a lot of houses were being built, more people means more congestion, air population and also problems in tap water and sewage people were living in poor living.

How Compact Living can be used as a sustainable living.

With compact living it is possible to achieve and to solve these problems by having smaller houses we will have a larger green area to grow food. By building smaller house we can make them more energy efficient by using solar panels, and this will improve the economic living.

               In 1990’s EU has found it as an advantage to use compact living as urban sustainable form. By this we will reach the goal of Saving resources and energy and to re-produce the inner cities by building smaller houses and making them energy efficient.

               By this research compact city approaches could only be used to cities which have developed countries.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Hideki KAJI Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University Hidehiko KANEGAE Associate professor, College of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University Ken-ichi ISHIBASHI Lecturer, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University Nobuhiro HARA Associate Researcher, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University . 2003. compact city and developing countries . [ONLINE] Available at: http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/openmtg/docs/kaji.pdf. [Accessed 2 June 2016].

concepts regarding compact living for students

Concepts which involve compact living

                I have found a thesis regarding compact living, this thesis is about a new concept called the shape shifting hive- co-housing concept. This proposal was made by students in a group thesis in 2015 in their third year of interior design in Milan. Their theme of the project is future living which means making a new way of living when it comes to compact living.

               The main goals of this concept was to create furniture systems using different construction techniques. This project explored the limit of sharing spaces regarding students, they created a border between private and public. The inspiration of this project came from nature’s efficiency and the beehive and the project is called the shape- shifting hive.

                For the structure of the building they used a hexagon shape to create more space and more efficiency as it also modular and can be changes according to the layout. In the structure there are private rooms and non-private by using curtains to close and re- open the rooms, the curtains also has layers of linen, metal and vinyl to have security and made them sound insulated.               

             

Common Area: when entering the space you will find the common area and on the sides you will find the private rooms with the curtains, the study area is straight ahead when going in and behind it there is the kitchen, the curtains are a good aspect because when you need the common area to big bigger you just open the curtains and when a student needs to study they can just close the curtain and it will be quite because of the insulation.

               Furniture system in the rooms on the other floors: they designed a furniture system which could easily adapt with the space within for a comfortable solution. The furniture inside the room is made out into three parts, one: the base, two: connectors, Three: the accessories, the base is made out of a wall panel with holes in it, the connectors are pins and strings which go into the holes in the panel to hold the accessories which are shelves, boxes, chairs and tables. When the chairs and tables are not in use they can be hanged up on the panel on top.

               Kitchen: the kitchen is placed in the centre of the common area, it is the heart of the house as everyone meets up there when eating, and the kitchen table holds about nine people or more. The kitchen is divided into four zones for different functionalities. Zone one is the cold area which is used for putting groceries and making cold food, Zone two is the storage area, Zone three is the hot area where the hot food is prepared and Zone four is the dining table which connects the table and common area together.

From this concept you can see that students could have a better living than in the normal dorm’s, this shows a concept where a community of students can be created and can never be alone in a cool environmental space. These can be improved and placed in the world, making them a reality. This shows on how students live in dorms can be improved by using different shapes and different layouts of space to create interesting layouts which can be implemented. This was a thesis project for an implementation of a project which is directed to students.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

(Saga sigirdottir, clara sterner,2015) Behance. 2016. Behance. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.behance.net/gallery/33976636/Thesis-Future-living-Cohousing-Concept-2015. [Accessed 01 June 2016].

apartments

Morphitecture

               Morphitecture is when you transform apartments into your functional needs regarding compact living with a difference. Morphitecture is done because the real estate agencies are putting their prices up of houses and rentals so this allows the client to buy a small place and apply these techniques which I am going to discuss below. To allow this to happen you will need furniture which folds away, partitions which can be changed and moved, hidden storage in which rooms can disappear into walls. The bathtub which can be changed into a seating or a resting area, beds which are hidden into the ceiling walls and appear when pulling a panel.

               I will be discussing these Architectural firms working on projects which transform apartments which is called Morphitecture.

                              Project one: The hipster Paradise pop-up House by Traller Dez.

This apartment is around 730 square feet of space, this space is ideal for couples as it is double the normal size of  normal compact house. This apartment has 54 furnishings which can be folded, unfolded, moved, closed or opened. It has partition walls which are divided the space and can be moved to create different rooms and open areas, this allows the user to have 77% for the floor space, this allows to leave it up to the clients wishes, a normal house will offer just 50% of the floor space by this technique you will create more space.

               Project two: The MInimilists abode Barcode Room By studio 01

This project won a competition from a Japanese real estate company. This apartment is made up from furniture walls which are called units which can be used a storage space which can be adjusted to the client’s wishes. In all there are 12 units which could be moved into different shapes to create different layouts. This creates freedom to the client as he can creative as the designer was and it will be something that the client has created.

                              Project four: The Socialite’s Party Pad by Graham Hill 

This is an apartment which is 420 square feet which is changed into eight different rooms. This apartment works by moving walls to show rooms and pull out things. This works by having interlocking walls moving out and pushing in to show rooms. In a wall there is also a hidden dining table for parties, there are also stackable chairs inside the closet to allow you to throw parties.

               Project five: The Modernist’s Retreat by LAAB architects

This apartment is 309 square feet and it is designed by the Hong Kong firm. This apartment has a bathroom which transforms into a living room, floor boards which are lifted up for storage, the chopping which folds on top the kitchen counter to create more counter space and the space is always useable. It also has the cabinets which come down from the ceiling.

               Project Six: The DE constructivist’s digs by Vlos Mishin.

This apartment Is designed by a Russian designer which is 645 square feet. This apartment is cut in half with a wooden and metal frame which can be moved and rotated. In the wooden frame there is the kitchen and a door which Leeds to the bathroom and also the door to the bedroom. This has very different partition which is made up with interlocking shapes including the metal frame to allow it to be opened and closed.

               Project Seven: The techie’s pod by Mit Label

This is a project made by students and is a box which can be packed up and moved to any apartment of more than 200 square feet. This is called the city home, this works by voice and face of the person with the brightest technology, the box has mechanics and rollers so it could move alone with only you voice or by showing your hand. This works through touch, voice control.

               Project Eight: The homebody’s heaven by gary chang

This apartment is around 344 square feet converted into 24 different designs using converted furniture on wheels and ceilings. When the bed is pulled down the sofa disappears, the guest bed is pulled down from the ceiling.

               Project Nine: The architect’s choice Lego apartment by Barbara Appolloni.

This is designed by the Spanish architect Barbara Appolloni which is 258 square feet this is all made from different pieces which fit together expect the sink and shower. The walls has panels which opens into functional things.

People will look soon at Morphitecture because of the high rise in real estates, which comes to more worth it to transform it yourself using less money.

When you look at Morphitecture technique' s , these are techniques which could be easily implemented in apartments and houses. These are easy ways to create much easier and cheaper to live compactly.  The one which really inspired is the city home as it can be closed and moved into different places so when you move it is easy to just move this box which includes the kitchen. By this I mean that you only spend once.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Architizer. 2016. Morphitecture: The Top 8 Transforming Apartment Styles - Architizer. [ONLINE] Available at: http://architizer.com/blog/morphitecture-8-transforming-apartments-for-every-personality-type/. [Accessed 02 June 2016].

Tiny houses

Tiny Houses with a twist

               This article tiny houses of kate simmons provides case studies of compact houses which are different than the ones we see which are a box, this article shows that compact houses could be changed in shape making it more interesting whilst having the same space. This article shows case studies of different houses which has a different shape and organic. The author called these houses as a tiny house movement. In these case studies you will see that all the houses are built from eco-friendly materials and all have clutter free interiors. These are a collection of tiny and cosy houses. By giving an ordinary shape to the house and making big windows in the houses you are cutting out the claustrophobic feel because when having big windows you will feel that your house belongs also to the outside which is natural so it actually is bigger than it looks, which shows that illusion.

             

  Case study one: SINGLE HAUZE BY FRONT ARCHITECTS

This house is built on and near the sea and there is also a forest near so it continuing with the outside space. It has a large balcony and large windows. Unfortunately the site does not show the inside of this house so I cannot comment on how the space is being divided. I do not like the stairs as it looks terrifying going on it to go to your house.              

 Case Study two: THE HOMELOFT

 

This house has an orb shape and it is continuing with the tree, this is designed by Joel Allen, and this is built in Canada. This is called a child hood tree house. It is an amazing place to go on an adventurous holiday and gives you the illusion that you are camping. This house has a different shape from the others as it is in a different shape. It also gives you the feeling that you are alone as you are in a forest. I think as a house it is to small.

Case study three: L41 HOME BY MICHEAL KATZ AND JANET KOME.

This is a sustainable and energy efficient house, it has a look of a normal house and is also affordable, this house is suitable for students and first time buyers. The thing I like about this house is it has where to put the car but not everyone likes stairs, this house is more realistic that the others as it looks like a normal house but it is compact and affordable.

Case study four: ECO PERCH

This a house which has four beds, it serves all the function you which too serve and it is attached with a tree and they call it the luxury tree house. This is house has an organic shape which is merged with the natural forest outside. It is made out of softwood flooring and it has low voltage LED lightening.

Case study five: REFLECTION OF MINERAL

This is a house which is in Tokyo in the middle of the city, it is 480 square metre. It is called the reflection of a mineral because the house reflects. As you can see the surroundings of the house are normal house in which this house makes it different from the others and gives an interesting look which makes you curios. From the pictures you can see that it Is quite big and beautifully made.

Case study six: MICRO COMPACT HOUSE

This house is inspired from aviation and automotive design, the shape is cubed shape as you normally see with compact houses. This is designed for students and short living stays as it is not big. As you can see the photo on your left, the table can go down and go up to use it as a dining table and when not in use it is put down.

      These compact house reflect modern architecture and some of them has an amazing shape to create more space inside and makes it more interesting than the normal cube shaped. These houses could be easily done without spending lots of money and making them eco-friendly by using sustainable materials and solar panels. So in this case small is beautiful and small can be big by putting you in an illusion. You can see that the shapes of the houses are very organic and they all continue with the outside. These houses are more than a house they are more like a vocational houses , and can be very suitable for students.


BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Modern Interior Design & Furniture - Decoist. 2016. Tiny Houses: The Best in Modern Compact Living. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.decoist.com/2012-07-02/tiny-houses-the-best-in-modern-compact-living/. [Accessed 02 June 2016].

investigating case studies

Investigating case studies the cube Project

                When designing the space, the space needs to be designed according to the needs of the person. In this article they explain that they are researching ad creating projects on compact living to give a raise and a new beginning of new housing architecture. The cube project was created by Doctor Mike Page when he was challenged to build a house not bigger than 3X3X3 metres on the inside in which a person could live whilst not making any harm to the environment. The house was constructed with sustainable material which helped the house to be more comfortable and uses less electricity. The house provides everything two persons need which includes a lounge, table 2 custom made chairs, small double bed, Full size shower, Kitchen microwave oven,  storage cabinets, washing machine and a composite toilet. The floor is made out of Cork and there is 2 metres height in the whole house. In the article is said that it is ‘the best low carbon living’ as it is designed to generate all the energy by using solar panels which are placed at the top of the house. The house is constructed from timber which is insulated from the floor and walls to create a cosier home and a not a noisy one either. I wouldn’t  imagine myself living in a very small house like this but I would imagine students who live abroad living  like this instead of a tiny dorm with shared bathrooms and having your own kitchen and your own house, I would feel claustrophobic in this house but  I would live in it if I am studying abroad. This was a house which was built to
investigating on how much space you will need to actually live in. In my opinion the house looks dull from the outside but from the inside looked cool with wooden flooring and wooden stairs. The house is very energy efficient as it has solar panels on top so it is very energy efficient.


BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Compact living:: The Cube Project – Visuall. 2016. Compact living:: The Cube Project – Visuall. [ONLINE] Available at: http://visuall.net/2011/09/04/compact-living-the-cube-project/. [Accessed 02 June 2016].
   

What is the definition of Compact living ??

   

The definition of compact living

Compact living can be understood by others as a small composition of the things which are the necessary in our lives. Compact living is the definition of what we really need and what are the things which are most important to live a healthy life. Some people afford having a big house but prefer to have a smaller house because of the cost and takes more time to clean and be paid for. The most important things to keep in mind when designing your compact living house are  Functional needs, sensual needs, communal needs, personal needs, and privacy needs. Different combination of living are known by creating different plans of the space and using your creative mind to create multifunctional furniture. When designing the space first you have to see on how many people are going to live in the house.



BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Wikipedia. 2016. Compact space - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compact_space. [Accessed 02 June 2016].