I spent my childhood in very small spaces and, as a student abroad I have lived in extremely tiny places (the 14m2 attic in Paris was looking more like a wardrobe than a studio). Even even now I find extremely rewarding being creative and finding exceptional solutions to optimise spaces and make them enjoyable to live, no matter their size.
Already extremely popular in other continents (US, Australia, …), the need to “create” additional spaces at home (offices, school-spaces for the children, look-like green or garden spaces, … you name it) and the concept of compact architecture have become more and more appreciated also in Europe following the pandemic, and for good reasons.
This concept is not only driven by the increasing urbanisation, population density, the spreading of smart-working and the need for sustainable living solutions, but, I think, more and more often by the appreciation for what the resulting design can offer: an homey, practical, cost-effective, and modern way of living and working that has nothing to envy to larger scale architecture.
In general terms, compact architecture refers to the design and construction of spaces that prioritise efficiency, functionality, and optimisation of available space. This means that the goal is to make the most out of limited space, while maintaining comfort and functionality, by encouraging thoughtful design solutions that creates comfortable and sustainable environments.
For the above reasons, the design process applied to compact architecture cannot limit itself to the consideration of the aesthetics of the space. Instead, it needs to rather focus on technical and practical subjects.
Here are some of the key aspects that I believe must be taken in consideration when dealing with a compact project:
1. Space optimisation and adaptability:
It is extremely important to maximise the vertical space, whether with lofted areas, or with creative storage solutions. For any project, but especially for the more compact ones, it is important to remember that we are talking about 3 dimensional spaces, and the height gives always extremely interesting opportunities to optimise the use of their volume.
I find useful to approach plans in a different way: by eliminating, or reducing, unnecessary walls and hallways, it is possible to create open and flexible living spaces.
Talking about flexibility, it is crucial to design spaces that can easily adapt to changing needs, such as transforming a home office into a guest room, a basement into a habitable space, or integrating new functions. I believe that this means to future-proof the building / apartment / place. It means to guarantee its adaptability over the years, no matter the change of usage. Clearly, this implies that the potential for technology and lifestyle changes must be taken into consideration during the design process.
2. Smart design:
Incorporating furniture that serves multiple purposes, such as sofa beds, foldable tables, and storage-integrated designs, is a key point of the whole concept. This means that most furniture must be designed and customised to be rearranged or expanded depending on the resident's evolving needs.
This creativity in finding solutions is extremely important also for incorporating features that make spaces accessible to people of all ages and abilities: I find that this is more and more common in transformation or renovation of existing building, where the constraints and available spaces require the employment of extra-creativity and an open mind to find the right solution.
3. Technology integration & sustainability:
The implementation of technologies like home automation to control lighting, heating, and security efficiently is not an exclusive feature of common architecture: it is even more crucial where space-saving solutions can make the difference between an optimised space and a wasted one.
Technology has its influence also in improving the use of sustainable and eco-friendly materials, both in the way materials can be recycled and by implementing new construction systems (prefabrication is another “hit”, in this sense).
I believe that it should now be considered “common sense”, however we should not forget the use of natural light, natural ventilation, and insulation to reduce energy consumption and improve our well-being.
4. Outdoor / green spaces:
Even in urban environments, everyone is more and more keen to have some kind of “green” space available, and the solutions can vary from designing shared outdoor spaces to compensate for limited individual yards or balconies, all the way to improve or create a connection with nature, whatever the location and the available space, via small balconies, windows, courtyards, …
Honestly, these are the principles that I like to consider for any scale of project, and I believe that, especially today, they are very relevant, even more so for “compact architecture” which can’t avoid them: they must be embraced to achieve the maximum result, with the smallest available spaces.
Who said that smaller projects mean easier and simpler design?
In my experience, dealing with compact buildings is often more challenging than working on larger scale ones, and far from being less interesting.
It is true that it is a way of looking at buildings, from a different perspective:
The focus is from the inside-out: from the functionality and the actual needs, the building moulds itself around the brief, combining custom design with prefabrication, new technologies and materials with traditional and natural resources, with efficiency at the core of the whole process. This efficiency has to be taken in particular account in the use of space as well as in the energy consumption, but also in the choices of materials and of the construction process.
In my opinion, all the above make “compact architecture” the future of sustainability:
More thoughtful design where waste is not an option
Highly efficient buildings, in spatial as well as in energy terms
Flexibility in the usage and in the potential for future adaptation
Efficiency in the construction and use.
Mind you, I am not saying that the future is for us all to live in tiny-houses, very nice and cute but possibly not everyone’s choice or answer to its own specific needs.
What I mean is that even larger buildings and spaces can benefit from the compact living principles in their design. Are hallways the best way to use the surface or are there more efficient solutions? What is the best and most efficient way of using an open space? How to use high ceiling volumes? How to increase the available surface to create home offices or multifunctional spaces, rather than wasted corners? Do I really need to look for a larger house or am I simply not using at its best the surface that I currently have available? ....
Working more and more often in the renovation or transformation of compact buildings, I have noticed that small scale buildings, if well designed, can even feel larger and have more usable space than bigger ones. Why? Thanks to the integration of some simple design solutions, circulation alternatives, and clever ideas that are enough to transform the existing space into a future-proof space.
If you are interested on knowing more or find out how the compact living approach could transform your space to better encounter your needs, please get in touch and I will be happy to have a chat about which solutions could improve your available space, whichever the surface.
Opmerkingen