A Whimsical Tiny Apartment by Torsten Ottesjö

Located in Gothenburg, Sweden, this tiny apartment has been given a face lift designer, Torsten Ottesjö. The apartment, which is just 183 square feet, has been transformed into a whimsical, multi-levelled space.

Ottesjö enlisted Lars Isestig to help him produce a design that would allow them to capitalize on every inch of available space. Together they developed a plan that would turn the apartment into an unusual but functional living space. The apartment makes use of levels, allowing the living space to serve several functions. The entire home consists of two stairways, an igloo-like bedroom, a bathroom with a shower, and a main living space that houses the kitchen, closet, living room, guest bedroom, and dining area.

The odd shapes and angles make for a variety of perspectives and viewpoints, creating a space which can ‘change’ depending on your position, and possibly make it feel larger. The elements in the main living area were designed not only with each other in mind, but also the only window in the room. The kitchen, dining, and living area/guest bedroom, all revolve around the window. It was also kept as open as possible to maximize the intake of natural light.

According to ArchDaily, the somewhat busy interior design was intentional, “The way each section contorts and folds into such a small space is mind-boggling…and that is exactly the point. Ottesjö deliberately creates complex living playgrounds which destabilize the mind: one doesn’t understand his work intellectually, one moves through it intuitively.” Perhaps a more structured and simple form would lead to the space feeling larger, although it might also be less interesting.

Some of the walls that divide up the apartment feature strips of wood with a gap between adjacent pieces. This allows light to seep through the home, without compromising the room’s privacy. Apparently this is Ottesjö’s signature style, “making heavy materials light, and small spaces vast“. The use of materials and the whimsical layout is certainly reminiscent of his previous works, like the Hus-1 tiny house.

This tiny apartment is bold in its design and makes a plea for smaller, more resource-conscious living. Adopting a vernacular approach to building could help us create more sustainable buildings, communities and cities. It’s also obvious from Ottesjö’s work that we need not live in bland dull spaces, but can still embrace complex busy environments, no matter how small. Or as Ottesjö puts it, let “the environment take care of people and not the other way around.”

For more apartments check out Marta Badiola’s small Spanish apartment, or if you live in San Francisco, did you know they approved 220 square foot apartments? See all apartments.

Via ArchDaily