Suspended Bed Saves Space In This London Townhouse

How many of us really need a room for our bed? Granted some of us work from our bedrooms, using it as a study or home office, but for some people the only time they use the room is when it’s time to sleep. Perhaps we could use a lot less space for our bedrooms, but this London townhome goes one further and removes the ‘room’ entirely.

Located in the center of this 500 square-foot home, the ‘bedroom’ is suspended under a large, operable skylight window – pretty cool. The bed is accessed by a small staircase that wraps around the bed, and also helps to divide the otherwise open-plan interior.

Supported by a steel frame structure, it almost seems as if the bed has dropped down from the ceiling. The overall effect is that of a void (or bridge) between the inside and outside, helping to connect the two environments. The staircase leads on up past the bed to a large rooftop deck.

The bathroom is found next to the kitchen. The shower and sink are enclosed in a small compartment, providing privacy. However the bath itself is left out in the open with only a shower curtain separating you from your cohabitants. A set up that’s perhaps more ideal for exhibitionists. The exposed bath allows the designer to keep the space as open as possible. Privacy 0, space 1.

The other areas of the home are comfortably large thanks to the ‘open’ bedroom and bathroom, which are typically enclosed, reducing the available space. Couple that with the large windows and a plain color palette punctuated by furniture pieces, the townhouse is a spacious, trendy environment that I think most of us could live in very comfortably. Although, 500 square foot is a rather large space for a single person (or even two) and the interior doesn’t necessarily lend itself to a family.

Whether you like it, love it, or hate it, this townhouse features interesting ideas about space and privacy. What do you think of this home’s open plan layout – could you live with it?

For modern small houses and studios check out The Crib by Broadhurst Architects, a versatile small space for both home and work life. Or the Banyan Treehouse, a stylish office space that doubles as a retreat and guest house.

Via Dornob