This Tiny Apartment Saves Space With a Walk-Thru Shower and Fridge in a Drawer
- Posted on May 16, 2012 at 10:40pm by
Liz Klimas
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John MacPeek has views of the tops of Barcelona buildings and sunlight streams from almost all sides into his apartment. Are these perks enough to put up with a 25-square-meter living space (270 square feet) living space? Thanks to some space-economizing improvements to what he said was “basically an oversized closet” when he first saw it, MacPeek thinks so.
(Image: Fair Companies/YouTube Screenshot)
Fair Companies recently profiled MacPeek’s space and some of its design elements. The first thing MacPeek did when he acquired the space was enlist the help of architect Lola Domènech:
Domènech began plans to take down the main wall and replace it with a 6-meter-long (20 foot long) folding glass door that allows in light and air to provide passive solar heating and cooling (the shutters can close it off completely in summer to prevent overheating).
Domènech then began to design features to invade every available space. She created a walk-through shower with a curtain on one side to protect the toilet and a see-through glass door to close it off from the rest of the apartment (yet let in nice light and showering views). Indoor/outdoor, slatted wooden floors double as a drain and zinc roofing material lines the walls; the water-proofed materials mean that now, nearly a decade since it was constructed, the shower still looks nearly new.
[...]
To make the most of the tiny kitchen, MacPeek uses a table that folds closed against the wall as an ideal breakfast nook (complete with folding chairs for up to 3 people). He has conventionally-sized appliances and even a small dishwasher, but he realized there was no way he would fit a full-sized “American-style” refrigerator in the space. So he installed a half-size “European-style” refrigerator/freezer and next to it, a refrigerator in a drawer.
(Image: Fair Companies/YouTube Screenshot)
MacPeek in the walk-thru shower. (Image: Fair Companies/YouTube Screenshot)
Fridge in a drawer. (Image: Fair Companies/YouTube Screenshot)
Watch the full tour of the apartment:
MacPeek explains that everything in the apartment was designed with multiple purposes to make the best use of the space. For example, what is his bedroom at night, becomes his living room during the day.
Fair Companies reports MacPeek saying having a small space can be an advantage from a simplicity standpoint.
“If you have so much space where you’re constantly putting stuff away when you open those cupboards you end up finding a lot of junk basically,” he said.
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Comments (90)
NEAF
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:24amLike a lab rat.
Report Post »CowwFace
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:07pmHey Sparky,
It’s called “CAMPING” … I do it many weekends in the summer …
You’re not as smart as you think you are.
Dingus!
Report Post »CowwFace
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:33pmHey NAEF,
I screwed up that reply .. the dingus is the guy in the video .. not directed at you .. sorry for any confusion.
Tractor on
Report Post »Miami
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:16pmWhere’s exercise wheel…?
Report Post »OutOfTheAether
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:48pmKinda reminds me of the apartments in the movie The Fifth Element LOL
Report Post »4blackhorses
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:37pmYes lab rats with no other choice. Picture this, we Americans will be living like this if Obama and his socialistic minions are allowed to continue in the destruction of our nation.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 7:51amThis is Obama‘s vision for America’s future. A phone booth sized house and an electric car…who could ask for more?
Report Post »NewRodeo
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:34pmHOW DARE YOU ASK FOR MORE !!!
You must be a jealous, self-serving, rich, anti-minority, Christian, Conservative, American, Citizen!
For shame.
You are NOT sharia compliant.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:55amSaddam Hussein apparently lived in an even smaller space, near the end of his career! I don‘t recall the dimensions of his ’spider hole’, but I think it was living room, kitchen, shower, out house (or was it an in house), bedroom–all the comforts of home for someone who had such an illustrious and productive career.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 7:20am“….out house (or was it an in house),…”
Was an “in house”…. bucket.
Report Post »t00nces2
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 7:32amIt looks like the guy pissed the bed… Perhaps more than once.
Report Post »Dismayed Veteran
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:57pmSome say it is a urine stain. Some say it is something else. All I know is that I wouldn’t touch it.
More importantly, where would I put my pool table?
Report Post »bigdaddyt46
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:51amZaphodsPlanet
I’d also be worried about people having a drink or two too many and taking that step off the living room and into the kitchen and breaking their necks.
my thought exactly as i am a drinker i’d probably be in the emergency room every other day thus negating any savings from living in this glorified closet. LOL
Report Post »RamonPreston
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:37amWhy not combine the shower with the refrigerator and lock him in the shower? (Dumb article.)
Report Post »Too many people where you live? Move… Most of the earth is uninhabited.
loriann12
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:57amI don’t mind making use of the space you have, but all these articles on tiny houses remind me of Agenda 21. Move all the people into the “urban centers” and let the country side go back to it’s natural habitat because animals are just as important as people…..bull C r a p.
Report Post »LameLiberals
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:19amThe only thing I would change is the tall white dividing wall with the slit for books. I would keep the wall but add an whole slew of long cut out areas for books or whatever.
Report Post »50Caliber
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:52amHeard eminating from the bathroom……One loud, fresh Burrito, with avacado, and hot sauce fart, around 8 PM….. could spell ruin for a night of Television
Report Post »sick6james
Posted on May 18, 2012 at 1:52amThis.
Report Post »rugin
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:58amWhat we in America take for granted is all the space we have. If you go to European Metropolitian cities they do not have the space we have. I think this was an awesome utilization of available space. My brother-in-law, his wife and 2 small children lived in an apartment in Paris that was only two rooms. This was in the 60′s. It would have been awesome to have someone remodel his space that this. And we were their guest for one night!
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:23amUN certified living unit for a family or four. It may be a bit cramped, but just look at that beautiful view. Doesn’t that view make it all worth it?
Report Post »Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:10amThis is right up Agenda 21′s alley.
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:20amExactly. Agenda 21
Beck is doing stories on livable dumpsters, hobbit holes and the like, on a regular basis now.
He is bound by contract (sold his soul for tens of millions) with the Global Elite to appease them.
They want him to start the indoctrination on his followers. Convince them that cutting back and downsizing is sensible and practical. This is the push before the shove.
I am all for being practical and saving space, but don’t push or shove me, because I hit back… Hard !!!
Report Post »mr.goodvibe
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 8:12pmI knew it! he arlready got me and I can’t break…….free.
Report Post »MikeJoyous11
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:19amPersonally, I like the idea of fold out tables and chairs, and a frig in a closet. It feels to me like hidden treasure. You don’t expect things like that, and suddenly they appear:) Having a small apartment like that could be great for the average college-age person. They tend to not have much in the way of furniture, so why not shrink size–if the cost is also super-low!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:13amThe Expectations of Europeans… is the same size as this Apartment… and the Male PP!
Report Post »Vasbyt
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:16amthis guy still wets his bed, see the piss stain when they flip the matress and then lay on it and act as though nothing is wrong. Sick.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:02amEeeeeeeeewwwwwwwww, piss stains ?
Report Post »Ojebuss
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:37amPerfect agenda 21 apartment.
Report Post »Vasbyt
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:15amNote the pee stain on his matress when they flip it over. This hippie gay liberal still wets his bed, aaahhhhh shame.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:37amWhat is with all these stories about tiny little apartments, trailers, tree houses and miniture homes?
Report Post »Are you trying to get us used to the idea of living the communist lifestyle or something?
Psychosis
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:34amagenda 21
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:59amIf we change the Food Supply & Eating Habits… we could shrink Humans… and ObamaVille could provide many of these Luxury Apartments!
Report Post »Slowman101
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:24amApartment is way to small for me! Soju? WOW! Now that brings back the memories! Try chugging a bottle of Soju, and then jump off the stool, stand at attention and try to count to 10 before you pass out. Not easy!
Report Post »SUNTZU
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:10amIn Russia ,after the revolution, this would
Report Post »be a 3 family home.
Could be comming to a street near you.
FORWARD
starting to look,Not to good for the progressives
and BHO
could be moving into dangerous times ahead
If you are watching whats going on around the world
you know what Im saying
Dont spend all your time here,get out and see for yourself.
Gladius_Doctorae
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:00am@DARMOK AND JALAD AT TANAGRA
Soju kettles aren’t so bad…until you try and stand up. LOL Been there done that. Combat Bottles.
Report Post »sharke
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:52pmWhat’s the big deal? By New York standards, that’s a nice sized apartment. It’s bigger than my studio on the Lower East Side. The design is great and it is a novel approach, but I just don’t get the part about it being this minuscule space.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:35pmEh… my attached tool shed is bigger than that…20 x 35 it is too small so I built a barn..18.5 x 12.
WHO are these people??? city dwellers??
Where would I put all of the trees/ (70+)??? I need to mow grass…split wood…
Report Post »anniegtyrgun
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:08pmJust not sure where to put my shoes.
Report Post »AMENDMENT
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:07pmEWWWWW the pee pee stain on that mattress @ 6:55ish LOL
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:12amI noticed that too. And she leaned on it and TOUCHED IT….. gag me…..LOL. I prefer my 1200 sq ft…. I’ve lived in a 300 sq ft apt before with an ex-girlfriend and that was cramped. I can’t imagine the 200 sq ft that place is. I’d also be worried about people having a drink or two too many and taking that step off the living room and into the kitchen and breaking their necks. No room for kids, pets, food, garage for tools and car…. I would go insane in such a small place unless it were an emergency.
Report Post »circleDwagons
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:06pmStupid Americans and their big houses, we can learn so much from Europeans
Report Post »thequeenbee
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:26pmYeah, like how to be good little socialists. Sorry pal, I’ll take my 3000 sq ft house any day over living in a closet. Talk about thinking small. Just what we need, a world full of small thinkers. Europe is a mess and going broke,tell me again what we are to learn from them.
Report Post »Patriot Z
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:37pmlike how to have a king and queen and be ruled? naaahhh thats ok there mate. while the idea for the house is actually cool i still like my huge house and nice lawn. see its good to be the king, and in America ( if we dont let it slip away to be like eurape) Every man is King
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:56amLet’s see… Europe gave the World… Wars & Nobles… Wars & Kings… Wars & Emperors… Wars & Revolutions… Wars & Colonization… Wars & Communists… Wars & Nazis…
Oh, yea… Great Benefactors!
Report Post »Gary S
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:39amI’ll take my 8A, 1/2A pond and no city kitties.
Report Post »flyalot
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:49amDelta is ready when you are….the freedom to travel is still allowed. Use the opportunity and leave if you don’t like it. You don’t have to remain here and be a “stupid” american, you can go and be a “stupid” european.
Report Post »Slayer
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:01pmScrew this shoebox-lifestyle! I’ll take a big roomy McMansion and a bunch of acres any day!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 10:54pmFrom the looks of the inside of that “fridge” .. he eats out .. and doesn’t cook .. I doubt that he does a lot of other things in the space other than store his stuff and sleep. Which is fine .. if you are single and that is all that you need .. put a few kids in that space (though I doubt that is probable with this guy) and see how long you last ..
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 10:51pmIts a PEOPLEs apartment for the masses, not the elites. Moochelle would need three of those just for her left cheek. Barry couldn’t fit his halo into one.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:00pmNope .. too nice .. you won’t have a view like that … have you seen those Japanese sleeping pods? .. that is the future… for the masses.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on May 16, 2012 at 11:13pmSuper 8 is people…POD people…….
I stayed in one of those tiny hotel rooms in Korea, about the size of a closet, mat on the floor, bathroom down the hall, but it was only $10 a night, and withiin crawling distance of the bar I was at, never drink Soju again.
Report Post »