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Planning & Design { Mary Jo Peterson, CKD, CBD, CAPS } Good Things in Small Packages An exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York ofers innovative design solutions for seriously smaller spaces. J New York City's changing demographics, including a rising number of single people. Often, innovative designs are simply "mind-expanders," with little basis in reality, but New York City is going forward with a pilot project to build versions of these microapartments. MICRO SPACE DESIGN A competition organized by the city, called adAPT NYC and based on research from Citizens Housing and Planning Council, called for designs in spaces smaller than the current codes allow. Photo courtesy of Resource Furniture. ust think for a minute of what you would do to create living space, not just the kitchen or the bath, but an entire apartment in 325 square feet. There's a movement in high-rent cities around the world to look at seriously smaller spaces, and the design approaches being considered are certainly outside the box we've been working in. An exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York, "Making Room: New Models for Housing New Yorkers," ofers innovative design solutions to better accommodate 24 | Kitchen & Bath Design News April 2013 The goal was to create more housing options for single households. Aside from size compromises, all current codes would be enforced. Along with a display of the adAPT NYC fnalists and the winning design, models from the 2011 Citizens Housing & Planning Council Design Challenge and examples from other cities around the world, an actual micro-studio apartment of just 325 square feet was the centerpiece. The foor plan provides a look at many of the solutions to this space challenge, and we'll focus on applications of fexibility and adaptability here. Although we usually do well to look for function and compliance with the NKBA Guidelines, in this case, look for design inspiration from thinking outside the norm. The interior design for this model was done by Pierluigi Colombo of Clei, with a team including Resource Furniture (w w w. resourcefurniture.com) and Minimal USA (www.minim alusa.com), for a theoretical client, described as a young professional who does some work at home, does not cook elaborately and likes to entertain. A critical goal was to make the space do double duty, and this space includes a radical application of fexibility and adaptability to succeed at this, as well as a blend of magic and design principles to create a comfortable sense of space. STORAGE SAVVY In the 49.5 square foot kitchen, under-counter freezer, refrigerator and dishwasher blend into the space and the word invisible comes to mind, appealing as the kitchen shares open space with the adjacent living and sleeping area. The oven is smaller and installed at wall cabinet height, with an option to convert to a full range to replace the cooktop for those who need or desire it. The storage under the cooktop and to its right includes a convertible table on castors (which opens to seat four), tucked below a drawer and above fxed storage boxes, where it disappears when not in use. While space for storage is tight, every inch has been used, including z5IJs sQaDe JnDMVEes a raEJDaM aQQMJDatJon oG qeYJCJMJty anE aEaQtaCJMJtyz hanging space for dining chairs when not in use, and use of a rail system throughout the backsplash to provide fexible storage of items used frequently. Let your head spin a minute, not thinking of the challenges to using this space, but to the possibilities inspired by this approach. Code requirements dictated a larger bathroom than one might expect in 325 square feet of living space, and that sense of space is further enhanced by fxtures that are or appear to be suspended of the foor. The tub apron includes a toe kick that conceals down lighting, and the other fxtures are wallmounted. Wall-mounting the sink makes it possible to remove the cabinetry below it should someone need a fully open knee space. Storage is subtle, with a tall medicine cabinet that almost doubles as a full-length mirror, and a sink apron panel that opens to reveal deep storage under the sink. Adaptable features include reinforcement for grab bars and the ability to remove the sink apron, creating a full knee space, completing the code compliance. The sleeping/living/work area provides the most in fexibility and adaptability, with a bed that disappears to become a sofa (including storage space below), a coffee table that converts to four stools and a desk that folds away, among other things. A desk chair converts to a ladder to help in accessing bookshelves and storage that takes advantage of the vertical space available to the 9' ceiling. A TV slides to reveal a refreshment center. Whether mechanical or motorized, these components are seamlessly convertible, and the applications give us great food for thought in future design eforts. TOO EXTREME? This is just a taste of what the exhibit and the model apartment have to ofer. You can see more by visiting www.mcny.org/exhibitions/ current/Making-Room. About now, many of you are thinking there are some very clever ideas, but this is just too extreme, and that you would do it diferently. If you're thinking this way, then this discussion has been a success, because we really do have to move out of our comfort zone to keep our creativity fresh. Our world seems to be shrinking and at least some of the spaces we design are, and will be, smaller. Hopefully, this look at how to apply concepts of flexibility and adaptability will challenge us to consider imaginative concepts to make the most out of less space. 3eaE Qast DoMVNns anE GeatVres anE senE Vs yoVr DoNNents aCoVt tIJs artJDMe anE otIers Cy MoHHJnH onto oVr 8eC sJte XXX'or3esJEentJaMProsDoN