The Madrid-based All I Own House was completed in August 2014 by Spanish firm PKMN Architectures (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
When there's no room to swing the proverbial cat, flexible furniture can make a home that much more enjoyable to live in (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The All I Own House project was designed and constructed by Spanish firm PKMN Architectures (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The bookshelf unit (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The villa features a total floorspace of 50 sq m (538 sq ft (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
Shot of the bathroom and dressing area (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
While not for everyone, and not a unique idea in itself, the All I Own House is certainly a breath of fresh air (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The units can easily be moved with one hand, thanks to the industrial-spec Hepco rails and wheels used (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
PKMN Architectures installed a series of sliding units which separate the interior into flexible spaces (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
Shot of the bathroom and dressing area (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
Shot of the bathroom and dressing area, with front of the house in view (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
Shot of the bathroom and dressing area (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
When fully-loaded, the units weigh up to 800 kg (1,763 lb) (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The first unit can be moved to create a studio and kitchen, while the second unit sports the bed on one side, and bookshelf on the other (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The dining area (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The villa features a total floorspace of 50 sq m (538 sq ft), which is split roughly in half (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The units rest on wheels and are easy to move (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The All I Own House was completed in August 2014 (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
A yoga studio can be created too (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
A large sparsely-furnished living area occupies the space nearest the door (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The Madrid-based All I Own House was completed in August 2014 by Spanish firm PKMN Architectures (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
Exterior shot of the home (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
From outside, it has the look of a typical Spanish villa (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
There's a generous garden plot (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The villa serves as both home and working studio for a client (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The client inherited the home from her grandparents (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
(Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The project was designed and constructed by Spanish firm PKMN Architectures (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
Architectural drawing of the All I Own House (Image: PKMN Architectures)
Architectural drawing of the All I Own House (Image: PKMN Architectures)
Architectural drawing of the All I Own House (Image: PKMN Architectures)
Architectural drawing of the All I Own House (Image: PKMN Architectures)
Architectural drawing of the All I Own House (Image: PKMN Architectures)
The villa features a total floorspace of 50 sq m (538 sq ft (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
While not for everyone, and not a unique idea in itself, the All I Own House is certainly a breath of fresh air (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The bedroom area (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The first unit can be moved to create a studio and kitchen, while the second unit sports the bed on one side, and bookshelf on the other (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The dining area (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The bedroom area (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
PKMN Architectures installed a series of sliding units which separate the interior into flexible space (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
Rather than just sliding walls, the units also serve as bookshelves and storage (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
Despite weighing up to 800 kg (US 1,763 pounds), the firm reports that the units can easily be moved with one hand (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The decor is distinctly utilitarian but rather appealing (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
Despite the relatively small area, there's a lot of free floor space when needed (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The home is based in Madrid, Spain (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
The home was completed earlier this year (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
Rather than just sliding walls, the units also serve as bookshelves and storage, and sport a kitchen counter and bed too (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
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When you're living in a small home, flexible furniture and clever design can make daily life that much easier. Spanish firm PKMN Architectures recently renovated a small one story villa in Madrid, and in the process transformed the interior with innovative modular units which can be easily moved around to create flexible living and work spaces.
The All I Own House was completed in August this year and serves as both home and working studio for a client who inherited the villa from her grandparents. The decor is distinctly utilitarian, but appealing, and brings to mind other space-saving accommodation like Didomesticby Elii and Kitoko Studio's renovation of a maid's room in Paris.
The villa comprises a total floorspace of 50 sq m (538 sq ft), which is split roughly in half. The area nearest the front door features a large sparsely-furnished living area, but the rear of the home is far more interesting ...
The dining area (Photo: Javier de Paz García)
PKMN Architectures installed three sliding suspended wooden units which separate the interior into flexible spaces. The units feature bookshelves and plenty of storage, and there's even a kitchen counter and large double bed integrated into the units, too.
The first unit can be moved to one side to create a studio and kitchen, while the second unit features the bed on one side, and bookshelf on the other. It's a pretty flexible – if potentially laborious – system, but if you had guests over, for example, you could make the kitchen and dining area larger than usual to accommodate them.
Despite weighing up to 800 kg (1,763 lb) when fully loaded with books and clothes, the firm reports that the units can easily be moved with one hand, thanks to the industrial-spec Hepco rails and wheels used.
Adam scours the globe from his home in Spain in order to bring the best of innovative architecture and sustainable design to the pages of New Atlas. Most of his spare time is spent dabbling in music, tinkering with old Macintosh computers and trying to keep his even older VW bus on the road.
5 comments
Mark A
Anything but chipboard....
BeWalt
Ouch ... yeah, I agree, using oriented strand board is the opposite of what I want my furniture to be made of. But I guess they can brand it as environmentally friendly because it's using the scraps from a sawmill...
the.other.will
The modular units appear to be a domestic version of the bookshelf systems we used to have. I imagine the use of overhead rails make the units easier to to move than if they used floor rails. Ours could only be moved by using a crank because they were so heavy,.
Sheryl Lord
with only 536 sf to work with,i assume any friends who stay over are FWB's
pmshah
@theotherwill That is what I thought at first too. I have hit upon a different solution. Floor rails would create a lot of grooves to collect dust and dirt as also to keep clean. I have used Ball castors which roll in any direction. These are castors with a single 2-1/2" steel ball resting in a whole lot of smaller balls. Each has load bearing capacity of 100 kg. My main concern was to clean the floors and the areas behind the furniture. Works like a charm. BTW floors are tiles and not carpeted.
That is what I thought at first too. I have hit upon a different solution. Floor rails would create a lot of grooves to collect dust and dirt as also to keep clean. I have used Ball castors which roll in any direction. These are castors with a single 2-1/2" steel ball resting in a whole lot of smaller balls. Each has load bearing capacity of 100 kg. My main concern was to clean the floors and the areas behind the furniture. Works like a charm. BTW floors are tiles and not carpeted.