All modern cities feature small vacant plots considered unsuitable to build houses on, but the SkinnyScar house proves that in the right hands, even a free space of just 3.7 m (12 ft) wide can be put to good use. Designed by architects Gwendolyn Huisman and Marijn Boterman, the ultra-svelte home is a masterclass of interior design in a tight space.
The SkinnyScar house is located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on a plot that sat unused since the 1980s due to its perceived undesirability. It's not the skinniest house we've seen by any means, but this one actually seems like it would be comfortable as a full-time home.
The exterior is clad in patterned black brickwork and the street-facing side features two large windows which extend outward, plus another two windows partly hidden behind the masonry. Inside, there's a total floorspace of 140 sq m (1,506 sq ft) spread over three floors.
On entering the home, visitors are greeted with an entry space with bicycle storage, while the kitchen and dining area are located toward the rear and offer access to a shared garden. Climbing the stairs to the second floor reveals a small library facing the street and a lounge with a neat net hammock that overlooks the aforementioned garden.
The third floor includes two small bedrooms and a clever bathroom unit squeezed in between that has a shower, bath and toilet.
Access to the rooftop is also gained via the third floor and it features a small garden space and a solar array, presumably used to help reduce electricity bills.
The project was completed in early 2017 and also involved architecture firm JagerJanssen.
Sources: SkinnyScar, JagerJanssen (in Dutch)
