With the increasing real estate pressure of the neoliberal city and the financiarisation of the real estate market on one side, and the increasing attractivity of dense economic hubs on the other, the topic of small housing is becoming an unavoidable reality.

Over the past two years, l’atelier has designed more than 30 small apartments around several European cities. The practical experience gained showed us that similar problematics reoccur in different contexts. It led us to develop a toolbox of architectural solutions in order to increase life quality in existing small affordable homes.

Our research project is influenced by theories of city planning which are applied on the small scale. We consider the design of a house to be like a mini masterplan and an extension of public space. Our toolbox is an open research project alternating between theory and practice.