The Library is in Hackney, east London.
This London home is just 13 feet wide, but its clever design makes it feel much larger inside.
The Library cost about $400,000 to build, with locally sourced materials used throughout.
The home was nominated for the prestigious House of the Year award in the UK.
Many people will not love the idea of living in a home where they can almost touch both walls.
Take a look inside The Library House.
Despite being just 4 meters (13 feet) wide, The Library House’s clever design means it’s still the same size as the average London home at 84 square meters (904 square feet).The Library is in Hackney, east London.
Heiko Prigge/Macdonald Wright Architects
The front of the house dramatically shifts design a quarter of the way along, with white brickwork complementing the Victorian home to its right while a rusty steel feature melts into the library on the home’s left.
The property was shortlisted for the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) prestigious House of the Year awards and won the RIBA London Award 2022
Heiko Prigge; Macdonald Wright Architects
The white bricks cost 67p each. Architect James Macdonald Wright said he went for slimmer bricks to keep a contemporary feel.
Source: RIBA
Architect James MacDonald Wright bought the site in 2009, but didn’t begin building anything on it for another decade.
Heiko Prigge; Macdonald Wright Architects
Source: RIBA
Macdonald Wright spent £340,000 (about $410,000) on construction, a relatively low sum for a property in London.
Heiko Prigge; Macdonald Wright Architects
Macdonald Wright Architects located the curved staircase in the middle of the home, rather than at the front, to open up the entrance and cope best with the narrow width.
Heiko Prigge, Macdonald Wright Architects
Relocating the stairs allowed the kitchen to be located at the front. Much of the interior is made from locally sourced wood, which was handcrafted by carpenters.
Heiko Prigge, Macdonald Wright Architects
Most of the materials were locally sourced too, reducing the project’s carbon footprint.
Heiko Prigge, Macdonald Wright Architects
The windows are triple-glazed, and the the house has solar panels, reducing its energy demands. That’s important at a time when the cost of electricity and natural gas for heating have soared. There are two double bedrooms on the first floor, both with fitted wardrobes, as well as a full bathroom.
Heiko Prigge, Macdonald Wright Architects
But for those partial to the cold, the garden area has an open-air shower for a brisk wakeup call.
Heiko Prigge; Macdonald Wright Architects
Homes in London are in short supply, with construction and completions nosediving in the last two years, per Savills. Macdonald Wright hopes this relatively inexpensive, sustainable approach to homebuilding will be a template that others can follow.
Heiko Prigge; Macdonald Wright Architects
“In summary, divine!” RIBA judges wrote about the house.
Source: Savills
