This tiny home is just 13 feet wide – but still has as much space as the average London house

Ryan HoggDec 24, 2022, 16:53 IST

The Library is in Hackney, east London.Heiko Prigge/Macdonald Wright Architects

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.

Many people will not love the idea of living in a home where they can almost touch both walls.

However, a new home in east London that was shortlisted for a prestigious UK architecture award shows how to make the most of a small space – squeezing in everything you'd expect to find in the process.

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

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 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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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This tiny home is just 13 feet wide &ndash; but still has as much space as the average London 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 property was shortlisted for the Royal Institute of British Architects' (RIBA) prestigious House of the Year awards and won the RIBA London Award 2022

Architect James MacDonald Wright bought the site in 2009, but didn't begin building anything on it for another decade.

Macdonald Wright spent £340,000 (about $410,000) on construction, a relatively low sum for a property in London.

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.

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.

Most of the materials were locally sourced too, reducing the project's carbon footprint.

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.

But for those partial to the cold, the garden area has an open-air shower for a brisk wakeup call.

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.

This tiny home is just 13 feet wide – but still has as much space as the average London house