Polish Architect Builds World’s Thinnest House
Polish architect Jakub Szczesny claims to have built the
world’s narrowest house, just 122 centimetres across. The house is
squeezed into an alleyway formed between a pre-World War II house and a
modern apartment at Chlodna 22 Street and Zelazna 74 Street in the
centre of Warsaw. The project is called the Keret house - named after
Israeli writer and filmmaker Etgar Keret, who has headed the art project
and will live in the property, on-and-off, for six months.
The
two-story aluminium and plastic house is located on a plot measuring 92
centimeters in its narrowest point and 152 centimeters in its widest
point. The house itself is 72 centimeters (28 inch) in the narrowest and
122 centimeters (4 feet) in the widest point.The triangular building
runs 33 feet (10 meters) deep at the base and stands 30 feet (9 meters)
tall.
Metal and aluminum pipes hold the structure nearly 10
feet (3 meters) above the ground, and visitors will climb a metal
staircase and squeeze through a hole to enter the building. The ground
floor contains a toilet and shower, a kitchen with a sink and cupboards,
a table for two, and a bean bag sofa. Another metal ladder goes to the
second floor, which has a nearly double-size bed, a table and a chair.
The house has no windows, instead, a perforated steel facade is used to
allow in light.
“At
first it seems that the construction of living space within such
premise is impossible”, says the architect Jakub Szczesny. “Keret House
is to contradict that false image, simultaneously broadening the concept
of impossible architecture.”
“We deeply believe it will become
a symbol of modern Warsaw ingrained in its complicated history. The
House attracts attention of media from entire world. He hope it will
show the most fascinating side of Warsaw”, say Sarmen Beglarian and
Sylwia Szymaniak form Polish Modern Art Foundation, the curators of the
project.
The house will remain in place for at least two years,
but could end up staying for good. “It has already become a Warsaw icon
and is already on the tourist map,” said the architect.
A
metal door and gravel path lead to a set of stationary metal steps
which in turn lead to a trap door into the house that is only four feet
wide.
A trap door leads to the staircase entrance below from the living area of the Keret House.
Jakub Szczesny, architect of the Keret House, stands in the alley under the home.
Etgar Keret, a writer of short stories, stands on Ikea sheets in the bedroom of the Keret House.