Instead of being cramped and dull, compact homes now make for simpler living and can be full of character.
THE movement for living in small spaces is gaining popularity in many parts of the world, especially in countries where habitable land is scarce.
With the human population increasing steadily each day (current estimation of Earth’s population is at seven billion), there are growing fears that soon there will be a shortage of terrain that is suitable for living upon.
It therefore comes as no surprise that the public’s preference in the past for sprawling estates located on large plots of land, is now slowly but surely shifting to more compact homes.
A most notable example of one such country where the people embrace this lifestyle is none other than our own neighbour, Singapore.
Singapore is well-known as a global economic powerhouse, but did you know that it is also famous for its ‘shoebox apartments’? They are named as such because of the size of the units.
There is no regulated minimum, but they tend to range from 100 sq ft to 500 sq ft, and can also be known as ‘Mickey Mouse’ apartments.
Other well-developed cities around the world have also adopted similar housing arrangements, such as Hong Kong with its ‘cubicle homes’ and ‘cage homes’; Paris, which is not only the ‘City of Love’, but the city of tiny apartment units; as well as New York and Seattle, where space is a luxury and people are willing to live in cramped areas in order to remain in the heart of the city.
In Malaysia, we are still blessed with ample habitable land, but as anyone can attest, the heavily-populated urban areas are fast running out of space. While we do not need to resort to cramped uncomfortable homes, there is a rising interest in smaller-sized living quarters due to the convenience in its upkeep.
Developers are now faced with the challenge of creating homes that meet the needs of today’s modern society, functional homes that are built in a strategic location at an affordable price.
The answer to this is to encourage people to live large in small spaces. This sort of lifestyle change may be difficult for some to adapt to, but it promises a simpler living that is not only sustainable but happier and healthier.
As it is, small units do not need to be cramped confined spaces with no character to them. This is where clever interior designing ideas come to the rescue, allowing home owners to add their personal flair and turn their compact homes into a wonderful colour-filled area!
Nick Fong and Alex Lee, founders of Nu Infinity, are experts in making small spaces appear larger than they really are, through ingenious usage of colours, hidden storage spaces and cleverly placed accessories to create optical illusions.
“While many people rightly believe that light colours have the ability to make it seem as though the walls are receding, they can also try to incorporate earthy tones into the palette as well if they feel that whites are too bland. Not only are they soothing to the eyes, they outlast trends and can be easily matched to most things,” said Fong.
“Instead of bulky shelves that take up too much floor space, there are alternative solutions you can turn to: storage shelves that are flush into the walls, handily integrated above-door shelves, and foldable window slats that double-up as clothing racks. Even by placing a large mirror on the wall in a room will give the impression of a much wider room,” added Lee.
One example of compact units that is still big on space maximisation is Gamuda Land’s HighPark Suites, located in an enviable location at the heart of Petaling Jaya, Kelana Jaya. Units come in four types of built-up sizes with various layouts to choose from: 452 sq ft, 603 sq ft, 743 sq ft and 840 sq ft.
Land scarcity in prime locations and price escalation are key factors that influenced the developer’s decision to embark upon this project.
“It has always been the company’s practice to allocate a sizeable percentage of the development to green landscaping. In line with HighPark Suites’ concept of healthy living in the city and taking into consideration the GBI’s requirements, we have provided more than five acres of greenery, inclusive of both horizontal and vertical landscaping,” said Gamuda Land chief operating officer Ngan Chee Meng.
When one decides to eliminate excess and all the unnecessary things that cause stress, what’s eventually left is everything that’s good. The same principle can be applied for the homes of today, where people who choose to live a minimalist life allows them to value experiences and time with loved ones over the stuff that is stored in the house.
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