Austin Maynard Architect’s Mini-Living INVERT proposal is a house that expands and contracts in response to the evolving needs of the family. Rather than design excess space for the future, the small family of four is equipped with what they need now.
The use of prefabricated modules as incremental building blocks allows for this future expansion. Maybe grandma moves in, twins come along or someone starts working from home. A new module can be delivered for the rooftop crane to add to the structure. And when they retire, they can sell the office module to fund their Dublin trip. Or when the youngest moves out, she can bring her bedroom with her.
We build up instead of out. Small and vertical means we maximise outdoor space. Each module is a skeleton structure wrapped in a skin to suit its intended use. Natural light is abundant and cooling breezes find their way through the modules, which each open to outside.
On the ground floor, the study is a room enveloped by garden. One level up, two bedrooms face east. There is a herb garden on the roof of one bedroom module, on the same level as the kitchen, dining and ‘garage’. Another level up, the living room is surrounded by light, air and roof gardens. Well designed compact homes orientated towards generous outdoor spaces are far healthier than huge homes that internalise all functions and fill the site.
Our house also tries to give more to the community. City streets are increasingly monopolised by parking. To take back these public spaces, the crane that cherrypicks the modules also plucks the car from the street. Populating our streets with people, not cars, allows communities to thrive!
Australians see small as a compromise, but thoughtful, compact spaces - Mini-Living - can maximise the quality of all our spaces.