There is a shift happening in the way we live. Homes are getting smaller. Not always by choice, but often by context: Urban density, rising construction costs and a growing awareness around sustainability are reshaping how we think about space. But for us, smaller doesn't have to mean limited.
In one of our recent projects, developed in collaboration with BAO Architecten, we were challenged to rethink how much space a home truly needs and how that space performs. What started as a constraint became an opportunity.

RETHINKING SPACE, NOT REDUCING 

Small living is often misunderstood as a compromise. Less square meters, less comfort, less freedom.
In reality, it asks for a different kind of design intelligence. Instead of trying to put everything in it as it would be a normal scaled house, we start questioning everything:
Do we really need this function as a separate room?
Can one space serve multiple purposes throughout the day?
What if storage is integrated instead of added?

The project pushed us to design with intention. Every line on the plan had to justify its existence. And that changes everything.

One of the most underestimated aspects of small living is flow.
A well-designed narrow townhouse can feel surprisingly generous, even when its footprint is limited and its geometry isn’t straightforward. In this project, the central zone of the house was long and relatively dark.
Instead of trying to “fix” that darkness, we chose to work with it.

The middle space became a more intimate TV area — a place that is mainly used in the evening, where a slightly darker atmosphere actually enhances the experience. Layered lighting was introduced to create depth, warmth and control, rather than uniform brightness. By accepting the natural conditions of the space, we could define clearer zones:
A darker, cocoon-like living area at the centre VS a bright, open dining space towards the window

The kitchen island was positioned exactly in between, acting as a natural separator — not as a barrier, but as a spatial anchor.

FUNCTION FOLLOWS LIGHT

Rather than fixing the dining table in a traditional position, we placed it near the window , where natural light is strongest.
This is where the resident spends most of her time: working on her laptop, reading, having coffee, eating.
The space adapts to real life by putting a flexible dining table instead of a formal one. We also added an additional lounge chair by the window for the sunday afernoon readings.
It’s a small shift, but it completely changes how the space is experienced.

In small homes, circulation is often reduced to the absolute minimum. Narrow corridors, steep stairs, purely functional transitions. In this project, we approached circulation differently.

Even though the overall footprint of the house is compact, circulation space was kept efficient, but never compromised in experience. Instead of minimising it, the architect made one deliberate move: introducing a wide and comfortable staircase.
We finished the staircase in the same material as the floor, creating a continuous surface throughout the space.
It leads to no visual interruptions. No fragmentation, which has has two effects:
- The circulation zone feels more generous than it actually is
- The staircase becomes part of the architecture, rather than an added element
It turns movement through the house into a spatial experience — not just a necessity.

In the end, small living teaches us something valuable about design in general:
comfort does not come from excess, but from thoughtful decisions, atmosphere and flow.
And often, the homes that feel the most memorable are not the biggest ones, but the ones that simply feel right.

- Sophie Andries

Circulation as an experience, not a leftover space