This Tiny 290-Square-Foot Home Can Be Configured 20 Different Ways
Chock-full of small-space inspiration.
Updated Sep 29, 2021 6:39 AM
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Italian architect Beatrice Bonzanigo of IB Studio is both a lover of good design and an avid traveler. Her latest creation, Casa Ojalá, effortlessly combines those two interests. Inspired by the untouched landscape of South America (she has spent the better part of the past few years traveling through Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay), Bonzanigo wanted to find a new way to live alongside nature while minimizing her environmental impact. An off-the-grid mobile micro home proved to be the point of connection she was longing for.
“It was a pity to go back to a centralized structure—even if it was a beautiful hotel—after a day by horse or jeep experiencing those wonders,” says Bonzanigo of her time abroad. That’s when the concept for Casa Ojalá came into question. “How can I respect nature with new architecture? Can I make it disappear on request? Can I break framed views? Can it function in the middle of nowhere?” she continues.
Set to debut at Milan Design Week this spring, Casa Ojalá spans just 290 square feet and can be configured in 20 different ways. Through a system of ropes, pulleys, cranks, sliding panels, and fabric partitions, the space can be customized to meet any needs the wanderluster might have.
All in all, the house includes two bedrooms, a bathroom, a terrace, a kitchenette, and a terrace.
“Sometimes I want to look out at the Andes while having a hot bath,” says Bonzanigo. “Sometimes I need a wardrobe even if I’m in the middle of a desert. Sometimes the wind bothers me while I’m reading next to the ocean.”
While we might have to wait awhile for Bonzanigo’s small-space dream to become a reality, the teeny abode is chock-full of small-space living ideas worth stealing now. Here are three big tiny living tips we’re taking into our own homes.
Partitions are a wide-open room’s best friend
Part of the genius behind Bonzanigo’s design is the customizable partitions that extend from the outer circumference. Rooms can be merged together or separated with the simple switch of a faux wall. This divide-and-conquer strategy is one of our favorite ways to fake a makeshift bedroom in a studio apartment.
Knickknacks can be concealed with 360-degree shelving
With a strong yet versatile core, Casa Ojalá’s central pillar takes care of all of the home’s storage needs (plus it also houses the fireplace). If you have limited opportunity for shelving, it’s often best to opt for function over form. Hem’s Hide Pedestal, however, is one piece that lets you have both. Thanks to its rotating outer shell, items in the interior compartments can be easily concealed with a simple rotation.
Furniture should be light enough to be moved around
Bulky furniture can really weigh down your chances for flexibility in a small space. Casa Ojalá can be configured to house two bedrooms—one with a double bed and one with a single bed. When used to host multiple guests, small stools and ottomans fill in as the essential pieces of furniture. While we aren’t saying that you should forgo your living room sofa for a pouf, investing in pieces that can be easily pushed aside at a moment’s notice or used as bonus surfaces during a party can instantly elevate a tiny space.
Casa Ojalá is designed to be assembled just about anywhere, so if the great outdoors aren’t your thing, you can squeeze this pint-size world of possibilities in your living room.
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