Tiny-House Inspired Student Housing Transforms Old Office Building

The tiny house movement attracts a diverse range of people from all walks of life: millennials, older couples looking to "right-size" their lives, families looking for a way to get out of the debt trap, and even students looking to construct their own home as a school project.

Looking to bring some of these tiny living sensibilities into residential student housing in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Standard Studio converted an old office building into a series of 218 student units, with a layout that's inspired by tiny houses.

© Standard StudioMeasuring 193 square feet (18 square metres), the tiny house design inspiration for the Hermes City Plaza apartments is most apparent in the sleeping loft, which can accommodate a queen-sized mattress. Thanks to the height of the existing ceiling, it has the space to hang 3 metres (9.8 feet) above the ground. It's accessible via a set of stairs, which double as convenient shelving and wardrobe set -- another common tiny house design element.

© Standard Studio

The sitting area has a multipurpose unit that incorporates a sofa, desk, and storage into one connected element that sits under the windows. Even the handrail serves another purpose beyond offering a handhold.

© Standard Studio

The kitchen is small, but the shelving has been lit with extra LED strip lights, to eliminate any sense of darkness and constraint. There isn't enough space for a sink for the bathroom, so one larger sink is shared between the bathroom area and the kitchen, via a strategically placed sink that straddles the two zones. A half-partition separates the two zones visually -- it acts as a mirror on the toilet/shower side, and as a chalkboard on the kitchen side. All the cabinetry is made with durable and renewable bamboo.

© Standard Studio

© Standard Studio

The complete range of amenities here would suit Erasmus University students looking for more independence. It's a refreshing departure from conventional (and often chaotic) student dormitories that have shared rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms -- which aren't necessarily for everyone, especially those who are looking to actually sleep and get some real studying done. Nevertheless, the building does have a shared roof terrace, music room, TV rooms, a laundry area, and a study area.

There's no word on how much it costs to rent one of these units, but one hopes though that these tiny house-inspired student residences are affordable and somehow contribute back to the larger community too, as a growing number of towns and cities seem to be apparently experiencing some gentrification and the edging out of the development of family-oriented housing associated with the development of "boutique" student housing. In any case, you can find out more via Standard Studio.

[Via: Contemporist]