Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1502330
24 | Architecture & Design W ith Christmas around the corner a lot of us are currently looking out for the next big milestone in our lives – January is looming and with it the potential of a bigger, better (more put together) version of ourselves is shining like a beacon in the distance. Many of us will join the gym, others will put all their energy into bettering themselves and others, following the festive marriage proposals or new beginnings, will decide to purchase their first or second property – be it an investment or their forever home. Finding a suitable property is one of the most challenging things to do in life – making it a home is even more difficult. With property prices rising and apartments getting smaller and smaller it makes sense that people want more value-for-money in the properties that they choose. Repetitive design of corridor apartments with limited space and no natural light to speak of is shifting investment into smaller properties that present the possibility of quirky conversions. Whatever you decide, you want to make the most of your space. Applying the principles of Tiny Living will help you achieve the best possible outcome. The tiny house movement was started in the 1970's in the United States. Today we are seeing more and more first-time buyers going for a 'tiny house' or a small space. Affordability, efficiency, eco-friendliness, and minimalism are cited, in that order, as the four most attractive factors that the tiny home lifestyle has to offer. A tiny house is usually defined as anything between 35 – 50 sqm. With a single bedroom dwelling being legally limited to a minimum 55 sqm in Malta our tiny homes are a little bigger. So how can you make the most of your tiny home? Or design your space with maximum usability? The bones of the building are key when looking for a property to transform into a comfortable living space. Is it exposed to sunlight? Is there an opportunity to bring in more light by opening or widening windows? Can you bring more illumination from small light wells if it is on the uppermost floor? Is there a vertical opportunity to the space? – sometimes even a ceiling height of 3.5 meters can give you the opportunity to live on two levels. By adding a partial level in some rooms you will be maximising your floor space. tInY LIVInG W o r d s b y P e r i t A l e x a n d r a M a n c h é a t A m a n c h e A r c h i t e c t u r e