In the charming city of Warsaw, Poland, a remarkable piece of architecture stands squeezed into a narrow gap between two seemingly common buildings. It’s known as the “Keret House” and, at just 63 centimeters at its thinnest point, it has earned the title of the world’s narrowest house.
This unusual dwelling, a brainchild of Polish architect Jakub Szczesny, was built in the crack of a couple of houses left during the wartime destruction of the city. Szczesny contended with a slim wedge of property, nestling his offbeat creation between a pre-war house and a post-war apartment block. The house is named after its first tenant, Israeli writer Etgar Keret.
Despite its lean features, the Keret House includes many amenities found in traditional houses. It contains two floors accommodating a kitchen, bathroom, living area, and a bedroom. Visitors or residents access the home through a staircase that retracts when not in use.
The house measures 92 centimeters at its widest, which is approximately the width of a large refrigerator. Tapers dramatically to 63 centimeters on the opposite side, roughly the width of a kitchen stove. That said, living in it isn’t about luxury but more about embracing a minimalist lifestyle.
This uniquely designed house fills a historical gap in Warsaw’s urban environment. Exploiting Warsaw’s planning laws that don’t classify buildings less than 92.52 square meters as a residence, Szczesny ran with the opportunity to promote art and creativity. Skirting further restrictions, the house is officially classified as an “art installation”.
Opened in 2012, the Keret House has attained international attention, recently resurging in online discussions and social media platforms for its stark contrast to the increasing trend towards luxury housing and maximal living spaces worldwide. Different online platforms from architectural journals to adventure and travel blogs have been sharing and praising the unique design and its efficient use of space.
While the Keret House is inhospitable for a traditional family setup, it offers an intriguing experience for adventurous travelers and artists during their stay in Warsaw. Artists and writers from across the globe have inhabited the property, using it as a retreat or an unusual living experience.
Szczesny’s design also highlights the growing issue of urban space shortage. Urban areas across the world are becoming increasingly crowded and finding affordable, spacious accommodations is more challenging than ever. Keret House exemplifies a creative solution to the problem of compact urban living. While not everyone might be ready to move into such a petite place, it’s an interesting exercise in extreme minimalism, demonstrating what is possible in terms of space utilization.
The interior design of the house is white, to avoid the feeling of confinement, maintaining an atmosphere of openness in stark contrast to its tangible physical borderlines. The building’s unique narrow windows let in sufficient natural light, adding to the illusion of more space.
It’s evident that the Keret House has made its mark as a significant contribution to architectural innovation. Jakub Szczesny has proven that with creativity and vision, space, no matter how tight, can be transformed into a habitable and even intriguing living area.
Whether you interpret the Keret House as a social statement, an architectural wonder, or just a tourist curiosity, there’s no denying that it’s put new ideas into the cultural conversation about what a home can be. Now, as it stands tall and thin, it continues to captivate the world while serving as a reminder that even in the narrowest spaces, there’s room for life.
