FEM office
Situated in the urban park Institute for (X), the architectural office FEM explores the possibilities of constraining their office to 20 m2. The project is an experiment in creating a functioning office-space, combined with the facilities of a complete tiny house with kitchen, bathroom and sleeping area. As it is designed to house the small crew of 3 partners, it poses as showcase on how small spaces can be improved by well-thought use of space organization and the right materials.
While the outer proportions of the building are referring to the contextual shipping containers scattered in the area, the overall wrapping in Douglas fir reveals itself as something apart from its site, which is continued in the interior design. Hovering on ground screws gives it a provisional character, and its balloon-frame construction even allows for moving the building if necessary. The overhang protruding to the south, is a roof terrasse that shades the façade, while the loadbearing beams continues indoors and defines the overlapping interior zones. To be able to support the load of a container on top, the construction is built around 4 reinforced columns, resulting in an interior balcony access to the different functions of the building – thus the logic of the interior becomes readable from the exterior.
