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Centrala: The Latest Architecture and News

Jakub Szczesny's Keret House Open for Residence

Would you ever want live in the Keret House - the world's skinniest dwelling - in Warsaw, Poland? Well, now's your chance. The Polish Modern Art Foundation has announced an open call for resident applications to artists (under age 35) practicing in the fields of architecture, visual arts, literature, music or film. If selected, artists will have the opportunity to live in the Keret House for up to 21 days to realize a project of their own design. The residency aims to foster individual artistic expression, promote creative exchange, and expose artists to the cultural environment of Poland while offering them the chance to experience what many believe to be an "impossible architecture." See if you are eligible to apply here.

Inside The Keret House - the World's Skinniest House - by Jakub Szczesny

Inside The Keret House - the World's Skinniest House - by Jakub Szczesny - Image 15 of 4
© Polish Modern Art Foundation / Bartek Warzecha

Earlier this week, we announced the completion of the world’s narrowest house in Warsaw, Poland. The Keret House was first conceived as a seemingly impossible vision of the Polish architect Jakub Szczesny of Centrala, who first presented the idea as an artistic concept during the WolaArt festival in 2009. Now, three years later, the vision has become a reality and is drawing a significant amount of international attention to the city of Warsaw.

Built between two existing structures from two historical epochs, the narrow infill is more of an art installation that reacts to the past and present of Warsaw. Although the semi-transparent, windowless structure’s widest point measures only 122 centimeters, it’s naturally lit interior doesn’t seem nearly as claustrophobic as one would think.

The Keret House will serve indefinitely as a temporary home for traveling writers, starting with Israeli writer Etgar Keret.

Images and the architects’ description after the break…

UPDATE: The Keret House - The World's Skinniest House - Actually Built

Last year, we brought you images of what was planned to be the world’s narrowest house: The Keret House, in Warsaw, Poland.

Well, against the odds, this skinny project has actually come to see the light of day, thanks to funding from The Foundation of Polish Modern Art and Warsaw Town Hall.

The Architect, Jakub Szczesny of Centrala, designed the home with a semi-transparent, polycarbonate surface so light would enter and the resident wouldn’t feel claustrophobic. However, that fate may be difficult to avoid - after all, the 3x5 ft structure is wedged between two buildings, can only be entered via ladder, and has no windows. Even the fridge can only hold two drinks at a time.

Check out the images and renderings of the world’s skinniest house, after the break...

Stretched Pavilion / Centrala

Stretched Pavilion / Centrala - Image 11 of 4
© Jakub Szczęsny

Most design and building processes relay on pre-determination and accuracy, plus an efficient coordination of data input leading to a physical realization representing previously conceived ideas as closely as possible. Parametric and generative design add an extra element of “objective” formulae playing role of legitimizations of designer’s intentional design, while the choice of data pools, algorithms or auto-generative formulae is in fact another intentional element.

Stretched Pavilion / Centrala - Image 12 of 4Stretched Pavilion / Centrala - Image 8 of 4Stretched Pavilion / Centrala - Image 7 of 4Stretched Pavilion / Centrala - Image 4 of 4Stretched Pavilion / Centrala - More Images+ 9

Architect: Centrala Location: Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany Designer: Jakub Szczęsny Assistant: Helmut Dietz Project Year: 2011 Photographs: Rolf Wohrle, Hagen Betzwieser and Jakub Szczęsny