In the crack between the buildings on 22 Chłodna St. and 74 Żelazna St., in Warsaw, you find Keret House, part art installation and part hermitage for Israeli writer, Etgar Keret. The building is a brainchild of architect Jakub Szczęsny and was first presented as a slightly impossible artistic concept during Wola Art festival in 2009. The building measures 92 centimetres (3.02 ft) at its narrowest point and 152 centimetres(4.99 ft) at its widest point and is designated as the narrowest house in the world.
According to Jakub Szczęsny it did cost a lot of blood, sweat and tears before the tiny house could become reality:
“Everything seemed to stand on its way: the space narrowness, the infrastructure, law and money. But since its creators were persistent and devoted to the vision, they’ve managed to convince and persuade other people: neighbors, authorities, administrators, sponsors and builders.”
One mans waste dump is another mans building site.
Entry to the house is via retractable stairs that, when closed, become the living area.
The construction of the Keret House was supported by the Warsaw Town Hall and The Foundation of Polish Modern Art. The house is classified as an “art installation” because it does not meet Polish building codes even though it is being used as a residence.
The iron structure contains two floors, and has one bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom and a living area. It has two non-opening windows, with sunlight also entering through translucent glass panels that make up the walls. The entire interior is painted white and the building’s electricity is obtained from a neighboring building. The house has custom water and sewage technology and is not connected to the city-provided water systems.
Because of its small size, the building only accommodates a small 2-beverage refrigerator, and occupants use a ladder to travel from level to level.
Today the house of some 14m2 has been inhabited by Writer and filmmaker Etgar Keret, but it will also fulfill a function of a studio for invited guests – young creators and intellectualists from all over the world. Etgar Keret has stated that staying at the Keret House is like a “memorial to my family.” His parents’ families died in World War II when Germany occupied Poland.