Embracing Elegance: The Art of Architecting Narrow Houses

Design, architecture, and art.

Regia Marinho
3 min readMar 31, 2024

Ah, the delightful challenge of narrow houses!

Facade Narrow House. 2024 by AI + RegiaArt.

Above is my facade project for a narrow house.

Picture this:

The architectural equivalent of a slender supermodel strutting down the runway, defying space constraints with grace and style.

In the realm of narrow houses, every inch counts.

Like a maestro conducting a symphony, I orchestrate spaces that maximize functionality without sacrificing elegance.

Think sleek lines, ingenious layouts, and a dash of creativity sprinkled in for good measure.

Erwin Wurm’s NARROW HOUSE. A sculpture.

Erwin Wurm’s NARROW HOUSE, 2010. mixed media, 7 x 1,3 x 16 m.

NARROW HOUSE is a creation by Erwin Wurm dating 2010. It has found a permanent home since 2022 at Square Claude Érignac in Le Havre, France.

This unique installation, unveiled to the public on 24th June 2022, stands as the sole outdoor iteration of Wurm’s concept.

Inspired by his childhood dwelling, a quintessential suburban residence from the 1960s, NARROW HOUSE is nestled within a lush landscaped garden in Le Havre, evoking the ambiance of a residential enclave.

Wurm, renowned for his thought-provoking art, has made various renditions of this work, yet this particular installation is an enduring fixture within the urban landscape.

These slender abodes are the epitome of efficiency, where every corner is optimized for living, breathing, and thriving.

From multi-level marvels to vertical sanctuaries reaching for the sky, narrow houses stand tall (quite literally) amidst sprawling urban landscapes.

But it’s not just about fitting in — it’s about standing out.

With innovative facades that turn heads and interiors that spark joy, narrow houses make a statement.

Facade Narrow House II. 2024 by AI + RegiaArt.

Facade Narrow House II. 2024 by AI + RegiaArt.

They challenge the notion that bigger is better, proving that true luxury lies in thoughtful design and clever space utilization.

I saw this land today when I was taking my daily walk. It is a good fit for a narrow house. Isn't it?

Photo by the author. Porto, Portugal.

So, if you ever find yourself in the market for a home that’s a little less wide but a whole lot of wonderful, consider the allure of narrow houses.

After all, in architecture, it’s not about the size of the house…it’s about the size of the dream.

Thank you!

_Regia Marinho. March 31, 2024.

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Regia Marinho

I write about ideas, technology, the future and inspire the world through art. https://regiaart.com