The clever Swedish architects had a brief from the country’s Lund University to come up with cheap, eco-friendly accommodation for students.
The result was the smart unit, with a footprint equivalent to a 9 feet by 12 feet room, which cleverly uses height to expand the living space.
For instance, bookshelves double as steps up to the roof space and the bedroom.
The student desk and kitchen worktops fold away as window shutters and the seating is suspended from the roof space flooring.
The first 22 smart units are ready to roll off the production line for testing by students at the university.
They are ultra eco-friendly as the units are crafted from locally sourced materials, like cross board laminated plywood.
The walls and roof are well-insulated, while the doors and windows come as double glazed as standard to retain as much heat as possible in the winter and to keep the inside cool during the summer.
"The layout is designed as an efficient use of space and using wood as a construction material keeps the rent down by 50%. The ecological impact and carbon footprints are also significantly reduced," said Karin Bodin, of Tengbom, architects responsible for the project.
Besides sleeping, working and living space, the unit has room for a small kitchen and dining area and an en suite bathroom.
"The design demonstrates how to achieve quality without compromising space and how wood contribute to the feeling of comfort and space," said Bodin.
"The layout is practical and students like the unit as an attractive alternative to a room in a block."
More about the Smart Unit
