Inside the world’s narrowest home: Pictures show how it’s a tight squeeze at Warsaw's Keret House

Writer Etgar Keret uses the property when he is in Poland
Tiny home measures just 36 inches across at its narrowest point

PUBLISHED: 13:34 EST, 26 October 2012 | UPDATED: 15:14 EST, 26 October 2012

Claustrophobics look away now - these pictures reveal the cramped living quarters inside what is believed to be the world's narrowest building.

Said to measure just 36 inches across at its narrowest point, this tiny home is wedged into the gap between two buildings in Warsaw, Poland.

Definitely not designed with family life in mind, Keret House is barely big enough for one person to inch their way from the single bed, through the miniscule kitchen and into the tiny toilet.

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The squashed bedroom inside the world's narrowest home in Poland

The world's skinniest home started life as an art installation, but Israeli writer and film maker Etgar Keret - who headed up the art project - decided to use the property as a retreat and workplace when he is in Poland.

Because there is only a total floor space of 46 square feet in the two-floor iron structure, he has to use a ladder to go up a level.

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It does not offer much in terms of luxury. The bathroom is nothing more than a toilet with a shower head installed almost directly above it.

Keen cooks would also have a tough time in the Keret house. There is minimal space for chopping, washing and cooking.

It is best to use fresh food in the home, as the fridge only offers space for two drinks.

VIDEO: Take a peek inside the world's narrowist home

Wedged in between two buildings in Warsaw, Poland, is the world's narrowest home

City living: A view of the kitchen and the living room inside what is thought to be the world's narrowest home

Functional: The cramped kitchen and tiny bathroom inside the Warsaw home

Space saving: A man sits at the table inside the tiny flat, which measures just 36 inches across at its narrowest point

Tight squeeze: The home was originally built as an art installation in the gap between two buildings in Warsaw

Slimmed down: Front and back views of the house in Warsaw which has no windows. Sunlight comes through two holes in the bedroom wall so you can tell when it is day time

Technical challenge: The framework for the house was constructed off-site and slotted into place by a team of builders

At just a metre-and-a-half wide the Keret House is thought to be the narrowest in the world. It was built as a comment on the lack of housing being built in Poland

Slender: The building is designed to make the most of the very small amount of usable space

Israeli writer and film director Etgar Keret will live in the home for six months, on-and-off.

Inviting friends for dinner is not really on the cards. There are only two fixed seats at the dinner table that sticks out of the wall.

The bedroom is no less spartan. It is functional though, featuring a tiny bed and desk.

Books can be stored in an alcove behind the bed.

'Research shows we are approaching a social disaster because too little living space is built,' the architect said.

'You don't need that much space to live in, so it is worth considering building smaller scaled, cheaper housing.'

When Keret moves out of the property he will give it to a colleague.

One of the buildings next to the house dates from before the war while the other was built after it.

Before the Second World War most of Warsaw's architecture was brick based.

But with the city almost completely destroyed by Nazi Germany, the communist rulers of Poland rebuilt the city in concrete.

The house is located at the point where the Nazis established the largest Jewish ghetto in occupied Europe.

Comments (38)

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>>>>>Arrrgh.....LET ME OUT........Arrrrgh...I CAN'T BREATHE....Arrrgh.....

- Beat Girl , Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, 27/10/2012 02:31

Click to rate Rating 215

Does anyone else think that's the greatest thing they've ever seen?!

- QK , Liverpool, 27/10/2012 02:22

Click to rate Rating 250

It will catch on a slightly larger form.

- paulp , stourbridge, France, 27/10/2012 02:22

Click to rate Rating 51

One of the photos has a statement that the house has no windows. I was just wondering what that thing over the bed is?

- smudge , Melbourne, 27/10/2012 01:42

Click to rate Rating 207

There is a lot of wasted space. If you were to rearrange,the outside steps you got yourself more space. It would be cool to have a go at it. I am pretty good at making small spaces do double work. Like. You could put at least 2 drawers under that bed...you could also use cabinet cupboard like for airlines or RVs...the bathroom make it the the oriental do with limited,space... there's a bunch of good ideas! Oh! Make a closet like on the trans semi trucks!

- heard it said... , key west, United States, 27/10/2012 01:06

Click to rate Rating 66

No worries about getting up on the wrong side of the bed.

- Zinger , Webville, Canada, 27/10/2012 00:49

Click to rate Rating 134

Etgar Keret is the director of a wonderful, hilarious, and sweetly dark movie called Wristcutters: A Love Story. If you can get beyond the title, you'll find a gem.

- anouk , seattle, United States, 27/10/2012 00:40

Click to rate Rating 27

The only downside; there are no laundry facilities...that I can see?

- Hannah , Amsterdam, 27/10/2012 00:33

Click to rate Rating 58

Not for the claustrophobic is it?????

- Haris , Somewhere-out-there..........., 27/10/2012 00:32

Click to rate Rating 62

There are no clothes closets.

- theatre inexile , Toronto, Canada, 27/10/2012 00:22

Click to rate Rating 65

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