> Will ideally increase the length of tenant stay

> Should discourage multiple occupancy (the
spaces are intended for single occupancy only)

> Should discourage conventional cooking
(space is not zoned for stoves or hot plates)

> Materials and manufacturing should remain
as sustainable as possible, thus excluding MDF
composite wood

RESEARCH AND METHODOLOGY /

Target user research

The research and discovery conducted by our
team was completed in several different phases.
We were provided with a set of interests and
constraints from the vantage point of the client,
but we lacked insight about the situation,

needs and desires of the target users (tenants).

To gather this data we employed the following
research steps and methods:

> Conducted a site visit to observe living
situations

> Photo documented the space and its
surroundings

> Established user profile and target audience
information

> Conducted a tenant survey to gather opinions

> Utilized a co-creation kit (a creative kit
that enables the user to answer simple but
insightful questions in a tacit and visual way)

> Constructed a scale replica of the ninety
square foot problem-space to examine the
relevant issues in context

> Conducted “day-in-the-life” walk-through
studies to glean information about how
the space is moved through and used ona
daily basis

> Established a needs vs. wants framework
analysis

> Constructed scale mock-ups of the objects
that must exist within the space (bed, fridge,
etc.) in order to account for their presence in
the space

Important observations made during

the discovery process began with the
realization that when conventionally sized
furniture is brought into the space, it often
creates additional problems rather than
viable solutions. The rooms began to look

disorganized and cluttered, despite our best
efforts. Many furniture items introduced into
the spaces were discarded or left behind for
the landlord or site management to dispose of
at the end of the tenancy. We also noted that
vertical space was never really used in any
creative or meaningful way, with most space
existing above eye level remaining unused and
ignored. We considered this neglected space
to be valuable real estate in terms of space
planning.

Inspirational and existing product research

We considered a plethora of influences during
the ideation phase of our development to
inspire our design. Some of these sources
included existing small-space living solutions
such as yacht/boat cabins, recreational vehicles,
train cabins, submarine facilities, and bus
interiors. These examples of space management
proved helpful, but did not lend well to a sense
of permanence in the space.

Influence was also drawn by looking at urban
centres in other countries such as New York
and Hong Kong for existing examples of
compact living. Most examples found possessed
a considerably larger budget than what was
currently allotted, and therefore proved non-
viable on a limited budget. Other examples

of small-space furniture included hybridized
furniture, which strives to combine articles
such as a couch and bed.

CLIENT

budget
space & viability
implementation
return on investment

COMMON
shelter GROUND

basic needs

modularity

IMAGE 1 / Stakeholders and
their unique set of needs
and limitations are identified
through discovery research.

construction

safety/security

entertainment

ease of install

maintenance

comfort

SECONDARY

USER USER