Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Turning small spaces into functional dream homes
GRANT Gillis, chief executive of Delta International Design Company, interior designer and planner of the micro-units, provides answers.
Absolutely. For a young, middle-class South African investing in their first home, this can be their pride and joy. They are not only buying a micro-unit, but a lifestyle where they are part of a vibrant community.
The retail section will have everything you could possibly want.
The apartments are designed for functionality and have top-end appliances, fast-speed wifi, a smart TV, a queen-size bed, under-bed storage, a kitchenette and a bathroom with a shower.
For this to work as a dream home the building has to “live”. It is aimed at young professionals earning a decent salary who want to live in a lifestyle centre close to the city.
The concept of any development of this nature is to make the development totally self-sufficient. By that I mean in addition to security being a non-negotiable, any person, including shift workers who arrives home at night, will be able to buy any product cooked or uncooked, buy a beer or wine, and get energy from the building itself.
These are not properties that investors will welcome, but instead require raw passion from likeminded individuals starting out their lives together and feeding on each other’s energy.
It is probably the size of a small hotel room.
Design and functionality are key to the units working. For instance, when you open the front door you will find on the left a sliding door to the bathroom, which will include a built-in toilet, a shower and a vanity with mirror and overhead light.
On the right-hand side you have a kitchenette with a two-plate gas hob, a convection microwave, lacquered finishes and cupboards. Everything has clean lines and is minimalistic.
Beyond that you have cupboards, some with mirrors, then a chair/ couch and desk space and a queensize bed.
You can sit on the couch and on the wall opposite you have your bigscreen TV. You open a sliding door on to the balcony.
All the curtains have block out and everything inside is minimalistic and clean, and, importantly, functional. From both a landlord and pur- chaser’s point of view, delicate items like fold-out storage sofas will only bring endless maintenance issues with the hinges and with mechanical failure.
Straight and clean lines, good lighting, high-class finishes and comfort is the essence of these units.
Taking into consideration that many young people will have very little clutter, it is important to make provision for those who do have stuff to pack their items away cleverly and comfortably, also allowing the executive types a good working area with smart TV and wireless keyboards.