The Small Spaces Edition

A global tour of small homes, dense cities and ways to live better in less space. In issue 24, we go inside compact residences in Bali, Singapore, Manila and Hong Kong, as well a charming abode on the Japanese coast. Plus, our regular round-up of travel, art, architecture and design from across the region and beyond.


In this issue we take a look at small spaces, density and treading more lightly on the earth. In putting it together, I was reminded of a number of presentations and conversations I had the pleasure of hearing in Jakarta late last year during the Prihal: arsitektur andramatin conference that ran alongside acclaimed Indonesian architect Andra Matin’s retrospective exhibition. Bangladeshi architect, urbanist and educator Kazi Khaleed Ashraf and architect Marina Tabassum, Thai architect Varudh Varavarn and Japanese architect Yoshiharu Tsukamoto were among the presenters, and each of them spoke in some way about building sustainably. It was a reminder that architects in certain parts of the region are setting strong examples of sustainability in their practices — especially when it comes to incorporating natural lighting, ventilation and other human- focused elements into small footprints.