From the breathtakingly narrow houses rising on tiny plots of land in Tokyo to the engineering
marvels punctuating New York’s skyline - recent years have seen a proliferation of slender buildings.
There are many reasons why we build super- thin structures: economics, limited space,
and even - in the case of the Beirut "Grudge House" built by a man seeking to block his
brother's seaview - revenge.
As the trend has gained momentum, many incredible examples of slender structures have appeared
around the world - including London’s Slim House, designed by Alma-nac, which narrows
to a point of just 2.3 metres, and this 1.8 metre-wide house by YUUA Architects in Tokyo,
a city famed for its dense living spaces and super-skinny residences.
To avoid a crowded interior, YUUA focused on keeping as much free space as possible,
with many rooms located on split-levels, reducing the need for walls.
At the other end of the spectrum, the super-slender towers on Manhattan’s Billionaire's Row
take their narrow forms to impressive heights and the district is now home to the world’s
thinnest skyscraper.
From the many narrow buildings around the world, we've chosen to highlight a notable few.
These are either record holders, famous in their own right, or impressive in their
innovative use of small spaces. From thin to thinner, breathe in and get ready to experience
the world's thinnest buildings.
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In a country renowned for its wide open spaces, this super-slender tower has become emblematic
of the densification undergoing Australia's major cities.
Standing as one of Melbourne's skinniest buildings, Phoenix Tower is an astounding 6.7 metres wide.
For context, New York City’s authorities do not allow skyscrapers to be built on plots
that are less than 13 metres wide.
With only one apartment per floor - and with space so tight - lifts open directly into each residence.
Planning requirements saw an illuminated blue ribbon added along the front and sides of
the tower, so it appeared as more than just a razor-thin slab of concrete in the skyline.
Located just steps from Granada's famous Alhambra is the world's thinnest hotel.
With a maximum width of just 5.2 metres and a depth of 16.4 metres, the Molinos Hotel has officially
been the world's narrowest since 1996.
Featuring nine rooms across three floors - as well as a reception desk that doubles as a
cafeteria - previously, the only way to access the Alhambra was through the lobby of the
hotel, making the Molinos famous worldwide.
Easily mistaken as the front of the building behind it, this 1.82 metre-wide structure
holds the Guinness World Record for the skinniest commercial building.
The original property was bought by Chang Toy in 1902, when it was a standard-sized lot
However, the government decided to widen a neighbouring road in 1912, cutting into his land.
After they refused to properly compensate Chang, he built a two-storey building in protest.
The structure is still used as an office space, and holds historical significance for playing
a key role in the development and heritage conservation of Vancouver's Chinatown.
The narrowest house in Amsterdam - a city which has more than its fair share of slender structures -
is this famous canal building. Popular with tourists, it even boasts its own LEGO set.
The property is the result of creative tax avoidance, as houses used to be taxed on how
wide they were and how much of the canal street they took up.
While in Amsterdam, we should give an honourable mention to Singel 7, which is also
said to be the narrowest house in the city, measuring just over a metre across its front facade.
However, this structure opens up to a "roomy" three metres at its far end.
Croatia’s Church of Saint Martin is thought to be the narrowest church in the world.
At just 1.64 metres wide and ten metres long, it used to be a passage for watchmen who would
secure the entrance to the Diocletian Palace.
At the beginning of the 9th century it was turned into a Christian church and consecrated
to Saint Martin. It has since become a much-visited tourist attraction.
Finally, the title of world's thinnest building belongs to the Keret House in Warsaw,
that is an astonishing 92 centimetres wide at its narrowest point - and just 1.22 metres
across at its widest.
The house was originally created as a seemingly impossible artistic concept, and presented at
the WolaArt Festival in 2009.
Completed in 2012, the building is meant to
respond to both the past and present of Warsaw.
The city's post-war history saw temporary
and random development that has resulted in a chaotic urban landscape.
The Keret House is designed to fill the space between two disparate buildings. It restores
existence to an otherwise unused part of the city by providing a fully functional living space.
The house now serves as a temporary home for travelling writers.
While not a building, this street in Reutlingen, Germany, is certainly worth squeezing in.
Constructed in 1727 after a great fire, it was later commissioned as a public street in 1820.
Measuring just 31 centimetres across, this incredibly narrow route attracts hundreds
of visitors every year - although it is advised no one actually travels down it due to
the risk of becoming stuck.
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