Why not having installed an external staircase??? With only 6.76m² per story, it would have made more sense to me to proceed this way to get the maximum useable space on each story while the staircase being installed in front of the front door, it may have been a veranda so the transparency could have kept the old school architectural feel while making it rather easy to build?
I was on board; till you extruded that living room window. Totally a put off Also the windows should be equal spaces and locations centred in the building. Yours throw the equilibrium off.
Very interesting. My main concern is the perforated steel stair: whilst it does a fantastic job of letting light pass through, it also lets all the dirt and debris pass through as well: directly onto the dining table and the foodstuffs on it. Don't mean to troll or knock off your design work, which is quite impressive indeed. I used to be an architectural photographer and love architecture; but nowadays I do casual work in a building cleaning and doing odd jobs, and I humbly offer the perspective of the cleaner when it comes to dirt, dust, and dead bugs.
Spent ages scrolling through the comments and was surprised it took so long to find someone pointing this out! I was just picturing those cups on the table full of dried mud (and worse)...
Really like how you resolved the issue of the stairs, especially given how many historic tower structures use a narrow spiral staircase which isn't always the friendlier to climb. 😄
Agreed, and I do hate spiral staircases! I used to have a fairly open steel framed one in a house I lived in. Very dangerous after a couple of glasses of vino, as I found out one evening! Still got the scars 35 years later!
My suggestion is to leave an original interior brick wall or a partial brick wall exposed, so that the experience of living in a brick tower is visual from the inside of this tiny home. Or the wall decor are photos of the outside of this tower. If I were young again and willing to climb all those stairs, I would want to actual see that I was inside an historical brick tower.
I think she’s going for a ‘modern makeover’ but I totally agree with you , I personally would like it to keep certain elements to maintain the historic vibe if that makes sense. You can rent a modern apartment anywhere, this is a very unique thing and should be complimented appropriately in my opinion
I’d be more impressed if this was a program of affordable housing as versus holiday rentals. This tells me this building will be vacant for some period of the year.
@@geegeelast7597 I agree with you, but I'm not sure if it would be comfortable to live in such a tiny place and outside of a town for a longer period of time.
When I watch your videos I always wonder how much intelligence it requires to come up with such ideas and then draw them, animate and execute them. I consider myself fairly intelligent and I could never do that. You are very gifted ❤
My sister first started making drawings with Windows Paint. It was years before she would go on to study architecture and learn to use CAD. Like others have said it all comes down to practice
Nah. Knowledge, passion and practice are important. But without very developed cognitive skills none of this would be possible. Most people wouldn't be able to create something like this even if they practiced and observed others for 50 years. What's more, a lot of people wouldn't even been able to start.
As a tradesman I am so interested on the mechanical aspect ( hvac , electric, plumbing,) where do you hide the a/c and heating. Is there another exit for fire safety, perhaps an outside stairs off a balcony/ patio? All these things pose problems and it’s fascinating to see someone’s thoughts while they work out the solution! Thankyou for sharing this and making my mind think!
The form is nice but I’m not so sure about function. Is the shower open to the stairs?Without a curtain or door to hold the heat in, the shower would be drafty-and lacking in privacy. The slanted floor’s a non-issue…I’ve seen that before.
Oh this is my new obsession. if i were a rich man. id hire you for everything. we'd cross america, transforming power stations and factories and old YMCA's into bespoke homes. Just absolutely in LOVE with this whole thing. The process is WORKING. Just so so SO much love, from Detroit, MI.
I'm curious if it would remain White or if black would be better. If you Google "paint chicken wire black" you can see how black mesh becomes more transparent then white/silver. So it would be interesting to see the trade off of darkening the space vs seeing through the perforation.
I really look forward to when you release a new video. I am ALWAYS enchanted and I ALWAYS learn something new or something creative or original. Thank you so much.
I love it! The idea of living (even for a short amount of time) in such a narrow and constricted building would not have felt comforting to me, but your design (as always) feels natural and expansive and calming!
Agreed. In this instance would a covered porch area to sit outside the front door be allowed? How would you envision something like that for the tower. A garden spot there would make time spent at the tower/cottage complete for me. 😎 💙
As a fan of the 'Living Big in a Tiny House' channel, this place offers a lot more floor place than the tinies out there but as permanent living spaces, those have to integrate multiple storage solutions. The constraints of size though, can really fire the imagination.
I'm speechless, such an intelligent and beautiful use of materials and space conversion! I thought in the beginning it was impossible to transform... only to bow down to such genius and knowledge.
FANTASTIC!!! Such constructions can be found all across Polish countryside; I' ve always admired their beauty and had a thought every now and then about them being wasted as a potential living space 🙂 Obviously had ZERO idea how they could be turned into a home; it takes your talent and imagination to create THAT 😍
Thank you, Gemma. I’m always amazed how you work through a project to find the perfect solution; practical, functional, and beautiful. Would an elevator have been an option? Thanks for sharing. Many blessings
My one concern is how noisy it would get, going up and down the steel stairs. I wonder if the treads could get coated in a rubber material to dampen the sound while keeping the perforations?
The concept and adaptation for the existing building is fantastic, but I have some doubts about air circulation. First with the kitchen lacking any opening to get natural ventilation. I think I´d take advantage of the door with a small 150mm height window above the headline and another one that could be opened but with the same mesh used for the stairs to allow cool air to flow and allow a more natural induced air exchange. That would help to keep heat and smells out of the rest of the building. Secondly, the bathroom. Even if the corridor option makes the space cramped, I believe it´s the most logical way to lay it out, since both who use the shower and the toilet will naturally seek for privacy. The open shower layout over a timber floor exposes it to rot eventually, and all the vapours will go up, filling all the bedroom with moister. The bedroom looks fine, I think I would put an openable skylight on the roof to make a canadian chimeny and improve the entire natural ventilation of such vertical space when needed, which might be everyday with temperatures above 18°C having all walls exposed to nature and sun. Again, the amount of work and thinking into this project is outstanding. Mine are just constructive critics that might help improve it a little more. Best wishes from Buenos Aires
omg this was AMAZING and I love to see you explain "we thought about this and that" and see the final choice, and the reasons why. The bathroom is just brilliant.
Gemma drops a new video and my heart soars.🥰 In this plan, I really like the "smoke" staircase and the placement of windows that respect and follow the decorative exterior elements; particularly the brickwork. With seating on only one wall, the living space would feel like a waiting room, but when you added the large window and bench, it became cozy. It's always interesting to hear your thought process in arriving at such ingenious designs. Thanks for sharing.
Brilliant. I couldn’t live here because I have vertigo and the see-through stair treads would freak me out. The cast iron stairs at the top of St Paul’s in London were bad enough! But I’m sure it would be great for someone who didn’t have that problem
I get vertigo too but in this instance it’s not the see through stairs that are the problem. I feel like I could easily fall down the stairs especially from the bedroom. Walking down those slightly spiral stairs would scare me.
I find spectacular this work. So little space and you don?t have the feeling of narrowness. I have some doubts about the bathroom even I think it?s a very good idea to make it as a trapezoid. Congratulations! I enjoy very, very much your videos. I would have liked to be an architect myself...but I was a teacher for 40 years and I loved my carreer.
I worked for a builder in Canada who only used recycle materials and equipment one incredible idea for an old mechanic’s garage we had renovated was the use of an old dry cleaner’s clothes rack where the clothes moved along the powered rack system but only half of the clothes where visible and the other half passed through the wall he had a hand crank in case of a power outage. Anyways i loved his ingenuity just like your videos your ability to create beauty with a minimal design. You obviously love a challenge and your videos are fun to watch I have subscribed and we are look forward to more of your challenges!
Your work, channel, knowledge, talent and humble love of your profession never ceases to amaze me. Filled with wonder and inspired, I look forward to every new post and am never disappointed.
Gemma, you are a genius! What creative and visionary solutions you come up with to convert basically unusable space into interesting and quirky living spaces. Love your channel! Inspired by your work! Thank you for sharing 😊♥️
I’m another individual who enjoys imagining how to repurpose old structures. Your creative solutions for both the staircase (Constructed of folded and perforated steel) and the bath (the angled toilet stall with the sliding barn door) are absolutely brilliant! I was trying to figure the bathroom situation, combined with the requisite staircase, and was stumped. Additionally, your placement of the bath on the third floor (up from the living room and down from the bedroom) is another of your thoughtful considerations.
Fashion designer and closeted Architect / Interior Designer wannabe here. Almost all my flats have had "challenging" or "non-traditional" floor plans, I relish challenges like this, it pushes us to think outside our comfort zones. Bravo, this was a very clever, thoughtful and inspiring job. Thank you for sharing your gift and you've earned my subscription. Cheers from Montreal, Canada
My favorite RUclips architect … your beautiful designs and brilliantly creative problem-solving restore my hopes and reinforce my conviction that the universe bends toward justice.
What a challenging building Gemma and once again you have cracked it. Ideal as a holiday home if, unlike me, you are young and fit and like staircases. I love the perforated metal stairs, such a nice light solution. My favourite bit is the bathroom solution. I love the sliding wall feature for toilet privacy, really ingenious. I think realistically it would be a very expensive renovation because you'd have to have scaffolding all the way up in order to install the new windows which would push costs up hugely. Not sure it would be worth the costs for just a holiday home unless you are super wealthy, but I loved hearing your thought process and seeing your solutions.
I love your work, as always ! You really did make a functional housing from such a narrow lil tower building :) However, there's some modifications I would suggest (even though only take it as my personnal opinion) - The big black modern bay estically breaks too much from the victorian style of the tower, and breaks its balance too : the tower is initially thought to be thin and pointy. I'd still suggest a wide bay to highlight the view and bring some light, but instead of standing out, following the brick arch shape of the inner wall. I like the idea of a discrete steel terrasse though. - A source of natural light in the kitchen, the same size of the only preexisting one, and maybe an other opening in the front door to let some light pass through. - Another steel material for the stairs with early 20th century ornements (maybe art nouveau, or old industrial ornaments) that would add more character to the inner space.
I find architecture fascinating and love unique buildings e.g. one I just discovered, The Rooms, St Johns, Newfoundland. I get so absorbed by your videos. Thankyou.
What a odd and curious building 😂 A electric tower ! I will have to research this I think it's brillant the design you have in mind ! I watch all your videos, they are so interesting! Take care 😊😊
Gemma, you're a genius. I love how in this video you've shown us not just your choices, but the ideas you discarded on your way to making those choices - enlightening. And we all marvel at your architectural talents, but your writing is also sublime - always clear, descriptive, and insightful. What you do is incredible!
I absolutely LOVE these videos! And, is it just me, but after Gemma shows the original space, I hold my breath until I see her renderings…which are so smart and brilliant!
I know you’d need a bigger team to release more than one video a week, and more subscribers/monetary supporters, but I do wish we could get more of these every week. 💕 Congrats on your newest team member, Marta!
Gemma, This was an astonishing transformation! After seeing your videos I no longer complain about the small, pokey rooms in the old part of our house. I think of them as Gemma rooms...to be appreciated and transformed with care and delight. It's nice to stop yelling at them for being too small! I love your videos. xoxo Subscriber Suzi
I was so excited when I began to watch because my first thought was - ‘How on earth will she make this work?’- quickly followed by - ‘ I bet she does though! ‘ And you did - I’m blown away - so much intelligence and sensitivity and boldness and just pure fantastic-ness! Great stuff!
I love your ideas, they differ a lot from usual architecture these days because you have a great feeling for space and harmony, also considering the combination of old and new. You always find unusual solutions for space issues. It is always a pleasure to watch your videos and dive into your way of thinking and planning.
Another spectacular design!!! Living here in Atlantic Canada we have many Lighthouses that are abandoned or decommissioned. My husband has a fantasy to turn one into a holiday home. Prior to seeing your video ( watched it on my tv because I love seeing a large version of your content!😊) I couldn't see how you could possibly use the tiny but vertical space effectively or have any comfort. Wow- you blew my mind and my husband is thrilled at the possibilities. So happy to see your new content! Xo from Canada ❤
@@russellhltn1396they could add storage in the couch in the living room level. And maybe (if there's enough head height) they could attach small storage boxes under some of the stairs (maybe in the bathroom leve), where you can easily access them from the living room? It would increase visual separation but it might be worth it, and I bet it would work for books
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: “You’re a genius!” I’ve learned more from you and your videos than I did in 4 yrs of my MArch degree and years of working in the field. Thank you so much for your brilliance and education! I know in such a design context as this, it’s hard to implement due to the extreme verticality of the space and it’s constraints, but I’d love to see in one of your future videos how you would implement accessibility (disability friendly) features as one of the built-in parameters. Thanks again for all your wonderful wisdom!
It was your idea for how the stairs are to be constructed that make the whole plan work. Nice job. My favourite is the same; converting buildnigs to residential use.
I loved the lightweight black metal box addition to the living room -appearing to be an easy add-on-, to flood the space with light and create an "L" seating arrangement and, like the bolt-on minimal terrace option (a delight), in the language of the original steel frame above. The floating stair hung from above is another delight to keep the lowest level open and airy. I was mentally adding an outside flush timber shutter to the top half of a stable entrance door panel with an window internally for natural daylight, air and a view out, there being very few pedestrians here, still keeping the door hinges stair-side for an internal opening (I can't help myself!) or/and adding a small glass floor panel under the bay window for sunlight penetration from it. The articulated roof reminds me of the children's paper fortune teller and with the top arises appearing split on your photograph, one facet could peel open for an under-mounted roof light to bring zenithal light onto the stairs, through the timber "X", without loosing the definition of the existing roof.. (I recognise my idea here is a real expense.) I enjoyed your solution to the bathroom. Your walk-throughs are always very clear and evocative; a lot of work visible here shows that what is simple is never usually easy. (I really liked your fully open top floor facade option, ie no dark brick, over the front door.)
Love the video, and just subscribed. I was really curious about the purpose of these buildings, and ChatGPT had this to say: The tall, small-footprint brick buildings you saw in Belgium, referred to as old electricity buildings, were likely transformer towers or substation buildings. These buildings were typically constructed during the early 20th century when electrical power distribution was becoming more widespread. Their primary purpose was to house the equipment necessary for the transformation and distribution of electrical power. This equipment included transformers, which were used to adjust the voltage of electricity transmitted over long distances to a lower, more usable level for homes and businesses. The small footprint and vertical design helped minimize the land use in urban areas, which was particularly valuable. These buildings were often made of brick with a robust structure to provide a stable and secure environment for the sensitive and potentially hazardous electrical equipment they housed. Additionally, the brick construction helped in insulating and protecting the equipment from external elements. Many of these buildings, while no longer in use for their original purpose, are now considered architectural or historical landmarks. Some have been repurposed into residences, offices, or cultural spaces, preserving their unique architectural features.
Gemma. . . .you have scored again. Your imaginative planning, use of space and materials, are just wonderful. I enjoy every word of your description, and marvel at your professional approach to every project you undertake. Good on you!
For the true minimalist without pets and no need for a desktop computer, it would be perfect and a cool place to live! Making the bed would be a headache, and there's no washer/dryer, but those are the only real problems I see.
Download Opera for free using opr.as/Opera-browser-gemmawheeler . Thanks Opera for sponsoring this video!
Why not having installed an external staircase??? With only 6.76m² per story, it would have made more sense to me to proceed this way to get the maximum useable space on each story while the staircase being installed in front of the front door, it may have been a veranda so the transparency could have kept the old school architectural feel while making it rather easy to build?
I was on board; till you extruded that living room window. Totally a put off
Also the windows should be equal spaces and locations centred in the building. Yours throw the equilibrium off.
love that you showed your stair iterations! getting a closer look at the process rather than just seeing the final product is super interesting
💯
Love the stairs 😀
:the robot vacuum, verticle sander brick too: tracked system ..
Very interesting. My main concern is the perforated steel stair: whilst it does a fantastic job of letting light pass through, it also lets all the dirt and debris pass through as well: directly onto the dining table and the foodstuffs on it.
Don't mean to troll or knock off your design work, which is quite impressive indeed. I used to be an architectural photographer and love architecture; but nowadays I do casual work in a building cleaning and doing odd jobs, and I humbly offer the perspective of the cleaner when it comes to dirt, dust, and dead bugs.
Spent ages scrolling through the comments and was surprised it took so long to find someone pointing this out! I was just picturing those cups on the table full of dried mud (and worse)...
Same. Stairs like those will be also a lot more fragile cause of construction type if material is not strong enough.
Good point! I would be a bit worried to slip on the stairs (wet feet after shower) and fall 🤸♀️💥🤕
i have no background in Architecture or interior design but I could watch these videos for hours
I'm the same! I know nothing about architecture but love the idea of living in a place with a story, so these are very inspiring :)
Same!! 😁
watching the vids could be one way to learn. Who says the only way is in a traditional classroom ???
That bathroom is a work of a genius. I gasped, watching!
That bathroom is a work of a genius. I gasped, watching!
Really like how you resolved the issue of the stairs, especially given how many historic tower structures use a narrow spiral staircase which isn't always the friendlier to climb. 😄
Agreed, and I do hate spiral staircases! I used to have a fairly open steel framed one in a house I lived in. Very dangerous after a couple of glasses of vino, as I found out one evening! Still got the scars 35 years later!
My suggestion is to leave an original interior brick wall or a partial brick wall exposed, so that the experience of living in a brick tower is visual from the inside of this tiny home. Or the wall decor are photos of the outside of this tower. If I were young again and willing to climb all those stairs, I would want to actual see that I was inside an historical brick tower.
Love that idea
Yes, agree!
I think she’s going for a ‘modern makeover’ but I totally agree with you , I personally would like it to keep certain elements to maintain the historic vibe if that makes sense. You can rent a modern apartment anywhere, this is a very unique thing and should be complimented appropriately in my opinion
there needs to be insulation and that's has to be done internally on this. so brick finish would be great, it wouldn't be livible without insulation.
Yep, insulation, cables and wiring could be a thing.
A perfect home for a single wizard
Selwyn's Tower in Ultima VII...
I really appreciate that the city wants to use the towers for something new, rather than just knocking them down.
Located at 7 Graef
Fourons, Région Flamande
I’d be more impressed if this was a program of affordable housing as versus holiday rentals. This tells me this building will be vacant for some period of the year.
@@geegeelast7597 I agree with you, but I'm not sure if it would be comfortable to live in such a tiny place and outside of a town for a longer period of time.
Wow!!
@@littlemary434 beggars can't be choosers
When I watch your videos I always wonder how much intelligence it requires to come up with such ideas and then draw them, animate and execute them. I consider myself fairly intelligent and I could never do that. You are very gifted ❤
That’s very kind, but I would say that it comes from a lot of practice and learning from others
*knowledge 😊
@@SkyeAtenplus passion for the mission!
My sister first started making drawings with Windows Paint. It was years before she would go on to study architecture and learn to use CAD. Like others have said it all comes down to practice
Nah. Knowledge, passion and practice are important. But without very developed cognitive skills none of this would be possible. Most people wouldn't be able to create something like this even if they practiced and observed others for 50 years. What's more, a lot of people wouldn't even been able to start.
As a tradesman I am so interested on the mechanical aspect ( hvac , electric, plumbing,) where do you hide the a/c and heating. Is there another exit for fire safety, perhaps an outside stairs off a balcony/ patio? All these things pose problems and it’s fascinating to see someone’s thoughts while they work out the solution! Thankyou for sharing this and making my mind think!
Did I miss the refrigerator?
@@maddie4077 It's in the kitchen, a mini fridge, next to the oven.
Homes in Europe rarely have aircon, it’s not necessary.
@@maddie4077 it was under the counter on right side of long counter.
Only problem I have is the modern propensity for providing windows which don’t open. This place will be stifling in hot weather.
Not to mention the dilemma of where the plumbing and electricity are going to be hidden 😮
And a serious lack of storage, you'd have to have a shed to put everything else in that people have. There are tint homes with more storage.
@@IflieI thought about that too.
What about ventilation too...especially while cooking and in bathroom.
Or in case of a fire. You need to have an escape route in mind.
That angled bathroom is such a good idea!
Yes, I like it too. But how do you prevent water from the shower not to flood the whole floor?
@@m.rubland6737 perhaps it’s angled a little? What I’m actually wondering is where the pipes are?
@@m.rubland6737 You carefully slant the whole floor toward the drain.
The form is nice but I’m not so sure about function. Is the shower open to the stairs?Without a curtain or door to hold the heat in, the shower would be drafty-and lacking in privacy. The slanted floor’s a non-issue…I’ve seen that before.
@@m.rubland6737 You have a slight "fall" in the floor towards the drain and have an additional drain outside of the shower for any overflow.
"art consists in making others feel what we feel" Fernando Pessoa.
you are an artist! Love your work
For those who don’t know , Fernando Pessoa is a portuguese Poet .
Thank you for share this beautiful phrase from a poet of my country.
Oh this is my new obsession. if i were a rich man. id hire you for everything. we'd cross america, transforming power stations and factories and old YMCA's into bespoke homes.
Just absolutely in LOVE with this whole thing.
The process is WORKING. Just so so SO much love,
from Detroit, MI.
The perforated folded-steel is a genius idea. I was afraid the addition of a staircase in concrete would occupy too much of the needed space.
Yes, and it would have blocked too much light!
it floats, doesn't it?
I'm curious if it would remain White or if black would be better. If you Google "paint chicken wire black" you can see how black mesh becomes more transparent then white/silver. So it would be interesting to see the trade off of darkening the space vs seeing through the perforation.
@@skully70 And the white is going to get gross looking the moment anyone walks up with stairs with shoes on.
@@ae2948 if it's powder coated it should be fine for awhile but I agree that or will be a general upkeep issue.
As always, you seem to come up with the only perfect solutions! Also, noticed you always say "we", acknowledging assistance. Very admirable.
I always figured it was the royal we. Surely Gemma is the Queen of Tiny Architecture! 😂🎉👑
I really look forward to when you release a new video. I am ALWAYS enchanted and I ALWAYS learn something new or something creative or original. Thank you so much.
I’m really glad, thank you
I love it! The idea of living (even for a short amount of time) in such a narrow and constricted building would not have felt comforting to me, but your design (as always) feels natural and expansive and calming!
Agreed. In this instance would a covered porch area to sit outside the front door be allowed? How would you envision something like that for the tower. A garden spot there would make time spent at the tower/cottage complete for me. 😎 💙
As a fan of the 'Living Big in a Tiny House' channel, this place offers a lot more floor place than the tinies out there but as permanent living spaces, those have to integrate multiple storage solutions. The constraints of size though, can really fire the imagination.
I'm speechless, such an intelligent and beautiful use of materials and space conversion! I thought in the beginning it was impossible to transform... only to bow down to such genius and knowledge.
Oh my goodness! This is an award winner! Your creativity is off the charts. So beautiful.
FANTASTIC!!!
Such constructions can be found all across Polish countryside; I' ve always admired their beauty and had a thought every now and then about them being wasted as a potential living space 🙂
Obviously had ZERO idea how they could be turned into a home; it takes your talent and imagination to create THAT 😍
Thank you, Gemma. I’m always amazed how you work through a project to find the perfect solution; practical, functional, and beautiful. Would an elevator have been an option? Thanks for sharing. Many blessings
Love the use of the perforated steel for the staircase. A brilliant use of a modern material that still feels right in an old building.
My one concern is how noisy it would get, going up and down the steel stairs.
I wonder if the treads could get coated in a rubber material to dampen the sound while keeping the perforations?
And all the dirt falling through the stair treads will wind up in your morning coffee.
The concept and adaptation for the existing building is fantastic, but I have some doubts about air circulation.
First with the kitchen lacking any opening to get natural ventilation. I think I´d take advantage of the door with a small 150mm height window above the headline and another one that could be opened but with the same mesh used for the stairs to allow cool air to flow and allow a more natural induced air exchange. That would help to keep heat and smells out of the rest of the building.
Secondly, the bathroom. Even if the corridor option makes the space cramped, I believe it´s the most logical way to lay it out, since both who use the shower and the toilet will naturally seek for privacy. The open shower layout over a timber floor exposes it to rot eventually, and all the vapours will go up, filling all the bedroom with moister.
The bedroom looks fine, I think I would put an openable skylight on the roof to make a canadian chimeny and improve the entire natural ventilation of such vertical space when needed, which might be everyday with temperatures above 18°C having all walls exposed to nature and sun.
Again, the amount of work and thinking into this project is outstanding. Mine are just constructive critics that might help improve it a little more.
Best wishes from Buenos Aires
I always imagine making a home out of attractive, abandoned municipal buildings I see! Also church's. Prayers.
Your vision and creativity are simply off the charts!
Wow. Gemma. Simply Wow 😮
You never cease to amaze me with your beautiful, practical and well thought out designs! You have created another gem! Bravo 👏 👏 👏
omg this was AMAZING and I love to see you explain "we thought about this and that" and see the final choice, and the reasons why. The bathroom is just brilliant.
This is pure genius
We have architects and designers in our family, and each have their strengths and weaknesses. I really appreciate your vision and creativity!
1:27 Smiley face on the darker bricks! o ‿ o
Gemma drops a new video and my heart soars.🥰 In this plan, I really like the "smoke" staircase and the placement of windows that respect and follow the decorative exterior elements; particularly the brickwork. With seating on only one wall, the living space would feel like a waiting room, but when you added the large window and bench, it became cozy. It's always interesting to hear your thought process in arriving at such ingenious designs. Thanks for sharing.
SO clever, SO thoughtful!
way too excited to not skip to the end right away before watching the rest🙃 might be my favorite building yet! super unique😍
Haha!
Brilliant design. The bathroom is incredible
Brilliant. I couldn’t live here because I have vertigo and the see-through stair treads would freak me out. The cast iron stairs at the top of St Paul’s in London were bad enough! But I’m sure it would be great for someone who didn’t have that problem
Ah yes I can totally see how a tower would be a nightmare then!
I get vertigo too but in this instance it’s not the see through stairs that are the problem. I feel like I could easily fall down the stairs especially from the bedroom. Walking down those slightly spiral stairs would scare me.
I sleepwalk, I couldn't either :( it's such a great design and home !
This woman is incredible with great ideas. She really knows her stuff! It’s perfect for a single person. I love it…
Lovely whimsical space. Only hazard is the pointy ends of staircase above the table. A creative design.
I find spectacular this work. So little space and you don?t have the feeling of narrowness. I have some doubts about the bathroom even I think it?s a very good idea to make it as a trapezoid. Congratulations! I enjoy very, very much your videos. I would have liked to be an architect myself...but I was a teacher for 40 years and I loved my carreer.
All that wal lspace - what a place to display an art collection!
As usual amazing work, your talent is beyond.
Love it! This being Belgium reminds me of another build in a water tower near Brussels airport. Much bigger but very beautiful use of space.
Is that one that Kirsten Dirksen featured years ago? I thought of that when I saw the thumbnail, too.
@@chezmoi42 exactly!
Wow!! I love the solution for the bathroom!
Ah thanks, that really was fun to do
Your designs are just so jaw dropping amazing. I'm so impressed how you can even dream up the plans & designs you do. Another unique dwelling!
I worked for a builder in Canada who only used recycle materials and equipment one incredible idea for an old mechanic’s garage we had renovated was the use of an old dry cleaner’s clothes rack where the clothes moved along the powered rack system but only half of the clothes where visible and the other half passed through the wall he had a hand crank in case of a power outage. Anyways i loved his ingenuity just like your videos your ability to create beauty with a minimal design. You obviously love a challenge and your videos are fun to watch I have subscribed and we are look forward to more of your challenges!
Your work, channel, knowledge, talent and humble love of your profession never ceases to amaze me. Filled with wonder and inspired, I look forward to every new post and am never disappointed.
Hello Gemma, wow wow wow! This is mindblowing! Another great job! Greetings from cologne Andy
Thanks Andy
Gemma, you are a genius! What creative and visionary solutions you come up with to convert basically unusable space into interesting and quirky living spaces. Love your channel! Inspired by your work! Thank you for sharing 😊♥️
Wonderful! Not a home, but a great airbnb-place for holidays!
I’m another individual who enjoys imagining how to repurpose old structures. Your creative solutions for both the staircase (Constructed of folded and perforated steel) and the bath (the angled toilet stall with the sliding barn door) are absolutely brilliant! I was trying to figure the bathroom situation, combined with the requisite staircase, and was stumped. Additionally, your placement of the bath on the third floor (up from the living room and down from the bedroom) is another of your thoughtful considerations.
So creative and inspiring. Congratulations.
Wonderful design! So cool to see that this unusual old tower can be effectively repurposed! Bravo!
The staircase made of perforated metal (in order to be lightweigt and to let light through the whole tower) is just genius!
Fashion designer and closeted Architect / Interior Designer wannabe here. Almost all my flats have had "challenging" or "non-traditional" floor plans, I relish challenges like this, it pushes us to think outside our comfort zones. Bravo, this was a very clever, thoughtful and inspiring job. Thank you for sharing your gift and you've earned my subscription. Cheers from Montreal, Canada
As always, I’m amazed, delighted, and ready to move in.
My favorite RUclips architect … your beautiful designs and brilliantly creative problem-solving restore my hopes and reinforce my conviction that the universe bends toward justice.
What a challenging building Gemma and once again you have cracked it.
Ideal as a holiday home if, unlike me, you are young and fit and like staircases.
I love the perforated metal stairs, such a nice light solution. My favourite bit is the bathroom solution. I love the sliding wall feature for toilet privacy, really ingenious.
I think realistically it would be a very expensive renovation because you'd have to have scaffolding all the way up in order to install the new windows which would push costs up hugely. Not sure it would be worth the costs for just a holiday home unless you are super wealthy, but I loved hearing your thought process and seeing your solutions.
What a creative lady you are!!!
So beautifully imagined.❤
Very creative, imaginative and aesthetic use of space
Brilliant design. I particularly like the stair idea. I enjoy your videos very much. Thank you for making them.
I love your work, as always ! You really did make a functional housing from such a narrow lil tower building :)
However, there's some modifications I would suggest (even though only take it as my personnal opinion)
- The big black modern bay estically breaks too much from the victorian style of the tower, and breaks its balance too : the tower is initially thought to be thin and pointy. I'd still suggest a wide bay to highlight the view and bring some light, but instead of standing out, following the brick arch shape of the inner wall. I like the idea of a discrete steel terrasse though.
- A source of natural light in the kitchen, the same size of the only preexisting one, and maybe an other opening in the front door to let some light pass through.
- Another steel material for the stairs with early 20th century ornements (maybe art nouveau, or old industrial ornaments) that would add more character to the inner space.
Thank you so much for your thoughts, I really enjoy the consideration you’ve given this
I find architecture fascinating and love unique buildings e.g. one I just discovered, The Rooms, St Johns, Newfoundland. I get so absorbed by your videos. Thankyou.
Wow! What a neat space. Thank you Gemma.
The perforated steel staircase is genius!! 🙌🏻 As is the bathroom! Love
What a odd and curious building 😂 A electric tower ! I will have to research this I think it's brillant the design you have in mind ! I watch all your videos, they are so interesting! Take care 😊😊
Gemma, you're a genius. I love how in this video you've shown us not just your choices, but the ideas you discarded on your way to making those choices - enlightening. And we all marvel at your architectural talents, but your writing is also sublime - always clear, descriptive, and insightful. What you do is incredible!
A very thoughtful use of space with a relaxing layout.
I absolutely LOVE these videos!
And, is it just me, but after Gemma shows the original space, I hold my breath until I see her renderings…which are so smart and brilliant!
I know you’d need a bigger team to release more than one video a week, and more subscribers/monetary supporters, but I do wish we could get more of these every week. 💕 Congrats on your newest team member, Marta!
Gemma, This was an astonishing transformation! After seeing your videos I no longer complain about the small, pokey rooms in the old part of our house. I think of them as Gemma rooms...to be appreciated and transformed with care and delight. It's nice to stop yelling at them for being too small! I love your videos. xoxo Subscriber Suzi
If it is OK to have things protruding from the rear of the tower why not mount an elevator there and save all the space lost to the stairwell?
You need to have stairs in case of a fire. Stairs are required by law.
I was so excited when I began to watch because my first thought was - ‘How on earth will she make this work?’- quickly followed by - ‘ I bet she does though! ‘
And you did - I’m blown away - so much intelligence and sensitivity and boldness and just pure fantastic-ness! Great stuff!
Great design Gemma, loved what you did with such a small space!!!
Thank you! 😊
I love your ideas, they differ a lot from usual architecture these days because you have a great feeling for space and harmony, also considering the combination of old and new. You always find unusual solutions for space issues. It is always a pleasure to watch your videos and dive into your way of thinking and planning.
I could move in tomorrow! Love this tiny historic home design!
Agreed 😎
Another spectacular design!!! Living here in Atlantic Canada we have many Lighthouses that are abandoned or decommissioned. My husband has a fantasy to turn one into a holiday home. Prior to seeing your video ( watched it on my tv because I love seeing a large version of your content!😊) I couldn't see how you could possibly use the tiny but vertical space effectively or have any comfort. Wow- you blew my mind and my husband is thrilled at the possibilities. So happy to see your new content! Xo from Canada ❤
The bathroom door is genius. You always think of everything!
So brilliant Gemma. ❤ LMK when it gets done and Ill plan a trip from 🇨🇦
Another piece of simple elegance.
Whoever buys this as a home will have buns of steel.
And very little in the way of possessions due to minimal storage.
@@russellhltn1396they could add storage in the couch in the living room level. And maybe (if there's enough head height) they could attach small storage boxes under some of the stairs (maybe in the bathroom leve), where you can easily access them from the living room? It would increase visual separation but it might be worth it, and I bet it would work for books
She says at the start that this would be for accommodation like an air bnb but not a home
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: “You’re a genius!” I’ve learned more from you and your videos than I did in 4 yrs of my MArch degree and years of working in the field. Thank you so much for your brilliance and education! I know in such a design context as this, it’s hard to implement due to the extreme verticality of the space and it’s constraints, but I’d love to see in one of your future videos how you would implement accessibility (disability friendly) features as one of the built-in parameters. Thanks again for all your wonderful wisdom!
I love watching your videos soooo much. I can hardly wait for the next one
Brilliant design as always, and seeing the different options that were considered for each element was so interesting!
I really appreciate seeing some of your behind the scenes and how you make decisions like the stairs!
It was your idea for how the stairs are to be constructed that make the whole plan work. Nice job. My favourite is the same; converting buildnigs to residential use.
I loved the lightweight black metal box addition to the living room -appearing to be an easy add-on-, to flood the space with light and create an "L" seating arrangement and, like the bolt-on minimal terrace option (a delight), in the language of the original steel frame above.
The floating stair hung from above is another delight to keep the lowest level open and airy.
I was mentally adding an outside flush timber shutter to the top half of a stable entrance door panel with an window internally for natural daylight, air and a view out, there being very few pedestrians here, still keeping the door hinges stair-side for an internal opening (I can't help myself!) or/and adding a small glass floor panel under the bay window for sunlight penetration from it.
The articulated roof reminds me of the children's paper fortune teller and with the top arises appearing split on your photograph, one facet could peel open for an under-mounted roof light to bring zenithal light onto the stairs, through the timber "X", without loosing the definition of the existing roof.. (I recognise my idea here is a real expense.)
I enjoyed your solution to the bathroom.
Your walk-throughs are always very clear and evocative; a lot of work visible here shows that what is simple is never usually easy.
(I really liked your fully open top floor facade option, ie no dark brick, over the front door.)
Absolutely brilliant - the bay window was particularly appealing!
another incredible transformation .......genius
Genius! Love everything about this home especially the stairs! No see-um metal! Magical!👏👏👏👍🤩🤩🤩
Love the video, and just subscribed.
I was really curious about the purpose of these buildings, and ChatGPT had this to say:
The tall, small-footprint brick buildings you saw in Belgium, referred to as old electricity buildings, were likely transformer towers or substation buildings. These buildings were typically constructed during the early 20th century when electrical power distribution was becoming more widespread.
Their primary purpose was to house the equipment necessary for the transformation and distribution of electrical power. This equipment included transformers, which were used to adjust the voltage of electricity transmitted over long distances to a lower, more usable level for homes and businesses. The small footprint and vertical design helped minimize the land use in urban areas, which was particularly valuable.
These buildings were often made of brick with a robust structure to provide a stable and secure environment for the sensitive and potentially hazardous electrical equipment they housed. Additionally, the brick construction helped in insulating and protecting the equipment from external elements.
Many of these buildings, while no longer in use for their original purpose, are now considered architectural or historical landmarks. Some have been repurposed into residences, offices, or cultural spaces, preserving their unique architectural features.
Very ChatGPT-like answer, full of commonplaces.
Wow. Very talented.... extremely clever design and style... always
Instead of a stair would prefer a lift. Great design i am always impressed
I don't know if you're allowed to build a home with only a lift - because of fire safety regulations...
I'm always amazed at your creativity! Absolutely love your work! Thank you!!!
Thanks!
Thank you!
Gemma. . . .you have scored again. Your imaginative planning, use of space and materials, are just wonderful. I enjoy every word of your description, and marvel at your professional approach to every project you undertake. Good on you!
For the true minimalist without pets and no need for a desktop computer, it would be perfect and a cool place to live! Making the bed would be a headache, and there's no washer/dryer, but those are the only real problems I see.
Your voice is so relaxing!! Love your philosophy towards the use of space!
Omg how clever.......❤
You know it's gonna be a good day when Gemma uploads :-)))) Delightful designs & exquisite explanations as always!!!!!!!