The Freedom Room is a Low-Cost Micro Apartment Designed by Prison Inmates

The Freedom Room is a miniscule 4 x 2.7 meter space that includes a bedroom, kitchen, closet, bathroom, storage room, workspace, living room and even a gym.

The low-cost micro housing module was designed with the help of inmates from an Italian prison. Built by Cibic Workshop and Comodo (Comunicare Moltiplica Doveri), the concept housing module explores the use of space, multi-functional furniture and how micro-housing can be reinvented to improve social housing, hostels, temporary housing and even jail cells.

There is a large carpentry shop in the High Security Prison in Spoleto, Italy where inmates build furniture for other correctional facilities. Cibic Workshop and Comodo (Comunicare Moltiplica Doveri) teamed up with some of these carpenters to get their input on how to make the most of a 10.8 sq m (116 sq ft) space and make it more livable. In prison, due to limited space and resources, objects often serve multiple purposes. Stools become tables, beds become storage, chairs become gym equipment and more. The goal was to design a compact space that maximizes efficiency, flexibility and livability.

The rectangular Freedom Room features two beds along one wall with drawers underneath and storage above. The opposite wall features a two-chair desk that doubles as work/study/dining space. Storage above holds living essentials and food. Next to that is the bathroom area with a separate toilet room and a sink room connected to a shower. Since there is little privacy in prisons, the inmates felt that the closed-off spaces were critical. The sink and surrounding fixtures were designed to work for hygiene and cooking as well as laundry. The details of the space are really what make it shine – they allow the residents of the room, whether it be a prison, a hostel or an apartment building, to maximize their space. The Freedom Room debuted at an exhibition during the 2013 Triennale di Milano and is an example of how to improve micro-housing on a budget

 

There is a large carpentry shop in the High Security Prison in Spoleto, Italy where inmates build furniture for other correctional facilities. Read more: The Freedom Room is a Low-Cost Micro Apartment Designed by Prison Inmates Freedom Room-Cibic workshop – Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

 

Cibic Workshop and Comodo (Comunicare Moltiplica Doveri) teamed up with some of these carpenters to get their input on how to make the most of a 10.8 sq m (116 sq ft) space and make it more livable. Read more: The Freedom Room is a Low-Cost Micro Apartment Designed by Prison Inmates Freedom Room-Cibic workshop – Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

 

In prison, due to limited space and resources, objects often serve multiple purposes. Read more: The Freedom Room is a Low-Cost Micro Apartment Designed by Prison Inmates Freedom Room-Cibicworkshop – Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

 

Stools become tables, beds become storage, chairs become gym equipment and more. Read more: The Freedom Room is a Low-Cost Micro Apartment Designed by Prison Inmates Freedom Room-Cibic workshop – Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

 

The goal was to design a compact space that maximizes efficiency, flexibility and livability. Read more: The Freedom Room is a Low-Cost Micro Apartment Designed by Prison Inmates Freedom Room-Cibic workshop – Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building