Space is the Ultimate Luxury
At a time when soaring land prices consumed up to a third of total development value, a bold new approach was needed. The developer saw a unique opportunity: what if a new kind of low-cost, compact apartment could unlock the potential of smaller land parcels, while delivering high-quality city-centre living at an accessible price? The micro-flat was born.
The project set out to reimagine residential living from the inside out. Rather than starting with site constraints and working inward to maximise floor area in the conventional sense, the design focused on creating the most efficient, high-performing apartment possible. The result was a compact, narrow footprint of just 32.6m² (350ft²), volumetrically generous, thanks to its loft-like ceiling height and open, adaptable layout.
At the heart of the apartment was a central pod, engineered to contain all essential services. By compacting the functional elements into one unit, pipe runs were minimised, dead space eliminated, and usable space in the living areas maximised. The remainder of the apartment flowed with natural light and supported overlapping uses. The bathroom – used for just 7% of the day – was discretely folded away, returning valuable space to the living environment. Here, space was understood as the ultimate luxury.
“The pod itself is a feat of ingenuous engineering that incorporates all the appliances of a home.”
The Independent
Sector | Residential
Completion | 2007 and 2010
Client | Ask Property Development
Awards | 35 National Awards:
RIBA Award
Civic Trust Commendation
RICS Regional Award
Copyright | Courtesy of BDP
Sustainability
From the outset, the project was designed to maximise efficiency in both construction and living, reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions, and making better use of urban land. Almost the entire building interior was manufactured off-site. At the heart of each apartment sat a prefabricated services pod – the engine of the home – containing all essential services: ventilation, pipework, water tank, washing machine, kitchen, wardrobe, and bathroom. By engineering these elements in a controlled factory environment, the team achieved exceptional precision and quality, compacting utilities to deliver usable space back for living. This approach minimised material use, cut waste associated with on-site construction, and shortened the build programme.
The compact footprint of each apartment was designed to feel generous through high ceilings, flowing layouts, and intelligent space-saving features. The bathroom, used for only a fraction of the day, folded away to return valuable floor area to the living space.
The design embodies the belief that ‘Space is the Ultimate Luxury’. True comfort comes not from marble or chrome, but from light, air, and the freedom to move. Abito challenges the outdated model of “luxury” apartments that cram in features at the cost of liveable space. Here, every square metre works hard, and works beautifully. It’s a reminder that sustainability isn’t only about what a building is made from, but about how intelligently it uses the most precious resource of all: room to live well.
Plan 32.6m² (350ft²)
Designed with flexibility at its core, the apartment supported living, working, eating, exercising, relaxing and entertaining, all within a seamless, continuous volume. The bed folded away to create room for yoga or work; the dining area adapted to suit solo time or social gatherings. A chamfered balcony extended the space outward, encouraging connection and communication with neighbours above and below, an expression of vertical community. Daylight extended through the open-plan layout all the way to the sleeping zone at the rear.
The prefabricated service pod enabled compact engineering. It improved quality, reduced waste and increased speed of delivery – making the concept more economical to build, more viable for developers, and more affordable for residents. It also reduced material use improving sustainability credentials. The compact footprint made smaller, often overlooked, land parcels viable, supporting greater urban density without compromising liveability.
The first nine-storey building in Manchester’s Greengate area housed 256 apartments arranged around a communal courtyard, complete with translucent canopy, concierge, recycling, and bike storage – carefully designed to support a more sustainable way of living.
Abito (Greengate) went on to win over 35 national awards, including the prestigious RIBA and Civic Trust Awards in 2008, becoming the most awarded project in BDP’s 50-year history at the time. It was among the most innovative housing developments in Europe during the 2000s – a truly people-focused, inside-out residential concept – and was later celebrated in France’s 2008 exhibition New Forms of Collective Housing, Europe.
This was living reimagined. A format that challenged residential market norms, placing emphasis instead on the quality of space and freedom of living. A project that proved intelligent design can unlock value for developers, create joy for residents, and reduce impact on the planet.
