Prefab Sorte Hus proves affordable housing can be stylish in Copenhagen

Architecture firm <a href="http://sigurdlarsen.eu/" target="_blank">Sigurd Larsen's</a> recently completed Sorte Hus proves that housing can be affordable without compromising on style. Made from low-cost, prefab materials, the compact single-family residence is just 860 square feet - but it uses an innovative spatial composition to create a spacious feel. The home includes <a href="http://inhabitat.com/energy-efficiency-2/" target="_blank">energy-efficient</a> features, such as double-glazed windows and a self-heating concrete floor, and it was designed to meet Copenhagen's growing demand for affordable housing.

The Sorte Hus is built out of three main interlocking materials: prefab birch plywood walls, double-glazed windows, and the concrete floor.

. To maximize the home's small footprint, Sigurd Larsen divided the building in the middle with a large wooden wall and placed communal spaces on one side with private spaces on the other.

The tall ceiling and clerestory windows on the east and west facades also create a feeling of spaciousness.

The south-facing living room opens up to an outside patio and garden through wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows.

The boxy and light-filled home's exterior is painted black and topped by a saddle-roof that give the building a modern and chic feel.

The structure was designed to accommodate a family of three.