Very small buildings have a special appeal. The constraints of space and cost can actually liberate the imagination. Most of the projects in this book consist of no more than a few key spaces, in many cases just a single space. They are united only by their compact nature, the pleasure that they can provide and the intelligence that they embody. A brief introduction is followed by five thematic chapters: Public Realm, Community Spaces, On the Move, Compact Living and Extra Space. The 53 case studies include a park bench that transforms into a shelter for the homeless in Australia, an inflatable treetop structure for rainforest observation, a portable house for victims of hurricane Katrina, a transportable church in Finland and a suspended office in France.

Ruth Slavid is an architectural writer and editor. She worked for The Architects’ Journal for 15 years, in roles including deputy editor and online editor. She is the author of Wood Architecture (2005) and Wood Houses (2006), both published by Laurence King.