Inside a British micro apartment

Summary

This video takes viewers on a tour of a British micro-apartment, highlighting its compact design and quirky features. From a tiny bedroom with limited lighting, built-in electronics, and a small desk, to a practical yet cramped bathroom and communal kitchen, the video captures the realities of living in such spaces. The narrator draws comparisons to Japanese micro-apartments while pointing out functional and design quirks, such as noisy surroundings, sensitive smoke detectors, and modular furniture. Beyond student use, these apartments serve a wide range of residents, offering just enough space for short- or long-term stays in a uniquely compact British setting.

Takeaways

• 😀 The apartment is part of a larger, labyrinthine building, typical of compact spaces in urban environments like Edinburgh and London.
• 😀 The apartment has five bedrooms and uses fob-operated door entry, emphasizing security and privacy.
• 😀 The space is extremely compact, with minimal furnishings like a small table, bed, and overhead light, making it functional but tight.
• 😀 The lighting in the room is inefficient, with downlights that fail to illuminate the workspace adequately.
• 😀 The view outside includes other buildings, a supermarket, and a noisy loading bay, highlighting the noisy urban environment.
• 😀 The bed area includes a shelf and USB socket, but the electronics (like the USB socket) are non-functional due to poor build quality.
• 😀 The apartment includes basic storage solutions, such as cupboards and drawers, but the furniture is basic and utilitarian.
• 😀 The bathroom facilities are compact, with a shower cubicle, toilet, and a sink with a slight leak—suggesting minimal attention to maintenance.
• 😀 The communal kitchen has poor lighting, broken smoke detectors, and only basic appliances like an induction hob and a fridge.
• 😀 The space is marketed as 'student accommodation' in the UK, though it is occupied by various people, not just students, and is used to bypass certain regulations.
• 😀 The shared kitchen features modular furniture and uncomfortable plastic seats, emphasizing the low-cost, temporary nature of the accommodation.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The video aims to showcase a British tiny apartment, drawing a comparison to Japanese micro-apartments, and highlight the living conditions and design choices in compact flats in the UK.

How does the flat's entrance operate?

The flat has a fob-operated door entry system, providing security and controlled access to the building.

What are some notable features of the bedroom?

The bedroom is compact, with a small table, overhead lighting that doesn’t effectively illuminate the table, a bed with a shelf, a non-functional USB socket, small cupboard compartments, a tall mirror, and built-in coat hangers.

How is the bathroom designed in the flat?

The bathroom is a built-in cubicle containing a toilet, a sink with a minor leak, flickering LED lighting, and a shower cubicle with a fixed head that is adequately sized for use.

What is the condition and setup of the communal kitchen?

The communal kitchen has dull lighting, some sensors that are jammed, a fridge, cleaning supplies (without a vacuum), an induction hob with a timed activation button, a kettle, coffee and tea supplies, and a replaced microwave for safety.

What are some issues with the flat's appliances and electronics?

Several electronics are non-functional or limited in usability, including a non-working USB socket, flickering LED lights, and an induction hob that only works for a fixed time after activation. The microwave was also previously unsafe and was replaced.

Why does the narrator compare this flat to Japanese apartments?

The narrator compares the flat to Japanese micro-apartments to emphasize the compactness and efficient use of space, showing that such tiny living spaces are not unique to Japan and exist in the UK under the guise of student accommodation.

Who typically lives in these flats?

Although labeled as student accommodation, these flats house a variety of people, not just students, allowing property managers to navigate regulations while providing compact living spaces.

What observations does the narrator make about the flat's surroundings?

The flat overlooks other buildings, a supermarket, and a loading bay, which can be extremely noisy in the mornings. The surroundings are reminiscent of dense urban environments in Japan or China.

How is the furniture described in the flat?

The flat has modular furniture, including hard plastic seats that are uncomfortable. One co-worker brought a separate chair for comfort, highlighting the minimalistic and functional, but often uncomfortable, design choices.

What safety concerns are mentioned in the flat?

The flat has a smoke detector that is highly sensitive, flickering LED lights, and a previously dangerous microwave that was replaced. The bathroom door is also very stiff, which could potentially cause injury if not handled carefully.

How does the lighting in the flat affect daily activities?

The lighting in the bedroom is mostly decorative and ineffective for tasks like working at the table, while the communal kitchen lighting is dull and partially non-functional due to a jammed sensor, affecting usability.