Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Jul 04, 2025

Tiny Apartment Adds Affordable Housing to High-Rise Rooftops

Tiny Apartment Adds Affordable Housing to High-Rise Rooftops

A new kind of tiny home, Parasitic House takes advantage of untapped skylines with a low-impact design.

As room for new developments in urban settings quickly diminishes-and with it affordable housing options for cities’ denizens-so gives rise to aerial urbanism, wherein architects like Ecuador's El Sindicato Arquitectura have designed a minimal A-frame hut that smartly perches atop apartment buildings or high-rises. The minimalist, 39-square-foot unit aims to provide a solution to housing crises in increasingly pressurized urban areas.

For less than the price of a car, the 4-piece, timber and steel prefabricated structure packs a punch: Inside is a kitchenette, a lofted bed, a workspace, and a bathroom-basically the essentials for an individual or young couple who want to stay in a city, but are willing to live in an off-grid way. What's better, the home can be oriented for breathtaking views, one-upping those renting expensive terrestrial apartments below.



A small dining table is situated near the front door for city views during breakfast or dinner.



There's a dedicated workspace between the kitchen and front door for use as needed.



Fogged glass grants residents a city view while maintaining privacy from neighboring onlookers. Constructed from four larger pieces, timber and steel structure's walls are packed with coconut fiber insulation.

The small-footprint design makes use of in-place infrastructure by attaching to water and sewage lines provided by the building on which it sits, hence the word "parasitic." The project could be titled "Symbiotic House," since it's addressing a problem for cities rather than creating one. But the given name cuts, like it's ribbing the bureaucratic slog plaguing momentum of practical housing solutions.



The kitchenette has a stove and an oven, and enough counter space for home cooking.



The home can be placed on any flat surface where there are connections to water and sewage. Apartment building roofs are an ideal fit, but finding complexes willing to host the structures may be a challenge, along with addressing the infrastructure necessary to access roofs for residents.

For the architects, the project's impetus was charged by a quote from former president of Uruguay José Mujica: "My definition of poor are those that need too much, because those that need too much are never satisfied." And the result is clearly that-a feather-light, no-frills concept that walks the talk of a less-is-more ethos. If the price tag for the first model is $11,000, it should only get more approachable with scale. In the near future, we may all be ditching noisy neighbors for simple living and a skyline view.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
×