Three bedrooms, an open kitchen, one-and-a-half baths, and 1,200 square feet of boxy space coated in red: That’s what the ideal home in Sweden looks like, based on two million people’s opinions. Swedish housing website Hemnet analyzed data from over 200 million clicks to find what the country really wants in a home, and architectural firm Tham & Videgård turned it into a reality.
”The fact that two million people visit Hemnet each month provides a good foundation to interpret what kind of homes people are dreaming about,” Hemnet spokesperson Staffan Tell said in a statement. “The Hemnet Home provides interesting insights into how Swedes want to live right now.”
The resulting structure might not suit everyone, but it takes into account what many people are looking for: It has four rooms, not including the kitchen, because the houses most Hemnet visitors click on have an average of 3.8 rooms. Over half, 57 percent, have an open kitchen instead of a dedicated room, so the property’s kitchen is “social.” These design choices are either black or white, but the architects decided to marry other elements to suit several tastes. The boxy shape has an almost shipping-container look, but its color is “Falu red,” a nod to the deep red paint found on traditional Swedish barns and cottages, making the exterior both modern and classic.
Based on data about interior design, there are neutral-colored sofas (with gray, black, white, brown, and beige being amongst the most popular hues), white walls, and wood parquet floors. Tiles cover the walls and floors of the 1.5 baths, and the guest bathroom also includes a shower.
Since the homes are tailor-made for Swedes, they may soon be able to buy them for their very own. The process of selling these airy, efficient little homes is just getting under way, but Hemnet expects them to go for about $332,000 each. One of the most fascinating things about the Hemnet House is that it makes us imagine how different the U.S. version would look. Twelve-hundred square feet? Newly built American homes are an average of 2,400 square feet and just keep getting bigger. The one thing we can all agree on? Balconies for everyone!
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