The pod squad: how to live small

'Good things come in small packages" doesn't usually apply to homes, yet a development in Manchester is living proof that size isn't everything. Abito is a nine-storey project of 256 "micro pods" which, despite gloomy market conditions, is sold out. Like many British cities, Manchester heaves with unsold apartments as buyers struggle to get mortgages. Yet young professionals, who've been able to get on to the property ladder and secure themselves a stylish city base, have bought Abito apartments, which measure only 350 square feet each.

Describing them as "intelligent living spaces" could be considered a cynical marketing ploy to shift poky apartments, but a visit to Abito with its designer, Jasper Saunders of BDP, Europe's largest interdisciplinary practice of architects, designers and engineers, reveals a neat design by a passionate advocate of smarter 21st-century living. "Rather than a standard list of accommodation, we've thought about this as a place to live and have put people at the heart of the design," says Saunders, who has seen many examples of compact living but who believes that this design stands out: "I often look at others and see mistakes. Our idea was to super-condense everything. We've removed dead space from corridors and put it back into living space.

Corridor is a dirty word at Abito – where the buzz phrase is "flexible space". The front entrance of each unit opens on to a "bedroom" where a foldaway double bed, which drops down in seconds, is concealed behind wall storage space. At the apartment's centre, a "pod" conceals a utility cupboard with washer-dryer, wardrobe and bathroom with moveable walls, which can alter the living space. "Research shows that people use their bathroom for under 5 per cent of the time, so why pay a mortgage on it?" asks Saunders. The kitchen, with dishwasher, fridge with freezer box, hob and oven, is also housed inside the pod, leaving the rest of the apartment devoted to living space that seems larger, thanks to 3.3-metre-high windows and spacious balcony.

This Japanese-inspired design created by developer Ask Life has resulted in a high-density but low-cost product. Manchester's smallest one-bedroom apartments initially sold for £85,000, addressing the need for affordable accommodation, not only for the more affluent of the city's 90,000 students, but also for graduates the council wants to retain. Marketing executive Anne-Marie Duffy says, "They want to keep the many graduates who've studied here, but can't stay on as they can't afford to buy. They are the genius generation."

Abito offers a rare opportunity to buy a base moments from the city centre. Two thirds of buyers are graduates, most of whom earn less than £25,000 and tend to walk, cycle or use public transport to travel to work. Buyers cited affordability and value for money as their main incentives and Saunders explains how Ask Life kept the development low-cost without compromising on style or quality: "There is no choice of work surface. If they can, buyers will choose other colours but this impacts upon cost. We've used good quality wooden surfaces that are hard-wearing."

Outside, the pods look identical. Inside, owners have customised their homes. One has mirror-covered walls giving a feeling of space. Many pods house singles but can be shared by couples – or even more people. "Initially, we included a ladder up to the space above the pod which can be extra sleeping space, but we thought that was a bit much," says Saunders. You can even exercise by running circuits around the central pod.

Having won 10 awards, including one from Riba, Abito is entered for this year's What House? awards. Ask Life is now building a similar development in Salford Quays, where 38 apartments remain for sale from around £100,000. The company has outline permission for a Bolton project and hopes to roll it out to other cities.

Ask Life: 0870 242 4499; www.asklife. co.uk . The What House? awards take place at Grosvenor House, London W1 on 21 November

Other species of pod-life

Shipping containers

Container City is the name of a modular housing system – and an appealing exercise in sustainability. Retired shipping containers are used to create the external structure of homes and offices, meaning 80 per cent of the finished apartments are made from recyclable materials. Originally developed to provide artists with much-needed affordable living and studio space in the capital, they have since been used to create classrooms, youth centres, retail space and nurseries. What initially looks like a giant Lego experiment is modern and fashionable, with interiors that are often unrecognisable as shipping containers.

These extremely strong and durable constructions – they are made from corrosion resistant steel that only needs a fresh lick of paint every five or so years – could offer a viable solution to the housing crisis. Their designer, Eric Reynolds, is in talks with several London boroughs about proposals to provide purely residential accommodation. He anticipates a one-bedroom apartment will cost in the region of £50,000. 020-7515 7153; www.containercity.com

BoKlok

Furniture giant Ikea and construction firm Skanska have been manufacturing low-cost, prefabricated housing since 1996. BoKlok means "live smart" and the units are timber-framed structures, dubbed flat-packs – which detracts from their engineering competence. They are built in a factory then erected on site. The units look like Ikea show-homes but benefit from large windows and high ceilings. The first UK site was recently completed in Gateshead, where prices range from £99,500 for a one-bed apartment to £149,500 for a three-bed townhouse. There are plans to build similar communities across the UK. 0800 028 3629; www.boklok.co.uk

Unite: Student housing

More than 38,000 students in 30 cities across the UK benefit from Unite's accommodation. The company employs factory construction methods used in Japan – engineering that could easily be transferred to the affordable housing market – to produce ready-made "pods". The fully equipped units are then transported to sites and slotted into timber and steel framework structures. This method reduces labour costs, build-times and waste. Unite has recently completed a seven- storey building and is planning to produce an 11-storey building next year. The rental costs are dependent on location and the specifications offered at a project. There are standard apartments in Sheffield for £66 per week, while high-end properties in London can cost up to £300 per week. 0117-302 7000; www.unite-students.com

Ben Naylor

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