When it comes to the end of a love relationship, many things are done out of spite: only this time we are dealing with an urban icon. Let’s take a look.
This house is ONE METER WIDE: its value? HALF A MILLION dollars
# The ex-husband who no longer wanted to see his wife
The construction dates back to 1925: the result of revenge and stubbornness, the ‘Spite House’ is certainly the narrowest house ever found.
It all started with a divorce. Two divorcing spouses had to divide up land. The husband chose a plot of land, leaving his ex-wife a portion so small he thought it would be impossible for her to build a house on it.
Despite the unhappiness and frustration caused by the ex-husband’s hostility, the wife hadn’t lost heart, and designed a house to get revenge. Her stubbornness and desire to set the record straight were poured into the construction of a small house on a one foot-wide patch of lawn. Her initially negative feelings were converted into one of the greatest satisfactions of her life.
# An icon in Seattle
Over time, the Spite House became an icon of Seattle. Also referred to as “pie shaped”, it was built in the smallest size available for construction.
According to the divorce case, the patch of land left by the husband measured only 1.30m on the short side and 4.80 m on the long side.
Exploiting every single square centimeter available, the house that was built on it extended its size by over 80m². Thanks to its history and status acquired over the decades, this house is now worth a whopping 520,000 USD.
The Spite House had the advantage of being daring. This home took shape where it supposedly couldn’t be built. The narrow strip on which it was conceived turned an obstacle into a phenomenal “double exposure”, which made the house one of the brightest in Seattle. It comprises two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room.
Frequently listed on the real estate market, the news about it is continuously being covered by the press.
# A tiny Spanish colonial house
The house was bought by an architect who, taking advantage of his own and the house’s vocation, made a few renovations, in an attempt to blend the Spanish colonial style of the mid-1920s with a few Italian elements.
It features all the modern comforts required of a typical Seattle home: a garage, a regular-sized master bedroom, a bathroom, a living room and a kitchen both overlooking a small garden. Despite being situated in the narrower part of the house, the kitchen is more comfortable than many rooms built in modern condominiums.
The house features two levels, each including a dedicated entrance from the outside.
# Why ‘Spite House’?
‘Spite House’ is the nickname chosen by Seattleites for this delightful little house. Built out of spite, after being renovated and listed on the market, its history fascinated architects to the point of renaming it and giving it widespread recognition.
Judging from the main entrance and front facade, it looks like a normal house; but as soon as you walk around to the back door of the foyer leading to the kitchen, you realize that the building’s stairway literally consists of only two steps.
If you dare to invest in Seattle, a local real estate agency will take you on a virtual tour of the house, as shown in the video below:
LAURA LIONTI
