Living in a big city has advantages that other places do not offer.From job opportunities to the leisure offer, there are many reasons that lead the population to concentrate in urban areas.That, obviously, also generates problems, both in the areas that are abandoned and those that receive these population contingents.Among them, housing, so finding formulas that are sustainable and affordable is becoming one of the great challenges, as is the case, for example, in New York.It is precisely in the Big Apple where Specht Architects carried out a renovation that resulted in this beautiful 40 m2 mini-loft for a family of three in a mid-rise building on the Upper West Side.It is true that this area may not seem like enough to many, but the space has the great advantage of having a raised ceiling, which allowed the designers to play with vertical height.By demolishing existing partitions and ceilings, the space really opens up to allow for more possibilities.The novel design uses four of what the architects call "living platforms", integrating all necessities: living and sleeping areas, kitchen, dining room, bathroom and hidden storage.The kitchen is the first thing we see when entering the apartment.White lacquered cabinets flip open, helping to save space, giving a clean, ultra-modern look.The frosted glass backsplash stays in line with the minimalist look of the kitchen, but offers a slight hint of reflective teal color to break up the monotony of white.To offer a sense of continuity and connection with the rest of the apartment, the slim white kitchen counter appears to expand beyond its limits, wrapping around to form a dining counter, which can eventually become a built-in entertainment center and a book shelf in living room area.In addition, enough space has been freed up to fit a large modular sofa, a true luxury in a small apartment.Turning towards the stairs leading up to the mezzanine, the distinct, darker line of the wooden stair treads creates a nice contrast to the pale wall surfaces.The existing brick wall has been painted white to blend in with the rest of the color palette.The bathroom is located under the sleeping loft and behind the first flight of stairs.The huge bathroom door is like an enlarged version of the hidden stair cabinets, opening to reveal a full-length built-in mirror that not only saves space, but also helps give the illusion of a much larger bathroom.Upstairs on the mezzanine, the bed sits on a cantilevered platform that looms over the living room.Not only does this increase the available floor area in a clever way, it also creates "sandwiches" that interlock nicely with each other.The interior design studio Düem Studio has carried out the renovation of a kitchen in a house in Manresa, Barcelona with a double objective: on the one hand, to modernize it, since it had become aesthetically outdated, and, on the other, to gain storage space while improving the distribution and having a more comfortable kitchen.A very common question among those who are thinking of buying a second-hand home and renovating it is whether they can request a mortgage that includes financing for the acquisition and the works.The answer is yes, although a series of factors must be taken into account to achieve this, such as comparing loans and hiring a mortgage broker to help us in the process.Other ways are to extend the mortgage or request a personal loan for the project, although they have their disadvantages.Some reform projects are works of art in themselves.In them, by the hand of good designers and architects, fantastic interventions can be carried out with great results that exceed all expectations.We have a recent example of this in this work carried out in the center of the city of London, in which the McLaren.Excell studio has given a new life to a Georgian-style house, an architectural style carried out between 1720 and 1840, named after the four British kings named George who reigned in the United Kingdom during that period.The Association of Real Estate Developers of Madrid (Asprima) has appointed Carolina Roca, general director of the Roca Real Estate Group, as its new president, who will replace Juan Antonio Gómez-Pintado after the end of his mandate.Until now, she held the position of vice president of the Madrid Association, while Gómez-Pintado will continue as president of the Association of Promoters and Builders of Spain (APCEspaña).Currently, only 5% of renters are over 65, but by 2040 this number will have multiplied by 2.7.A figure to take into account if the rate of effort to pay the income of this group is observed, which currently stands at 103.1% in the case of retirement and 163% when it comes to a widow's pension, according to data from an EY and Asprima report.The 'tiny homes', or small prefabricated houses, are gaining prominence in Spain and many companies dedicated to them are emerging.Small in size, normally relocatable, the 'tiny houses' are emerging as a not inconsiderable option for a second residence or for those with a nomadic spirit who want to live with their house in tow.In addition, these tiny houses, by having the option of being self-sufficient and relocatable, can be placed on land that other buildings cannot.For example, there is a legal vacuum that allows them to be located on rustic land, although, before doing so, it is advisable to consult the relevant administration.The scarcity of new construction means that second-hand is still the type of home that dominates sales in the country.Although it is a cheaper type of house, its energy efficiency is low.That is why we must and can incorporate “that which is greener” progressively.They are gestures to make a house more sustainable.47% of owners would invest up to 50,000 euros to improve their home in favor of their health and the planet, according to UCI.Among these gestures is investing in good lighting to save money, placing photovoltaic panels or windmills.