BMW to transform abandoned Shanghai factory into stylishly-designed micro-apartments

Dec 14 , 2017

A rendering of the co-living apartment building by BMW Mini Living in Shanghai, China.

Carmaker believes chic but tiny dwellings could represent the future of town living and is rolling out an ambitious urbanism and architecture project, Mini Living, in China’s most populous city

The car manufacturer BMW is constructing a micro-apartment building in Shanghai’s Jing’An district, China.

As part of BMW’s urbanism and architecture project Mini Living, the company is transforming an abandoned paint factory into housing.

BMW revealed its first concept apartment at the 2016 Salone de Mobile (Milan’s annual furniture exhibition), but now the Mini Living team and Chinese developer Nova Property Investment are making the design a reality. The companies have not yet revealed a timeline or pricing for the development.

Check out what the complex will look like below.

Rendering of the co-living apartment building by BMW Mini Living in Shanghai, China. Photo: BMW Group

Developers will combine six buildings, which will each include two to 10 residential units. Construction will begin this month.

Residents will be able to partake in cultural events, rooftop farming, and a car-sharing programme.

The building will also feature plenty of communal spaces for working, eating, and hanging out.

The complex will include a number of communal spaces.

Each apartment will be no larger than a few hundred square feet, though BMW predicts that residents will not spend much time in the small spaces. The building will include shops, restaurants, a roof terrace, gardens, exhibition areas, and a food market.

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