Skinny House, Spite house in North End, Boston, US.
Skinny House is a four-story residential building squeezed onto an exceptionally narrow lot in Boston's North End neighborhood. The structure measures about 10 feet (3 meters) at its widest point and tapers toward the rear, creating interior spaces that barely accommodate conventional furniture.
The building was constructed after the Civil War when a brother returned from military service to discover that his sibling had already occupied most of their inherited property. Determined to claim his share, he built on the remaining narrow strip of land.
The house stands as a physical reminder of how disputes between neighbors once played out in Boston. It reflects the stubbornness of urban residents who would rather create an awkward solution than compromise on property boundaries.
The property sits on a pedestrian-friendly street in the North End and is easy to reach on foot. Keep in mind that the surrounding area is compact and narrow, so walking slowly and watching for street numbers helps you spot the building.
At its narrowest point, the interior is barely 6 feet (nearly 2 meters) wide, requiring furniture to be hoisted through windows rather than carried through doors. This detail reveals how spite triumphed over practicality in the original construction.
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