smc

First consider, $|x-1|+|y-1|\le 1.$ We can see that it is a square with a radius of $1$ (diagonal $\sqrt{2}$). The area of the square is ${\sqrt{2}}^2=2.$ Next, we insert an absolute value sign into the equation and get $|x-1|+||y|-1|\le 1.$ This will double the square reflecting over x-axis. So now we have $2$ squares. Finally, we add one more absolute value and obtain $||x|-1|+||y|-1|\le 1.$ This will double the squares as we reflect the $2$ squares we already have over the y-axis. Concluding, we have $4$ congruent squares. The total area is $4\cdot 2=$ $\boxed{8}$