One of the biggest trends in architecture we will see this year is micro-housing. Every time, people are starting to opt for smaller places to live, either because of financial or ideological reasons. Even when the idea of living in small apartments or lofts might not be very attractive at first, it is becoming the standard for many young or small households.
Before we decide to rent the smallest place we can find, we should understand what exactly micro-housing is. We should also understand the reasons why this has become a popular housing alternative. Besides, micro-apartments are becoming so popular that this might be the future of micro-housing altogether.
The first thing we need to know about micro-housing is that it is most commonly used as an umbrella term. This term refers to housing accommodations that are smaller than the average houses and apartments currently available. Some examples might include rooming houses, boarding houses, dormitories, single-room occupancy units, etcetera.
There are two different types of housing, congregate housing and Small Efficiency Dwelling Units, or SEDUs. Congregate housing alternatives offer residents private rooms, bathrooms, and kitchenettes, while still sharing other areas like kitchens and other amenities. SEDUs are more similar to small studio apartments that come with a complete kitchen, bathroom, and closet space.
There are many reasons behind the apparent booming of tiny living spaces. Many people are now opting for living in small apartments rather than standard sized ones. Even when the motivations to choose micro-housing alternatives might vary, we can talk about two main ones.
First of all, smaller housing alternatives also mean more affordable housing alternatives. Nowadays, finding a place to live that fits into our budgets tends to be harder than it used to be. This is especially true for younger generations. However, another reason for the rise in popularity of micro-housing is ideological. Micro-apartments cover the most basic housing needs, and for a large amount of the population, such space is more than enough.
One of the newest trends in micro-housing architecture is designing and building micro-apartments. These smaller than average studio units are starting to get more and more popular. This is particularly true with young adults who haven’t accumulated many belongings nor have a family just yet. Besides, micro-apartments provide convenient and temporary housing for those who spend most of their time outside their accommodations.
Despite the fact that younger generations seem to prefer a micro-housing alternative, the trend isn’t clear enough yet. There are several advantages that come from this type of housing. Nevertheless, the limitations regarding space and comfort are not to be ignored. Before deciding to choose micro-housing, we should be well aware of the pros and the cons and make an informed decision.
