Microapartment
A microapartment, also known as an apodment or microflat, is a one-room, self-contained living space, usually purpose built, designed to accommodate a sitting space, sleeping space, bathroom and kitchenette with a size of 4-10 square metres (43-107 square feet, 1.2-3 tsubo).[1] [2]. In some cases, residents may also have access to a communal kitchen, communal bathroom/shower, patio and roof garden (though this might be more closely related to a dorm).
The apartments are often designed with pull-down beds, folding desks and tables, and extra-small or hidden appliances. Gary Chang, an architect in Hong Kong, has designed a large 344-square-foot (32-square-metre) microapartment with sliding walls attached to tracks on the ceiling. By moving the walls around, and using built-in folding furniture and worktops, he can convert the space into 24 different rooms, including a kitchen, library, laundry room, dining room, bar and video-game room.[3]
Microapartments are essentially modern versions of the British bedsit, and are becoming popular in urban centres in Europe, Japan, and North America, maximizing profits for developers and landlords and providing relatively low-priced accommodation.[1] In Rome, where the average price of property in 2010 was $7,800 per square metre (10.7 square feet), microapartments as small as 4 square metres (45 square feet) have been advertised.[4]
There has been a backlash in some cities against the increasing number of these developments. In Seattle, residents have complained that high-density microhousing changes the character of neighbourhoods, suddenly increasing demand for parking spaces and other amenities.[5]
In January of 2013, New York City got the 1st of a micro'apartment [1] building and apartments that are the smallest at 250 square feet [2] and will have 55 units in the building and ceilings from nine to ten feet.
See also
- Capsule hotel
- List of house types
- Minimalist architecture and space
- Single room occupancy
- Studio apartment
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_in_Japan#One_room_mansion
Notes
- ^ a b Les Christie, "Micro-apartments: The anti-McMansions", CNN Money, 21 June 2013.
- Lauren O'Neill, "Would you live in a 220-square-foot 'micro apartment?'", CBC News, 23 November 2012.
- ^ Michael Day, "Tight fit for Rome's 'micro-apartments'", The Independent, 28 February 2012.
- ^ Virginia Gardiner, "24 Rooms Tucked Into One", The New York Times, 14 January 2009.
- ^ Michael Day, "Tight fit for Rome's 'micro-apartments'", The Independent, 28 February 2012.
- ^ Hickman, Matt. "Micro-apartments met with NIMBYist sentiment in Seattle", Mother Nature Network, 8 May 2013.
- Lynn Thompson, "Critics of micro-apartments calling for a moratorium", Seattle Times, 23 April 2013.
Further reading
- Mackwood, Neil. "A little place in the city", The Daily Telegraph, 6 February 2002.
- Norwood, Graham. "Itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, modern microflat", The Observer, 13 January 2002.
- Russell, James S. "Micro Digs’ Sliding TV, Murphy Bed Tempt Singles: Review", Bloomberg, 29 January 2013.
- Tsuzuki, Kyoichi. Tokyo: A Certain Style, Chronicle Books, 1999.
- Weiss, Joanna. "Would you live in a micro-apartment? (And for how much?)", Boston Globe, 25 June 2013.