Are Micro-Apartments a Healthy Solution to the Housing Crisis?
The other side of micro-apartments
Overpopulation, lack of space, and high land price are some of the many reasons for the appearance of micro-apartments, mainly in big cities. Micro apartments have become an alternative to overcome the current problems in housing, creating a totally new way of living. However, The Architect’s Newspaper — as many other architects — start to question this trend:
Are micro-apartments a revolutionary trend? Or are developers exploiting an out-of-control market?
Lately, many articles, websites, and videos are showing micro-apartments and small units, and they embrace how small and functional they are as if the smaller is the better. This micro-apartments are presented as the solution for an affordable way of living within the housing crisis.
Even in architecture schools, we are taught to fight these problems of lack of space through the functionality and design of new types of furniture. The goal is to make the tiniest apartments providing quality of life at the same time. Everything in less than 300 sq ft.
But, it is the right way to tackle the main problem?
Never too small
To begin with, what are micro-apartments? The size of these apartments may resemble the studio apartment. However, the difference between a studio apartment and a micro-apartment lies in the way they are conceived. The studios are planned to be temporary in contrast to the micro-apartments. Micro-apartments, on the other hand, tend to have a longer life with their occupants, even if they are designed to shelter only one or two persons. In some cases, there are micro-apartments that are a few square feets larger and can shelter children as well, but it’s not a typical case.
Depending on the design, they can be conceived as a single large space — easily modular and flexible — or they can have a separate space for a bedroom. Micro-apartments tend to evoke a certain ultra-efficiency, reinforcing the utility and the multifunctional side of their design and furniture.
We can not say there is no creativity or quality on the design process and results. Micro-apartments do represent a less expensive way of living, and it could seem a good first choice especially for young adults. In addition, with the new growing minimalist trend, many people seek to possess only the essentials and the micro-apartments totally comply with it.
Still, we need to ask when small is too small? I live in a studio apartment with a great balcony, bigger than a micro-apartment and I don’t see myself living here for more than a couple of years. It was a great temporary choice! I gained independence and I can take advantage of being in a capital city in addition to having everything closer. As Alex McClintock explained in an article for ABC:
When you live in a small apartment, you just spend less time at home. The whole neighborhood benefits from people being out. There’s plenty of open space nearby…
Therefore, I can understand why people choose to live in micro-apartments. My concern comes when a temporary choice could create collateral and permanent damages. Since now we see differents cities planning new regulations for these micro-apartments to exist — and becoming even smaller — we need to start asking if micro-apartments are really the future of living.
The risks of micro-apartments
From a technical point of view, we know that small spaces in apartments can have issues caused by a lack of proper ventilation affecting air quality and increasing the problems with humidity. This would be one of the big problems of micro-apartments if they are not properly designed. Poor ventilation can affect our health, causing allergies, and even respiratory conditions like asthma. These problems are more common than we imagine, therefore it is necessary to take it into consideration, especially if there are not enough sources of ventilation.
Another common trouble found in micro-apartments is sometimes the scarcity of sunlight. Depending on the design, orientation and if it is an existing building or new construction, micro-apartments can confront this problem in some way or another. As being monospace, openings to the outside are limited. According to a Today article, there is a close link between sunlight and health backed up by several studies. Natural light plays a role in the sleep, in the mood, and in the known seasonal affective disorder. Also, for our bodies sunlight is needed for the absorption of vitamin D. The lack of this vitamin can cause problems as osteoporosis according to the Harvard School of Public Health.
The guardian asked Julia Park — the head of housing research at architectural firm Levitt Bernstein — about how living in small spaces affected our health. She thinks it’s not only physical health we should be worried about.
Some of these flats pose threats to physical health, but, in small spaces, it’s going to be mental health that is most affected.
Apparently residents can feel trapped and claustrophobic in a micro-apartment, especially those having demanding jobs. The Atlantic made an article about the health risk that micro-apartments can lead. Many articles have been made and many researchers are starting to appear.
Dak Kopec — director of design for human health at Boston Architectural College and author of Environmental Psychology for Design — says that crowding related stress can increase rates of domestic violence and substance abuse.
Micro-apartments can be unhealthy for older people — than young adults — facing different stress factors that can make tight living conditions a problem.
However not only adults are been affected in a psychological way, but also children can experience trouble in their behaviors by living in small spaces. They can have trouble with concentration and studies by the lack of privacy according to Susan Saegert, professor of environmental psychology at the CUNY Graduate Center and director of the Housing Environments Research Group,
Experts are saying it, micro-apartments can be great until they are not anymore.
Micro-apartments are not for everyone. It is a way of living, therefore, it should be considered as an option and not an imposition. The fact that we can only find small apartments nowadays, and that micro-apartments are becoming a trend for the profit from real estate, it could be dangerous. In the future, micro-apartments could become the only option available.
It is the responsibility of public authorities, architects, designers, real estate developers, but also of us as citizens to question this trend and to look with a critical eye the next time someone tells us that micro-apartments are the future of living.
