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With the scarcity of affordable housing in metropolitan areas, are micro-apartments the future of housing? The tiny home movement and creation of micro-apartments has taken international cities by storm. The rise in micro-living can be attributed to a lack of available land for housing, surges in population, and booming economies in urban areas. Cities such as Tokyo and Hong Kong have experienced the newest wave in housing…are U.S. cities next?
The simple answer is that it’s already happening in the United States. Let’s compare the population density and economies of two representative global cities—Hong Kong and Tokyo—and two booming American cities—San Francisco and New York City.
- Population Density of Tokyo (population/mi2): 16,000
- Population Density of Hong Kong (population/mi2): 17,024
- Population Density of San Francisco (population/mi2): 18,187
- Population Density of New York City (population/mi2): 27,857
Not so different, right? Now, let’s take a look at their economies.
According to an IHS Global Insight report from 2012, the Gross Metropolitan Product (GMP) of the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area was $335 billion compared to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Hong Kong of $244 billion.
The GMP of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island area is $1.29 trillion compared to the similar Tokyo GDP of $1.9 trillion. Granted, it’s important to note that these comparisons use GMP vs. GDP.
All four cities exhibit thriving economies that are the hubs for technology, finance, and manufacturing. Given the flourishing status of each city, it’s no surprise that there is an increased need for housing to accommodate a growing population.
Micro-apartments have been prevalent for years in Tokyo and Hong Kong with popular photo series and documentaries providing an inside look to the outside world. Understanding the similar need for housing in a bustling city, New York City’s former Mayor Bloomberg announced adAPT NYC in 2012.
The purpose of adAPT NYC, a design competition, was to create affordable micro-unit apartments. The winning design included prefab modules with amenities such as rooftop gardens, a gym, and café. The micro-apartment building is set for construction in Manhattan and will be completed by September 2015.
Similarly, San Francisco has The Panoramic: a micro-apartment complex available in June of this year. Catering to students, The Panoramic is comprised of 11 floors holding an astounding 160 units. The average size of a unit is 354 square feet. Other San Francisco neighborhoods are following suit with projects awaiting approval.
But let’s not stop at San Francisco and New York City. The micro-apartment takeover is happening across the nation with micro-housing complexes popping up in Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, and more. With single-person households growing exponentially (with a concentration in urban areas), micro-apartments have become an ideal option for many.
Although this form of micro-living has raised concerns regarding building regulations and health issues associated with confined living, it may be the new standard for overcrowded metropolis areas in the U.S. until a better housing solution can be found.