Micro-living: why occupants choose to live in very small dwellings?

Abstract

With persistent housing affordability issues in many parts of Australia, planners, designers and community members have begun to contemplate alternative housing options. One such option is micro-living, where occupants reside in dwellings that are significantly smaller than conventionally sized housing types. This paper explores the experience of occupants who have chosen to live in small, single-room and self-contained apartments sized between 24.5 and 28 m2 in Sydney. Using the results of a questionnaire survey and a series of interviews, the research reveals why occupants chose this housing type. The article highlights the trade-offs occupants make in their housing decision process and that affordability benefits of choosing smaller dwellings are not always guaranteed. This research has implications for minimum size requirements for emerging types of micro-living options such as tiny houses and micro-apartments.

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