A recent article from The New York Times highlights a popular trend of micro-apartments in the capital of Japan, Tokyo. Spilytus, a real estate developer, has more than 1,500 residents in its 100 buildings. These micro-apartments cost about $340 to $630 a month and are very popular with young people. How small are they? About 95-square-foot in total. Small, efficient spaces with loft-style upper bedrooms and tiny space for a fridge and maybe washing machines in some units.
Many Japanese, young and old, also work long hours, leaving little time to spend at home. And a growing share of people in Tokyo are living alone, making smaller spaces more desirable. Such people are more likely to eat out, or grab one of the many premade meal options from convenience stores or groceries, so a full kitchen is less necessary.
– NYT
It makes sense, I think these types of micro-apartments are a great solution for housing shortages in many large, very expensive urban centers around the world. Younger, often single people who work long hours or go to school spend most of their days out and about. They eat out, hang out with friends and are hardly home as it is. They need a place to crash, get some sleep, shower and change for the next day. It’s a solution which would be more affordable and solve some of the issues.
Hi- I read this article in the Times with great interest. There’s a lot that makes sense in this type of living space.
Wow that’s teeny tiny! But it goes to show how we can be more efficient when it comes to space and how much we actually need.