Tiny Apartments Are they worth it?

For ULI, 2013

Michael Pyatok, FAIA Principal, Pyatok Architects

Professor Emeritus, University of Washington

Visiting Professor, University of Oregon

1. Policy Issues

PYATOK

Are we too BIG?

Average Home Sizes, 2012:

• USA*: 2400 sf

• France: 1215

• Japan: 1020

• Spain: 960

• Great Britain: 820

• Singapore: 670

* In 1950 the average US home was 950 sf

PYATOK

Americans in their 20’s--

not so hip and chic–

can they afford to live alone?

Unemployment rate: 14%

Number with college degrees: >40%

Un-/Under-employed college grads: 50%

Average income: $27,000 ($13.50/hr)

Average school debt: $20,000

Living at home: 45%

Working as unpaid interns: ‘rapidly increasing’

While some can afford to live alone,

many cannot. PYATOK

What are their alternatives?

• Design shared living to be more comfortable

• Devise more workable tenants-in-common

leases

• Rehab existing buildings for shared living

• Expand subsidies for entry-level and senior

dwellings

• Integrate shared living or micro units with

families

PYATOK

2. Why not shared living?

PYATOK

4-person apartment

Lane Community College

947 sf/4 = 237 sf/person

PYATOK

4-person apartment

UC Berkeley

1100 sf/4 = 275 sf/person

2-person apartment

Copenhagen

400 sf/2 = 200 sf/person

7’-0” 8’-6” 7’-0”

23’- 6”

17’-

0”

120 sf 120 sf 160 sf

Lofted

bed

above

3. Integration

PYATOK

City Hall

BART Station

Site

Downtown Oakland • Micro-Studios and lofts for

singles, couples,

formerly homeless

PYATOK

• family 2-story townhomes

• child care center

• retail corner

N

S

International District,

Seattle

S N

• Micro-studios for singles, couples

PYATOK

• Stacked Family townhomes • Offices for non-profit developer

Site

Central High School

Light Rail Station

TOD, Central Ave,

Phoenix

Site

Studio

Lofts

Family

Townhomes Family

Flats

PYATOK

Palo Alto Affordable SRO, studios

Transit,

Retail

Site

PYATOK

Affordable rental micro-studios

among single-family homes and condos

4. Amenities, Open Spaces

PYATOK

PYATOK

bar-b-q roof terraces courtyards

gardens

PYATOK

5. Dwelling Interiors

PYATOK

300 sf 370 sf

300 sf 300 sf PYATOK

6. How Small is Small?

Cultural Relativity

PYATOK

14’ inside

29’ in

sid

e

19’ inside

13’-

6”’ in

sid

e

Manila, affordable:

3-bedroom, 290 sf

San Francisco, Market:

Studio, 400 sf

PYATOK

95 SF Studio

Manila

PYATOK

145 SF Shared Studio

Line of lofted

bed above

PYATOK

Manila

180 SF Intimate Studio

PYATOK

Manila

210 SF One Bedroom

PYATOK

Manila

250 SF Two Bedroom

PYATOK

Manila

290 SF Three Bedroom

PYATOK

Manila