Living Differently – Attempts to Disrupt Urban Housing for Young Professionals  

It is easy to look at the current housing market in this country and see a rather daunting challenge. Especially in cities, the sort of one bedroom apartment which would once have seemed a reasonably humble aspiration for an ambitious young professional is increasingly out of the reach of many. However, some disruptive new trends in urban living have been emerging in recent years, leading people to branch away from the traditional apartment.

Like many disruptive new approaches, their detractors and enthusiasts are often equally ardent, and the pros and cons both notable. Whatever one’s view of these trends however, they clearly have a potential to make an impact, both in terms of people’s actual conditions and in shaping ideas around urban housing in the future.

One such trend is micro-apartments. City centre property prices are increasingly beyond the middle-income earners who are often employed in the essential services that communities need to thrive, such as teachers, nurses and police officers. Given that one of the main contributors to the high cost of housing, particularly in cities, is a shortage of space, it does seem sensible to use less of it. Micro apartments are essentially compact studios, providing a way to live in a central location for those who can’t stretch to the often eye-watering rents of modern cities.

These are becoming more common, with 1 in 20 homes in London already being a micro-home or apartment providing less than 37 m2 in living space – the minimum recommended size for a one-bedroom home in Britain (ref KCL). They are intelligently designed to make the most out of every square inch of space, making use of solutions such as mezzanine beds, disguised storage and ergonomic units.

While increasingly well designed and indeed somewhat aspirational, properties of this type have historically been associated with low-cost conversions lacking in natural light. Additionally, while their diminutive floorplan makes these flats cheaper in total, they are often more expensive per square foot than a typical apartment, largely due to semi-fixed costs such as plumbing and electricity. Critics suggest that they essentially amount to a new marketing spin on a bedsit, and that we should not accept being crammed into ever more confined living conditions. While they have been controversial in some cities around the world, with Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Robert Doyle branding them “dog boxes in the sky”, the realities of property costs in cities mean that micro -apartments are only likely to grow in prevalence.

Another concept becoming more popular with those keen to live in a central location on a lower budget isco-living.  Essentially resembling upscale student accommodation for young, career-minded professionals, it combines small studios with larger shared living spaces, along with amenities such as gyms, pools and workspaces. While cheaper than living in a traditional flat in a normal building with equivalent facilities, co-living is sold as much as a lifestyle choice than as a cost saving measure, with very few coming in at under £1000 a month. Indeed, in some co-living spaces you can pay double that. Emphasis is placed on connecting with others, sociability and a sense of community. The “all inclusive” nature of many co-living spaces is also a key feature, with bills, cleaning and amenities all included to assist in financial management.

Different opinions of co-living abound, with some being drawn to the communal approach, while others shudder at the thought of having to return to (albeit more stylish) halls of residence in their 20s or 30s just so they can live closer to work. Some point to the benefits of reduced isolation and improved wellbeing, while others point restrictions of living life in with only a tiny amount of space. The essential question around this type of housing is perhaps best summarised by the newspaper headline: “Co-living’: the end of urban loneliness – or cynical corporate dormitories?”.

While it is clear that no one type of housing can be suitable for everyone, it seems important to take on board lessons from all of them. While some might balk at the idea of being confined in a micro apartment, most would like to see more well thought out and ergonomic design solutions applied to their own homes. Likewise, you do not have to want to embrace co-living to recognise the appeal of all inclusive bills and a premade community in a place where many suffer from feelings of loneliness or isolation.

The constraints of modern urban living will continue exert pressures on people, be they financial, physical or emotional, but it is indeed encouraging that disruptive approaches, imperfect as they inevitably are, continue to be developed.