SAN FRANCISCO: Delivering better homes requires a subtler approach than the blunt instrument of regulation.
Whilst local planners are contemplating the introduction of minimum space standards for new housing, San Francisco has voted to amend the city’s building code to reduce its minimum dwelling size from 290sq ft to 220sq ft in area. That is almost 45% below the current smallest dwelling size deemed acceptable.
As the growing support for micro-apartments suggests, in certain circumstances and for a select group of people, there are valid reasons why a blanket imposition of space standards is out of step with constantly changing lifestyles.
One of the drivers for micro-apartments is the realization that ingeniously designed, smaller living spaces are both less expensive to build and cheaper to rent or buy. This type of accommodation, already popular with students, is becoming increasingly attractive to seniors seeking affordable places to live in the heart of major cities.