Micro-units have become widely accepted as a sustainable housing choice, and for good reason. These units maximize space with extremely efficient floor plans. Small spaces equal less energy use for heating, cooling, and lighting, and they also require fewer materials in construction.

Further, by design, these smaller spaces encourage a more simplistic and less consumption-focused lifestyle. Micro-units provide an ideal solution for those who value experiences and simplicity over owning goods.

Small Challenges?
A challenge for those designing these extremely efficient multifamily units is accommodating the demands of growing or multigenerational households. This leads many families to choose single-family homes in less dense, often suburban locations—a housing option that consumes more resources and often creates more distance from community resources.

According to the Pew Research Center, 20% of homes in the U.S. are multigenerational, a percentage that's expected to grow. Some observers suggest that the recession may have caused this trend, but the growth in multigenerational households may be due to other factors, such as the appeal of lower housing costs and the cultural legacy of Asian and Hispanic populations, for whom housing several generations simultaneously has been common for centuries.

Macro Design Flexibility
Could we design micro-units with the flexibility to house an aging parent, additional children, or simply a practical-minded extended family? Rethinking apartments as modular units that connect and expand will produce challenges, but such thinking will also allow multifamily homes to evolve as their families evolve. These units also offer significant advantages from a health and sustainability standpoint. One 2014 study, for example, found that two-generation households have longer life spans than those who live alone.

The desire to reduce clutter, complexity, and consumption is growing, pushing aside the trend of the past several decades to accumulate personal possessions. The evolution and acceptance of today's shared economy complement micro-units, with multigenerational living following naturally. Many apartments already offer more shared spaces than buildings once did, inviting a sense of community and reducing the need for individual space. Expanding this lifestyle could better connect families and neighbors, who could bond more closely through the resulting increase in shared experiences.

As AMLI and SOM design the Multifamily Executive Concept Community, Building Positive + Living Well, we're placing equal value on creating a healthy home that both improves the lives of its inhabitants and benefits the greater environment. Flexibility is a key consideration for deciding on every element and feature we incorporate into the community.

Just as our lives and families evolve, our living spaces should as well.