At 47 Inches Wide, This Is the World's Skinniest House | Design on GOOD. In Warsaw, Poland, construction is underway on the world's skinniest house. At just 47 inches wide—and 27 inches at its narrowest point—the "Keret House" is so thin it's not even considered a real building by Polish standards. Designed by architect Jakub Szczesny of Centrala, the residence is wedged between two buildings and has three levels, with a bedroom, bathroom, and office area. Electricity will be borrowed from a building nearby and the off-grid plumbing system is inspired by boat water systems. At first it will be inhabited by Israeli writer and the building's namesake Etgar Keret, and then used by artists, writers, and other creatives as an installation and workspace.
Photos via Architizer. The Next Big Question Facing Cities: Will Millennials Stay? - Jobs & Economy. Do neighborhoods work like habitat for different kinds of households? City populations have rebounded in the past two decades as people who like city habitats have grown in numbers and in their share of the population. Mostly these are the Millennials - adults roughly 20 to 34-years-old, also known as Generation Y or the Echo Boom - who have delayed childbearing, marriage, and even household formation because of a combination of changing culture and economic necessity. Urban living makes sense for these young people: compared with suburbs, cities often provide young adults more opportunities to switch jobs, meet friends and potential spouses, enjoy entertainment outside their homes, live without a car, and travel to other parts of the country and world.
One of the most interesting questions for cities in the next 10 to 20 years is how many Millennials will stay there. In 1970, half of all women had married before their 21st birthdays, and half of men before they turned 24. San Francisco Considers Teeny-Tiny Apartments: Is Small Living the Future? - Lifestyle. It’s a conundrum any urban dweller is all too familiar with: not enough space, a constant influx of people, and skyrocketing rent prices. Some cities believe the answer is to shrink the minimum apartment size, to build 'micro-units' for singles and couples.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is currently considering a proposal that would allow living spaces as small as 150 square feet, plus a kitchen, bathroom, and closet—somewhere between the size of a parking space and a one-car garage. The immediate goal is to create more housing and lower rent prices, which in San Francisco climbed 15 percent last month alone. The city already has next to no vacancy, and sees a steady stream of tech professionals drawn in by Silicon Valley.
What's more, the newcomers are often singles or couples moving into units designed for families. With more and more young people opting for urban living, a slew of towns are rethinking their housing plan to accommodate the movement. Image via LifeEdited.com. Changing Suburban Demographics Collide With Outdated Zoning Laws. Pedal Pushers: Denmark Unveils a Bike Commuter's Dreamland - Cities.
The 8-80 Philosophy Parks Streets Public Places for all - 8-80 Cities.