Study Reports Homes Are Getting Smaller

An annual report by AIArchitect reveals a downward trend in the size of a typical home in the United States, compared to just three years ago when over 51% of residential architects reported increases in home sizes. Affordability and energy worries are cited as many factors, while accessibility issues (e.g., wider hallways, fewer steps) within layout plans are also cited as a main concern amongst those polled...

At the forefront is the growing movement toward outdoor living. This trend encompasses anything from increased emphasis on traditional outdoor elements like decks, porches, and patios, to expanded outdoor cooking areas and outdoor “rooms.” Interest in outdoor living space has been steadily increasing: In 2005, slightly under half of surveyed residential architects saw this as a trend growing in popularity. By 2008, over two-thirds of respondents saw this as increasing in popularity.

Although we don't honestly think the masses necessarily think "smaller is cooler" (yet), it is a good sign that both architects and the market are starting to recognize that innovative design layouts and smart use of lighting and exterior space can maximize our sense of personal space without resorting to massive square footage footprints. We believe that modest size homes and apartments built thoughtfully can provide equal, if not greater, living experiences for anyone when done right.

Read the rest of the reports findings here.

[via CurbedLA]

Comments (9)

I think smaller is cooler. Especially if it's well designed small.

Hopefully, smaller is also actually affordable.

This is good to hear. What will be truly revolutionary, though, is when people stop relying on new construction, buy up existing housing, and renovate instead (if necessary). It is frustrating, being in a place like Baltimore, to watch the amount of new home construction taking place in the city. Why reduce the limited green space left, when street after street is lined with vacant houses?

I think everyone should take a look at this site:
http://www.kephartliving.com/Browse.aspx

I believe these ideas are the way of the future. They are ALL Universal Design, which is apparent by looking at the size of the bathroom and if it IS two-story, there IS an elevator.

Those structures are designed as add-on units for the gigantic homes we see now, but I really do believe that they will become a necessity for not just the aging boomers, but for the young folks and people who DO think that small is cool.

Of special interest, check out "Pool House". Notice what it has...an outdoor dining area, that has a roof. And each side that is exposed has a glass garage door, which can be closed as needed.

Take a look at "Simple", a 384 sq ft home WITH attached garage AND full-size laundry hook-ups AND a big bath. Potential for TONS of built-in storage in the garage. Built-in barbeque on the front porch. Built-in seating on the front porch. Room on the front porch for a table and chairs.

For a development of that home only, there could be almost NO front yard, and have the garage facing the street. Flip the plans, so that the garages either meet or almost meet, so no wasted land there.

The side yard then would be where people enter, with the barbecue facing the street. And the big windows where the living room is and the sleeping area would be, faces the back yard, which can be nicely appointed, but not large.

The roof may be ideal for solar. And the garage has enough space to set up solar. There appears to be an inline electric water heater as it is.

Fencing the backyard, from the patio on the left side (in the image) straight across with the "privacy" fencing, and a gate so that your backyard is private. And a low fence between the side yards/entries.

The "Simple" plan has an optional loft too. So the rest of you young and/or able folks can put in ladders or loft stairs and have a neat bed area. Or storage area.

Check "Court Home 2" that is 720 sq ft. Stand apart garage. Separate bedroom with a wall of closets (no closets in the Simple one). It has an AWESOME courtyard that a great deal of daily activities can take place. Dining, relaxing, notice they even put in a firepit on the picture.

In the picture of the house, look at how short the front yard is! That could be filled with the grasses that were talked about in other posts here on AT. NO maintenance, no mowing.

And it would be nice to have some wide open area. Greenery. So it would be nice to have those homes arranged around something akin to a "Town Square" with a park. Some sort of fees that everyone would have to pay to keep it up, but it WOULD be kept up, by someone else, so that folks didn't HAVE to spend all their time in the yard if they didn't HAVE the time to spend.

What do we have to do to make something like this happen?

We bought a smaller house a few years ago. It's not tiny, but it's under 2,000 sq ft and below the "norm" for our area.

The layout is great and it "feels" big. The common rooms are spacious and the kitchen is a wonderful size.

We don't plan to live here forever - we are here for my husband's job - so hopefully the layout and size will appeal when we do sell. (It's all on one floor, too.)

That's a misleading title...more people are opting for smaller houses, but houses are still getting bigger.

Generally, speaking, if one wants to develop a sense of community and neighborhood, garages (if necessary) should be placed at the rear of the house. Placing them at the front creates a disconnect between the home and the street.

I agree with zero, especially since vacant houses are usually pennies on the dollar.

actually Katalase, you can do one better than that, I grew up in a neighborhood with garages/carports on the street and enclosed front yards, but open backyards. people still get the enclosed space for when they need it, but it creates a true community space in the back where people can hang out/meet each other without the cars in the way. most people have their gardens in the back so there is lots of opportunity for socializing, and as a bonus there are no cars so kids can run around without any worries.