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The idea that tiny homes are the solution to the housing crisis ignores the fact that the housing crisis is really a land-in-desirable-places crisis, and a resu

The idea that tiny homes are the solution to the housing crisis ignores the fact that the housing crisis is really a land-in-desirable-places crisis, and a result of a natural pyramid scheme which has emerged due to population growth and increasing popularity of cities (amplified by low interest rates). Tiny houses don't fix that problem.

ghaff 6y ago
One of the things with both tiny houses and micro-apartments--leaving aside precise definitions--is that by the time you account for some minimal set of amenities such as bathroom, a kitchenette even, corridors/stairwell in the case of apartments, etc. cutting space to the bone doesn't really save you all that much in absolute terms while forcing a lot of compromises.
- leppr 6y ago
  Indeed. The only thing the current "tiny house" concept is a solution to is bad building laws. Clever design and engineering allow people to live in an alternative way that lawmakers forgot to outlaw, but there's nothing ideal in the tiny trailer dimensions. If we want to get an idea of a minimal humane living space, look at the cheap houses people build for themselves in countries without oppressive real-estate investment protection laws. They are rarely as small, or rely heavily on outdoor/shared spaces.
MattGaiser 6y ago
Canadians have a strong aversion to living in anything but a detached house after 30ish. Most people were would have grown up sharing fences with their neighbors, not walls. So tiny houses allow for more efficient detached housing.
thereisnospork 6y ago
> land-in-desirable-places crisis If that were true construction costs would be the primary driver of housing prices, increasing as more exotic and expensive methods (steel skyscrapers vs mid-rise podium, for instance) are employed to fit more housing on less land.
dirtyid 6y ago
While I imagine a stacked parking structure of tiny homes is less efficient than dense condos, tiny homes can probably double units available via urban infilling, like laneway homes in not very dense but desirable cities in Canada. >land-in-desirable-places crisis Pretty much. Solution is pretty simple (not easy), sideline NIMBYs and start converting every parking lot and park into homes until supply/demand/desirability resets to something reasonable.

ghaff 6y ago

One of the things with both tiny houses and micro-apartments--leaving aside precise definitions--is that by the time you account for some minimal set of amenities such as bathroom, a kitchenette even, corridors/stairwell in the case of apartments, etc. cutting space to the bone doesn't really save you all that much in absolute terms while forcing a lot of compromises.

leppr 6y ago
Indeed. The only thing the current "tiny house" concept is a solution to is bad building laws. Clever design and engineering allow people to live in an alternative way that lawmakers forgot to outlaw, but there's nothing ideal in the tiny trailer dimensions. If we want to get an idea of a minimal humane living space, look at the cheap houses people build for themselves in countries without oppressive real-estate investment protection laws. They are rarely as small, or rely heavily on outdoor/shared spaces.

MattGaiser 6y ago

Canadians have a strong aversion to living in anything but a detached house after 30ish. Most people were would have grown up sharing fences with their neighbors, not walls. So tiny houses allow for more efficient detached housing.

thereisnospork 6y ago

> land-in-desirable-places crisis If that were true construction costs would be the primary driver of housing prices, increasing as more exotic and expensive methods (steel skyscrapers vs mid-rise podium, for instance) are employed to fit more housing on less land.

dirtyid 6y ago

While I imagine a stacked parking structure of tiny homes is less efficient than dense condos, tiny homes can probably double units available via urban infilling, like laneway homes in not very dense but desirable cities in Canada. >land-in-desirable-places crisis Pretty much. Solution is pretty simple (not easy), sideline NIMBYs and start converting every parking lot and park into homes until supply/demand/desirability resets to something reasonable.