The Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts presents the final results of its interdisciplinary study on small-scale housing. The study shows the potential of small forms of housing between individualization and densification in the context of sustainability. Depending on individual housing needs and the spatial planning situation, they can play a role as sustainable and future-proof housing solutions.
In addition to the many insights gained in the course of various specialist sub-projects, the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary study by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) provides the first definition of small housing forms: According to this, a housing unit is considered a small housing form if the individual area for one person is a maximum of 30m2 or an additional maximum of 15m2 is added for each additional person. Small housing forms can be designed as free-standing residential units or as buildings with combined residential units over several floors.
The demand for small housing forms is high. Around half of those surveyed expressed an interest in or already had experience with small residential forms. Apartments and smaller fixed units are particularly in demand. Sustainability - for example in terms of the materials used - is more important to many respondents than saving costs. According to the study, small forms of housing also have great potential in terms of sustainable living space design. In a case study on the environmental friendliness of small forms of housing, for example, it was found that, depending on the application, they can perform better ecologically than the classic single-family home.
Great potential for communities in urban and rural areas
According to the study, small forms of housing offer opportunities in both urban and rural areas, taking into account sustainability and densification goals. In rural and conurbation areas, for example, they could contribute to housing development - particularly in the tourism sector, where seasonal accommodation is needed and the local housing market is often under pressure from second homes and short-term rentals of local housing stock. As can be seen, municipalities, for example, could specifically support small forms of housing as communal and private housing concepts through social policy and spatial planning measures (there are currently no specific laws for small forms of housing in Switzerland). Innovative financing models can help private, non-profit or entrepreneurial property developers to realize them.
"There is also great potential in urban areas - and small forms of housing are becoming increasingly popular there, for example as a development with small apartments such as the Kalkbreite cooperative or the Kraftwerk1 building and housing cooperative have been offering for several years," says project manager Selina Lutz from the Department of Engineering & Architecture at HSLU. In other words: more residential units on less floor space with shared communal areas. According to the study, small residential forms are also suitable for the redensification of existing buildings (e.g. in the garden of single-family homes) and the use of temporarily vacant plots. Combinable smaller units such as prefabricated element buildings (manufactured in the factory and assembled on site) or mobile typologies such as trailers or vehicles with corresponding extensions are suitable for this. "Not only can unused floor space be used as valuable living space with such temporary uses, it also creates an attractive alternative for people who are specifically looking for temporary accommodation or a temporary home," says Selina Lutz. "This can help to diversify the housing supply," says the housing expert.
Attractive for different life situations
Stephanie Weiss shares this view. She lectures and researches urban development and social inclusion at the Department of Social Work. Small forms of housing offer potential for different people: "They are attractive for a whole range of socio-demographic groups and life situations," says the expert. "I’m thinking of areas such as retirement living, transitional living or for people affected by homelessness." For those interested, the focus is less on the communal aspects of small forms of housing and more on the desire for freedom and autonomy. "Our study results clearly show that self-determination is very important in different situations and phases of life," says Stephanie Weiss. Interested parties are happy to accept a reduction in their individual living space. However, it is important to actively involve the target groups in the planning phase in order to adapt the concepts to their needs.
Of course, small forms of housing also offer financial incentives. In fact, however, the question of budget plays a subordinate role for many and they place the aspect of sustainability in the foreground. The survey shows that many would be prepared to take out a mortgage to finance this. This in turn makes small forms of housing attractive for banks to expand their customer portfolio.
The project team therefore agrees that small housing forms can play a role as sustainable and future-proof housing solutions in the area of conflict between individualization and densification in order to offer an alternative for specific target groups in the existing housing market.
One study - many thematic facets
Project website with all research results: hslu.ch/kleinwohnformen
Links to the thematic sub-projects:
Based on the research results, the project team, above all the two planning offices Metron AG and Uster AG, formulated visions by means of model projects to show how small housing forms can be implemented as a valid option both in the city and in the countryside.
Interested?
The final reports of the individual sub-projects can be downloaded from the project website.
