Think Outside the Box

Study Notes

Parents take turns living in a room with a double bed in their children's mini-home.
The mini-home could also serve as a "granny flat" for a needy grandparent.
The article questions the assumed connection between room types and privacy.
The living room is typically shared, while bedrooms are private.
The mini-home's private space is both less and more than a typical bedroom.
Sleeping occurs in an alcove or bunk bed, creating space for private living areas.
This arrangement allows for a flexible living situation.
It also allows for multigenerational living arrangements.
The mini-home is owned by the children.
The article highlights the potential for innovative living arrangements.
Elastically usable housing offers versatile living options.
Central living rooms and bathrooms act as buffers between private areas.
Spatial zoning allows for both individual and communal use of living spaces.
Private clusters and sliding elements facilitate diverse and changeable space use.
Foreign examples and student designs offer inspiring alternatives to standard floor plans.
Shared living arrangements can combat loneliness and aging.
Adaptable housing can be used for changing households and is more sustainable.
The focus of the student designs was on raising awareness of flexible living options.
Cluster housing has been designed in the Netherlands for group living.
The key to elastic housing is the ability to double the living function.