A Co-Living Solution for Tiny Home Living
According to the National Association of Home Builders, 48.9% of the 132.5 million households in the United States cannot afford a $250,000 home and 29.4% cannot afford a $150,000 home. Policymakers looking to encourage attainable development often turn to parking reductions and zoning changes, but in 2022, the average size of a new single-family home was over 2,500 square feet. With an estimated construction cost of $150 per square foot, that new home would cost approximately $375,000 to construct, putting it out of reach for many Americans.
How can design help reduce the cost of new housing?
Depending on market demands and site context, new construction techniques, higher housing densities, and smaller home sizes help address the pervasive need for attainable housing. With an ambitious goal of keeping construction costs under $99,000 per home, we proposed the use of 3D-printing technology, assuming a cost of $250 per square foot of printed area. These parameters necessitate a 396-square-foot home; a tiny home by any definition. While small-scale living has the potential to reduce housing costs, tiny homes realistically appeal to only a small fraction of the population, namely single and couple adult households. Tiny home construction typically does not provide the benefit of attainability for families or other shared households.
How can mutigenerational housing support attainability?
Multigenerational and shared living is on the rise in the United States. Particularly in warmer climates, combined households provide a pathway to attainability that supports strong communities. According to the Pew Research Center, American adults living in multigenerational households often do so due to financial challenges or the need to care for a family member. Multigenerational and shared communities create strong connections, benefitting both the physical and mental health of residents.
Home Design
Instead of housing just one or two people in a single, 396-square-foot tiny home, the Enclave design concept brings together families or other combined households into two small structures, creating a more socially connected and supportive living arrangement. One of the two 396-square-foot structures provides sleeping spaces for up to six people. An accessible bathroom and bedroom accommodate family members of all abilities. Twelve-inch exterior and 8-inch interior 3D-printed walls form the majority of the dwelling enclosure. Taking full advantage of the allowable height, a wood-framed sleeping loft above one bedroom and bathroom provides an additional area for sleeping or storage. Incorporating wood framing with 3D-printed construction expands the functionality of the home without compromising economic feasibility.
While the home is design to accommodate a shared living situation, the Enclave design concept is about more than just one multigenerational household. On half of a typical city block, the homes are organized to form a community enclave. With two multigenerational homes per print bed, a total of seven print beds fit on 1.4 acres, housing 14 separate households. On an eighth print bed, a shared community building provides a large kitchen, gathering space, community garden, and playground. 3D-printed raised planter beds in the shared courtyard and a community garden make fresh produce readily available and create opportunities for residents across generations to help each other thrive. Breeze-block walls encircle groups of homes, concentrating entries and creating a sense of security and community. A winding pathway connects the homes to each other and a variety of programmed areas. Outdoor cooking, gardening, and other gathering spaces expand the functionality of the homes into the shared courtyards. By drawing residents outdoors, their homes become part of the larger community, bringing neighbors together and making tiny home living feel not so tiny.
