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Micro-Living Models: Founded by US architect
Graham Hill, LifeEdited is a New York studio that
designs compact spaces and products to go in
them. The initiative began after Hill transformed
a 420 sq ft New York prototype unit (where he
currently resides) into a multifunctional living
space. The company’s micro-living blog is avidly
followed, introducing readers to compact new
technologies and storage systems. The team is
currently in discussion with developers in several
major US cities.
Petite Products: In 2011, Japanese consumer
electronics company Panasonic released the
Petit Drum – a compact washer and dryer with
the same performance quality as a standard-sized
appliance. The product was an instant success and
in 2012, Panasonic followed it up with Syokusen,
a compact dishwasher. Downsizing has also
increased demand for single-portion ready meals
and products with an extended shelf life.
Intuitive Systems: Researchers at the
Technische Universität München (TUM) in
Germany have developed a smart entrance-hall
system designed to help elderly residents keep
track of personal belongings. The prototype
consists of a touchscreen tablet computer
embedded into a wall panel. It can alert owners
if they have forgotten to retrieve their door keys
from the key holder, and keep track of other
items using an indoor positioning system. In-built
biosensors can also measure key health metrics
like blood sugar level and blood pressure. If the
sensors detect a critical reading, the system calls
the user’s doctor or mobile nursing service.
Solo Living
In recent times, we have seen an explosion in
solitary living in both developed and emerging
economies, as growing numbers of Millennials
snub marriage and emboldened baby boomers
divorce. Single households now represent a major
slice of the global population, resulting in a demand
for spaces, products and services that cater to
single-person living.
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According to research firm Euromonitor, the
number of people living alone globally surged
by 80% from 153 million in 1996, to 277 million
in 2011.
•
In the UK, 34% of households are now single-
occupant residences.
•
Some 40% of households in the US cities of
Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco and
Minneapolis are single-person occupancies.
Living alone reflects modern society’s cult of
the individual. Among young professionals, it
has become a marker of success, demonstrating
independence, financial security and self-
acceptance. No longer considered a transitional
stage or a stigma, many solo dwellers are
happy to pay a premium for the privilege of
independence and personal privacy. “Dynamic
markets, flourishing cities and open communication
systems make modern autonomy more appealing;
they give us the capacity to live alone but to
engage with others when and how we want to and
on our own terms,” says Eric Klinenberg, Chicago-
born author of Going Solo: The Extraordinary
Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone.
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Modern Family
Case Studies/Drivers/Influencers
LifeEdited
©Matthew Williams