DECLARATION

I, Reshma Aji, hereby declare that this dissertation entitled “Micro Housing: A Solution
to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?” is the outcome of my own research study
undertaken under the guidance of Ms. Shahina Muthu, Professor at TKM College of
Engineering, Kollam. It has not previously formed the basis for the award of any degree,
diploma, or certificate of this Institute or of any other institute or university. I have duly
acknowledged all the sources used by me in the preparation of this dissertation.

Kollam RESHMA AJI

01/01/2022
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to all those who helped and guided
me in the completion of this dissertation project.

I am very much thankful to my guide, Prof. Shahina Muthu S. for her kind support and
guidance that was provided throughout the course of this dissertation.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr. Annie John for her valuable
guidance, keen interest and encouragement at various stages of the dissertation work.

I would also like to acknowledge with much appreciation, the crucial role of my advisors,
Prof. Gadhi M, Prof. Sangeeth K and Prof. Haritha C, Head of the Department Prof.
Santhosh Kumar K. G, Department of Architecture, TKM College of Engineering, for
their support and guidance.

I express deep and sincere gratitude to Prof. Serene Mary J, Prof. Rini Thomas Kutty and
Prof. Ashima A. whose encouragement, suggestion and constructive criticism have
contributed immensely to the evolution of my ideas on the project.

Reshma Aji
 ABSTRACT

Micro house refers to a residential structure, designed for full time occupancy that
accommodates occupants at less than 400 sq.ft per person. It also refers to the provision
of homes that do not conform to the current minimum space standards. Even though the
concept of micro houses is becoming familiar worldwide with the evolution of the Tiny
House Movement, the scope of tiny houses in India as a solution to the urban housing
crisis has not been explored.

The study aims to understand the concept of micro housing, its significance, its
applicability to the Indian context and how much the common people are aware of such
a concept, especially the urban youth who move to bigger cities in search of jobs & for
study purposes. Along with taking considerations from the experiences of current users
and tiny house suppliers, certain guidelines are formed for efficient design of micro units
in terms of quality of urban living, functionality, space and storage.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE
CERTIFICTATE
DECLARATION
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION......................................................................... 1

1.1 Background of the Study ................................................................................... 1

1.2 Aim .................................................................................................................... 1

1.3 Research Questions ............................................................................................ 1

1.4 Objectives .......................................................................................................... 1

1.5 Scope and limitations ......................................................................................... 2

1.6 Methodology ...................................................................................................... 2

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................ 3

2.1 Definition of a Tiny House ............................................................................... 3

2.2. Typology of Tiny Houses ................................................................................ 3

2.3. The Tiny House Movement ............................................................................. 5

2.4. Tiny House Movement in India ....................................................................... 8

2.5. Similar Case Studies ........................................................................................ 9

2.6. Significance of Tiny Houses .......................................................................... 10

2.7. Barriers to Tiny Houses ................................................................................. 12

2.8. Housing Crisis in India .................................................................................. 13

2.9. Need for micro housing in India .................................................................... 16

CHAPTER 3: CASE STUDY AND ANALYSIS .............................................. 19

3.1 Treehouse Co-Living Apartments, South Korea ............................................. 19

3.2. Chandler Boulevard Tiny Home Village, Los Angeles ................................. 26

3.3. Love2 House, Tokyo ...................................................................................... 33

3.4. Micro Apartment, Taiwan ............................................................................. 38

CHAPTER 4: CONSUMER RESEARCH........................................................ 46

4.1. Online Survey – Potential House Seekers & Students .................................. 46

4.2. Interview – Tiny House Suppliers in India ................................................... 57

4.3. Interview – Current micro house users .......................................................... 62

CHAPTER 5: RECOMMENDATIONS & CONCLUSIONS......................... 65

Bibliography/References ..................................................................................... 67

Annexure 1 ........................................................................................................... 70
 LIST OF FIGURES

No. Name Page

1 Flowchart of Research Methodology 2

2 Urbanization Growth in India 14

3 Urban Housing Shortage 2012 15

4 Break-up of housing shortage in various categories 15

5 State-wise Housing Shortage in 2012 15

6 Urban Housing Shortage 2012 16

7 Street view of Tree House Co-living Apartments 19

8 Aerial view and Section of Tree House Co-living Apartments 21

9 Ground Floor Plan of Tree House Co-living Apartments 22

10 Various Interior Layouts and Interior Views 23

11 Aerial View of Chandler Boulevard Tiny Home Village 26

12 Aerial View of Site - Chandler Boulevard Tiny Home Village - Before 27

and After

13 Elevation and Sectional View of Pallet Shelter 29

14 Plan View of Pallet Shelter 30

15 Front View of Pallet Shelter 30

16 Community Living of Chandler Boulevard Tiny Home Village 31

17 Street View of Love2 House 33

18 Floor Plan of Love2 House 35

19 Section of Love2 House 36

20 Interior Top View of Micro Apartment, Taiwan 38

21 Previous Layout of Micro Apartment, Taiwan 40

22 Redesigned Layout of Micro Apartment, Taiwan 40

23 Interior Views of Micro Apartment, Taiwan 41

24 Sample Group of Survey : Age groups 46

25 Sample Group of Survey : Gender 47

26 Sample Group of Survey : Occupation 48

27 Users studying in their hometown 49

28 Current Housing Facility of Participants 50

29 Difficulty in finding the current housing facility 50

30 Satisfaction with current housing facility 51

31 Major issues associated with current housing facility 51

32 Accessibility requirements for ideal location of a residence 53

33 Familiarity with the concept of a Tiny House 54

34 Important requirements preferred in a Tiny House 54

35 Choice of users regarding life in a Tiny House 55

36 Preferred size of micro unit 56

37 Container House at Thrissur 62

 LIST OF TABLES

No. Name Page

1 Typology of Tiny Houses - Mobile Tiny Houses 4

2 Typology of Tiny Houses - Permanent Tiny Houses 4

3 General Information of Tree House Co-living Apartments 20

4 Analysis of Tree House Co-living Apartments 25

5 General Information of Chandler Boulevard Tiny Home Village 26

6 Analysis of Chandler Boulevard Tiny Home Village 32

7 General Information of Love2 House 33

8 Analysis of Love2 House 36

9 General Information of Micro Apartment, Taiwan 38

10 Analysis of Micro Apartment, Taiwan 41

11 Comparative Analysis 43

12 Sample Group of Survey : Age groups 46

13 Sample Group of Survey : Gender 47

14 Location of participants 47

15 Current housing facility of users 49

16 Major issues in the current housing facility of users 52

17 Accessibility requirements for an ideal location of a residence 53

18 Requirements preferred in a micro house 55

19 Information about the interviewees 61

 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

CHAPTER:1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world today - with a growth rate of
8.2 percent in the first quarter of 2018-2019. As of 2019, the housing shortage in urban
areas was around 10 million units and this trend will only elevate further in the future.
Fast paced industrialization and the consequent rural - urban migration, skyrocketing
property and land prices, population growth, competing land use etc. are some of the few
reasons the housing shortage crisis still persists in our country. This study aims at
exploring the scope of tiny houses as a means to mitigate the housing shortage crisis in
India.

1.2 AIM
To conduct a study to identify the scope of tiny homes as a permanent habitable
dwelling in the context of the Indian subcontinent focusing on the floating population
and to form certain guidelines for the effective design of micro houses.

1.3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. Why and how could tiny houses be a way to relieve the housing crisis in India in
an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable manner within the
current policy framework?
2. What are the environmental, social and economic benefits and limitations of the
tiny house?
3. What are the barriers to adopt tiny homes?

1.4. OBJECTIVES
• To explore the traces of The Tiny House Movement globally; to identify the
various classifications, pros and cons, along with its introduction and contextual
use within the Indian subcontinent.

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

• To study the housing market crisis in India - population trends, land costs, etc.
• To understand the restrictions, especially the legal and socio-cultural factors and
the associated aspirant user groups and their take on life in tiny homes.

1.5. SCOPE & LIMITATIONS

• The study is focused on identifying whether the tiny house can be an apt
solution for the current housing crisis faced by India.
• The study only deals with the housing crisis associated with the migrant
population and not the homeless section of the society.
• There is a limitation to live case studies as such projects are not established
within India.

1.6. METHODOLOGY

Fig. 1. Flowchart of Research Methodology

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

CHAPTER:2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. Definition of a Tiny House

While there is no official definition to a tiny home, a number of general definitions are
available from different sources. Some of them are specified below :

• Generally, a tiny house is a small house, typically less than 600 square feet in
size. (Zerodown)

• They are primary, full-fledged dwelling units on a small scale. A Tiny House is
up to 50 m , ideally self-sufficient, of high quality and functioning as a fulltime
2

inhabited dwelling. (marjoleininhetklein)

• According to the 2018 International Residential Code, Appendix Q Tiny

Houses, a tiny house is a "dwelling unit with a maximum of 37 square metres
(400 sq ft) of floor area, excluding lofts.

• Typically, tiny homes are between 100 and 400 square feet. While there isn’t a
set standard, a tiny house rarely exceeds 500 square feet. (Alterman)

• According to the International Code Council, to be officially "tiny," the house

has to be 400 square feet or less.

2.2. Typology of Tiny Houses

According to a research done by Shearer and Burton (2019), tiny houses are classified
into two main types:

1. Mobile tiny homes, which include tiny houses on wheels, relocatable houses and
fully mobile dwellings.
2. Permanent tiny houses include purpose built THs, converted non-residential
buildings, and TH villages.

The characteristic features of each are as follows:

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Table 1
Typology of Tiny Houses - Mobile Tiny Houses

1. Tiny house on wheels (THOW) • Size : around 20 m 2

• Mobile, on a trailer
• Owner built
• House fully owned, trailer and vehicle possibly
financed
• Moves from construction site to permanent or semi
permanent site in urban or rural land, free campsites,
etc.
• Dwellers often have strong environmental focus and
often off-grid
• Can have a community focus

2. Relocatable tiny houses • Size : 20 m to 40 m

2 2

• Moved infrequently (<6 months is general minimum

lease time)
• Owner built or purchased second hand or as a kit
• Costs greater than THOWs.
• House often fully owned; land owned, mortgaged or
rented
• Legal as primary/ secondary/ ancillary dwelling on own
or rented land
• No specific environmental or community focus

3. Fully mobile dwellings • Smaller than THOW and relocatable houses

(caravans, boats, bus, etc.) • Highly mobile and often temporary structures
• Not generally built from scratch; either purchased new
or repurposed
• Cost varies widely
• Environmental ethos as per tiny house movement
• Legal to park in designated areas like caravan parks,
free camping sites, etc.
• Often a strong community focus
(Shearer and Burton, 2019)

Table 2
Typology of Tiny Houses - Permanent Tiny Houses

1. Purpose built tiny house/cottage • Size, generally under 50 m2

• Semi/detached, usually built by registered

builder or owner

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

• Fully legal on own land; subject to council

restrictions, such as potable water and
sewage
• No particular environmental or
community focus

2. Converted non-residential building • Under 70 m 2

(shed, garage, barn) • Can be a temporary dwelling, but is not

usually moved
• Relatively inexpensive; often rented or
built on own land
• Legal, but councils differ widely
regarding these dwellings and length of
permitted residence
• No particular environmental or
community focus

3. Tiny house village (apartment complex/ • Generally, the individual’s private space is
cottage in intentional or co-housing community) small (under 40 m ) with shared facilities
2

• Designs vary widely

• Cost is variable and depends on tenure and
location
• Fully legal in many countries
• Frequently have a strong fundamental
ecological and social philosophy and
rules.
(Shearer and Burton, 2019)

2.3. The Tiny House Movement

The tiny-house movement is an architectural and social movement that advocates for
downsizing living spaces, simplifying, and essentially “living with less.” (Ford and
Gomz-Lanier, 2017)

The timeline of the tiny house movement (“The Interesting History Of Tiny Houses:
Timeline Explored”) :

• Tiny houses can be traced throughout the history from the prehistoric times;
from cone-shaped tents or tipi used years ago to wooden and steel prefabricated
houses, tiny houses have come a long way.
• Stone Age : Earliest records of tiny houses can be traced back to the paleolithic
age in the Terra Amata site in Nice, France, which would have included very

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

small cooking and sleeping areas with the toilet facilities being used on the
ground outside the structure.
• In-home toilets started to appear during the neolithic age; residents of Orkney
Islands, Scotland had a basic drainage system in their 8,000 BC houses and
homes in Ancient India started to see private bathrooms in 3,000 BC.
Technically, the first ever tiny house was seen in the neolithic age.
• The bronze and iron ages saw the society settling down, and the need for
permanent homes. Ancient Mongolia saw the construction of yurts, which were
round structures made of wooden supports, wrapped in large animal skin/leather
to provide a waterproof finish and were designed to be collapsible and movable.
• 1000-500 BC saw the Native Americans use the tipi or teepee, which were self
contained, waterproof structures which provided a cooking and living/sleeping
area. Latrines were dug near their tipi.
• The 1800s were an interesting time for tiny houses. There were Gypsy wagons,
which were self-contained wood based houses on wheels which could be
transported to other places via horses and were used by the travelling Romani-
people community throughout Europe.
• Narrow homes called shotgun houses popped up in America during the 1800s
which was just about 250-300 square feet.
• The concept of a ‘Tiny House’ gained attention in 1854 when Henry David
Thoreau, an American author, documented his minimalist and remote living
experience in a 150 sq.ft tiny house cabin in Walden Pond, Massachusetts in his
book ‘Walden’.
• A total of 5610 relief houses out of redwood and fir were built by the army when
an earthquake of scale 7.9 hit San Francisco in 1906.
• American architect and inventor Richard Buckminster Fuller in the years 1930-
1945 worked on his Dymaxion House design, a circular structure which used
house building techniques that were advanced at the time to create houses which
would be quick to build and transport.
• In 1944, the post World War II period saw the construction of prefabricated
houses in the UK which used either steel sheeting or concrete or timber.
• The 1900 period further saw the 45 m Venturo house built by Matti Suuronen
2

from Finland from a range of plastics, including tough plastics for the main

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

structure and acrylic-based glass for the windows. This modular building is one
of the earliest commercial tiny houses known.
• In 1973, the book ‘Shelter’ written by Lloyd Kahn and Bob Easton covered a
range of smaller houses from across the centuries and millennia, from Iron Age
huts to yurts and more modern houses. It helped in increasing public awareness
of how people have successfully lived in small homes for many years.
• Lester Walker’s ‘Tiny Houses: Or How to Get Away From It All’ published in
1987, contained hundreds of photographs and diagrams/plans for how people
can escape civilization and build their own tiny house. It is almost a manifesto
for the modern day tiny house movement.
• In the year 1998, the book ‘The Not So Big House’ by English architect Sarah
Susanka extolled the virtues of living in houses with a blueprint of how people
can maximize space within their homes, with clever designs and advice to
ensure that people get full benefit out of their available space.
• The construction of tiny houses as a movement began in the late 1990s in the
Pacific Northwest of the USA, when a recession combined with unaffordable
housing made the “Great American Dream” of owning one’s own house
increasingly remote. The movement emerged during economic instability in the
US among a collapsing economy and disasters like hurricane Katrina; people
started building their own little houses. Jay Shafer and Dee Williams among
others, became pioneers in the Tiny House movement.
• In 1999, Jay Shafer published his article about the merits of simple living and
further went on to founding the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, a specialist
manufacturing company which produces tiny houses.
• In 2002, The Small House Society formed by Jay Shafer, Nigel Valdez, Gregory
Paul Johnson and Shay Salomon, aimed for the tiny house movement to become
more mainstream via more organized attempts. Their mission is: “to support the
research, development, and use of smaller living spaces that foster sustainable
living”.
• In 2006, the book ‘Little House on a Small Planet’ by Shay Salomon markets
itself by saying “Living small frees up the mind, the wallet, and the soul”,
arguing for smaller living in order to have a healthier lifestyle.

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

• In 2007, Jay Shafer appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, where he talked
about his 96 square foot (8.9 m ) home on national television.
2

• In 2007, the first ever tiny house blog was launched by Kent Griswold, which
covers a range of tiny house types, including log cabins and stick-built ones.
• In 2009, the subprime mortgage crisis hit the US and many house owners started
considering the option of downsizing a lot more that the mainstream media like
the Economist covered tiny homes, calling them “A new vogue for little living”.
• In 2012, Jay Shafer founded the Four Lights Houses which aims to have a
broader reach of pushing for tiny house communities to be built.
• In 2013, The Caravan Tiny House Hotel was founded by Deb Delman and Kol
Peterson and allowed people to rent out a range of caravan-style tiny houses in
Portland, Oregon.
• In 2014, the FYI channel launched the Tiny House Nation which follows John
Weisbarth and Zack Giffin around the country as they explore tiny homes and
interview their owners/builders.
• In 2015, The American Tiny House Association was launched by Andrew
Heben, Robert Reed, Elizabeth Roberts, Elaine Walker and William Rockhill,
with a mission to promote tiny houses as a “viable, formally acceptable” way of
living life.
• In 2016, The International Code Council said that tiny house specific rules will
be introduced in the next International Residential Code to be published which
would allow tiny house dwellers to receive more official status.
• The years 2016-2017 saw a few states and regions start to relax zoning laws
with tiny houses in mind.

2.4. Tiny House Movement in India

In the context of housing trends, India is a truly diverse nation. The average size of
houses varies a great deal from one city to the other. The difference exists not just
between Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, but also between different cities in the same
tier. (“The scope of the 'Tiny House Movement' in India and its possible repercussions
on the industry”)

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Space optimization is the need of the hour, especially in a country like India where we
are primed to equate success with maximalization, i.e the more the bounty, the more of
everything. Overcrowded metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata, which
are in dire need of housing that is both affordable and sustainable, could be an important
consideration for the development of tiny houses. Aside from promising an energy-
efficient future, tiny homes could also be utilized to relocate the homeless in India and
elevate their economic and social standing. (Koppisetti)

2.5. Evaluating Tiny Houses as a sustainable answer to relieve the housing

crisis in the Netherlands

Even though the Dutch had acknowledged the vital need for sustainable housing, the
Netherlands has been facing a housing crisis where there was a shortage of almost
3,00,000 houses. The thesis research by Van de Valk, K explores why and how Tiny
Houses could be a way to relieve the housing crisis in an environmentally, socially and
economically sustainable manner within the current policy framework. A qualitative
research methodology was adopted by means of desk study and semi-structured
interviews. (Van de Valk., 2020)

The article discusses the crisis faced by the Dutch housing market - various policy
making, homelessness, population inflow, etc. The introductory part further deals with
the emergence and evolution of the Tiny House Movement over the years and its traces
in the Netherlands, the various definitions and classifications of the tiny houses into
mobile and permanent tiny houses. The article focussed on mobile tiny houses or tiny
houses on wheels for the purpose of setting boundaries.

The participants for the study were identified - potential house seekers, current users,
suppliers and policy makers. Through a desk study and semi-structured interviews, key
challenges behind the housing crisis were identified - like the political and legal factors,
which limits the construction of new houses in certain areas, high private rental house
prices, taxes, restrictions for taking out mortgages, economic factors, socio-cultural
factors like the increasing amount of households, etc.

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

A sustainability analysis of tiny houses was done which focused on the materials for
construction, usually second hand, recyclable materials, the limited amount of space
which encourages downsizing, the positive air quality brought about by the use of wood
as a building material, the collection and filtration of rainwater, etc. Tiny houses have a
positive impact on social interaction, community living, safety and security, economic
sustainability, durability, etc.

Furthermore, the article also discusses the limitations or barriers faced by the tiny
houses including the existing laws and policies in the Netherlands, which do not have a
provision to include tiny houses yet, the high initial cost and socio-cultural factors.

The interviews came up with the conclusion that tiny houses can be a potential solution
for people looking to rent or buy an affordable house especially for low and lower
middle-income segments. The social housing corporations could play a key role.
Overall, the TH would be a flexible but sustainable option that could provide affordable
housing to those who need it. It would satisfy their needs, but whether it would satisfy
their wishes is rather subjective and may not always be realistic. (Van de Valk., 2020)

2.6. Significance of Tiny Houses

Some of the factors driving the growing interest in the tiny houses are listed below :
(Wyatt, 2016)

• ECONOMIC FACTORS

Costs less in materials than larger homes. If built efficiently and with high-
quality materials, they also cost less to heat, cool, and maintain.
Most THOW are more expensive to build per square meter than most
conventional newly built homes and appear cheaper overall only because they
do not necessarily require the purchase of land and associated infrastructure.
Moreover, THOW builders typically offer greater flexibility and a wider range
of options, including selling basic shell designs that can then be customized.
(Shearer and Burton 6,7)

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

• SUSTAINABILITY

Tiny houses, because of their scale, use fewer resources, especially when
constructed from recycled materials. Moreover, many tiny houses (especially
THOW) are capable of running off-grid, generating their own power, collecting
their own rainwater and using composting toilets. Other sustainable behaviors
include using more public transport, using renewable energy, harvesting
rainwater, and minimizing overall consumption. (Shearer and Burton 7)

• COMMUNITY

Interested user group is split between people seeking community and those who
want to get away from neighbors. Tiny house villages can serve community-
minded residents, while individual homes on rural parcels offer privacy.

• CHOICE & CUSTOMIZATION/CONTROL

They increase housing options with the complete freedom of personalizing.

• SELF-SUFFICIENCY

The small, off-the-grid home surrounded by nature and fertile gardens offers
potential for self-sufficient lifestyles.

• OWNERSHIP POTENTIAL

They make home ownership possible for many who could not afford
conventional housing as tiny homes often cost less than larger homes and can be
purchased separately from land.

• SIMPLER LIVING

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

A smaller house can mean fewer repairs, reduced chores and desire to minimise
possessions. This pushback against consumerism and housing affordability
problems apparently reflects a societal groundswell against the neoliberal
consumerism of the late 1990s, which manifested in the suburban McMansions,
planned obsolescence and proliferation of throwaway goods. (Shearer et al. 3)

• MOBILITY

Many tiny homes are constructed on wheeled trailers. This appeals to

homebodies who dream of going places.

2.7. Barriers to Tiny Houses

On the flip side, several cons have been associated with the life in tiny houses, which
are listed below : (Amador)

• LAND ZONING RULES

Some states don't consider tiny houses as legal housing because they fall into a
gray area of zoning and safety regulations. Most states find they don't have the
minimum square footage required to be considered a residence, making it more
difficult to register. However, most states classify tiny houses as recreational
vehicles (RVs), so they are allowed to park at campsites and RV sites for a fee.

• TINY HOUSE RESALE VALUE

Because of the gray area tiny homes fall under, getting a loan is difficult and
selling is hard; tiny house prices depreciate and most people lose money on their
tiny house when they go to sell. Upgrades do increase the overall value but not
necessarily enough to make the money back.

• LESS STORAGE SPACE

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

For most families, moving into a tiny house means getting rid of a lot of
belongings, and not all of them are unnecessary junk. (Livingston)

• LESS LIVING SPACE AND ENTERTAINING CAPABILITY

There is no space for a full sized kitchen or bathroom, unless the inhabitants are
willing to sacrifice other space for them. Tiny houses are designed for 1 or 2
people; it can get crowded with a whole family. (Livingston)

• FINANCING

It is difficult for people to obtain mortgage loans because banks don’t consider a
tiny house to have enough value to make good collateral. (Livingston)

2.8. Housing Crisis in India

India’s urban population has grown at a CAGR of 2.8 percent over 2001-2011, resulting
in an increase in the urbanization rate from 27.8 percent to 31.2 percent ( Census of
India, 2011 ). According to the Census of India, 2011, out of India’s 1.21 billion
population, 377 million people are urban dwellers.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI) estimates that by 2050, the
country’s cities would witness a net increase of 900 million people (“Urban
Infrastructure in India” FICCI, 2011 ). Over 2012-2050, the pace of urbanization is
likely to increase at a CAGR of 2.1 percent – double that of China (“Opportunities in an
Urbanizing World” ,2012).

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Fig. 2. Urbanization Growth in India (Source : Census of India, 2011)

Majority of the growth in urbanization is expected to be a consequence of rural-to-urban

migration. Growing concentration of people in urban areas has resulted in an increase in
the number of people living in slums and squatter settlements. (Rekhy 2). Skyrocketing
prices of land and real estate in urban areas are the major factors that force the poor and
the economically weaker sections of the society to occupy the marginal lands typified
by poor housing stock, congestion and obsolescence. Substantial housing shortage
looms in urban India and a wide gap exists between the demand and supply of housing,
both in terms of quantity and quality. (Rekhy 2).

According to a report submitted by a technical committee to the Ministry of Housing

and Urban Poverty Alleviation (MHUPA), India’s urban housing shortage is estimated
at nearly 18.78 million households in 2012. Among those living in obsolete houses, 80
percent of the households are living in congested houses and are in need of new houses.
The report also highlights that nearly 1 million households are living in non-serviceable
kutcha houses, while over half a million households are in homeless
conditions. (“Urban Housing Shortage” 2)

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Fig. 3. Urban housing shortage 2012 (Source : “Urban Housing Shortage”)

Of the total urban housing shortage, nearly 62 percent houses are self-owned, while 38
percent families live in rented homes. The break-up of housing shortage in both these
categories in urban India is illustrated below :

Fig. 4. Break-up of housing shortage (Source: Report of the Technical Urban Group (TG-12) on Urban
Housing Shortage 2012-17, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, September 2012)

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Fig. 5. State-wise housing shortage in 2012 (Source: Report of the Technical Urban Group (TG-12) on
Urban Housing Shortage 2012-17, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, September 2012 )

The state-wise data shows Uttar Pradesh has a housing shortage of over three million
homes followed by Maharashtra (1.97 mn), West Bengal (1.33 mn), Andhra Pradesh
(1.27 mn) and Tamil Nadu (1.25 mn). The top 10 states, in terms of urban housing
shortage, contribute to 14.3 million or 76 percent of housing shortage. (“Urban Housing
Shortage” 3)

Urban housing shortage is prominent across the economically weaker sections (EWS)
and low-income groups (LIG) which together constitute over 95 percent of the total
housing shortage. The shortage amongst the middle-income groups (MIG) and above is
estimated at 4.38 percent. (“Urban Housing Shortage”4)

Fig. 6. Urban housing shortage 2012 (Source: Report of the Technical Urban Group (TG-12) on Urban
Housing Shortage 2012-17, Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, September 2012)

2.9. Need for Micro Housing in India

The EWS and LIG categories are chiefly responsible for India's urban housing deficit.
However, the majority of the housing stock that has been developed in urban India is
beyond the reach of the EWS and LIG. Due to the larger returns that can be obtained
from such projects, real estate developers have predominantly targeted the luxury, high-

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end, and upper-mid housing segments. Furthermore, high land costs, antiquated
construction codes, strict licensing requirements, project delays, and unfriendly lending
rules made low-cost housing developments unprofitable for private developers. (KPMG
in India analysis)

Hence, traditionally, low-cost housing has been constructed in the past three decades.
The government has adopted several policies assisting the delivery of affordable
housing for the EWS, LIG and lower MIG:

• focused on transition of public sector role as `facilitator’

• increased role of the private sector
• development of fiscal incentives and concessions
• accelerated flow of housing finance
• promotion of environment friendly, cost-effective and pro-poor technology

(Rekhy 4)

In response to the growing need for shelter and the expansion of slums in urban areas,
the government announced the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
(JNNURM) in 2005 and the National Urban Housing and Habitat Policy in December
2007. (Rekhy 4)

Following the global financial crisis, India's real estate market saw significant changes.
Due to the downturn and liquidity crunch, developers were forced to adopt a two-
pronged strategy: smaller units at lower prices.

With over half of the world's population now living in cities, space is limited, expenses
are high, and finding a decent location to live has become a genuine struggle. Micro
apartments have sprung up in densely populated areas all over the world. The average
unit is 300-400 square feet, which is about the size of a one-car garage. While they may
appear to be cramped, they have been lauded as one solution to address the growing
housing shortage. (Are Micro-Units the Future of City Living?, 2018)

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“Micro-units are a viable way to meet a pressing need as long as they’re in walkable
neighborhoods with excellent transit options,” says David Venance of JLL’s Capital
Markets Multifamily team in Vancouver, where vacancy in the residential sector is as
low as 1 percent. For many city inhabitants today, an attractive live-work-play
environment surpasses size more than in previous generations. While previous
generations may have fantasized of castles in the hills with a staff, many young city
dwellers prefer a compact apartment in the middle of the city with laundry service,
cleaning service, and open-bar rooftop parties. (Are Micro-Units the Future of City
Living?, 2018)

“Young, single professionals aren’t in it for square footage or privacy—they’re in it for

location, connectivity and amenities,” says Nick Whitten, Director of UK Research at
JLL.“The nature of the way we live itself is changing,” says Whitten. “As demographic
changes meet affordable housing challenges, expect to see more interesting uses of
space, particularly in dense urban communities.” (Are Micro-Units the Future of City
Living?, 2018)

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CHAPTER:3 CASE STUDY

3.1 Literature Case Study 1: Treehouse Co-Living Apartments

Fig. 7. Street View of the Tree House Apartments (Source: Rosete)

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Table 3
General Information of Tree House Co-Living Apartments

Location Gangnam-gu, South Korea

Architects Bo-DAA

Client Kolon Global Common Life

Year of completion 2018

Area Land area: 1230 sq.m

Above Ground Built Area: 2780 sq.m

Basement Area: 2030 sq.m

User Group Single professionals & their pet companions

Awards 1. Winner of Architecture MasterPrize. Residential Design of

2019.
2. Top 5 Residential Projects in the World. Dezeen Awards
2019.

INTRODUCTION

Treehouse is a 72-unit co-living complex in the heart of Seoul's start-up district,

Gangnam. Composed of micro-studios and micro-lofts, it is designed for single
professionals and their animal companions. The project thinks about how spatial
composition reflects a communal lifestyle.

Co-living spaces have grown in popularity around the world as a more cost-effective
alternative to renting apartments. Residential rents in Seoul, for example, require 10
months to a year's worth of security deposits, making them prohibitively expensive for
young individuals just starting out in their jobs. Commontown solves this by requiring
only a two-month payment to reserve Tree House, making it significantly more
accessible to millennials.

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CONTEXT

Seoul's upmarket, modern core, Gangnam-gu, is home to sparkling skyscrapers,

fashionable brands, and chic nightclubs where big-name DJs spin techno and house.
Gangnam is considered the national capital of education, which is one of the decisive
factors to make Gangnam the most attractive destination in South Korea.

Bo.Daa's Tree House concept could be an exceptional architectural solution for co-
living spaces in the future. The Tree House was designed by Bo.Daa with 72 separate
flats arranged around a tree-lined courtyard and distributed over seven levels, allowing
for the necessary personal space while maintaining a sense of community.

Fig. 8. Aerial view and section of Tree House

Apartments (Source : Archdaily)

MAJOR FEATURES

• The green atrium is lined with a workplace, secret storage, and shared utilities
like a laundry, kitchen, and pet garden, making it a versatile location for
impromptu meetings and community activities.

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• There are six storeys of homes above the garden. Each floor features a unique
apartment, such as lofted sleeping quarters over an open soaking tub, a ladder of
ledges for feline occupants to utilise as perches, or a huge penthouse for couples.
• Treehouse's micro-apartments have different layouts on each floor, and come in
three different sizes – 16.5, 23 and 33 square-metres. Each apartment is a
kitchenette, a bathroom and a living space.
• The Tree House has additional features such as sliding doors that double as
shelving, full wall magnetic paint, and modular storage.
• More units open to the north, contrasting with Korean tradition, providing cooler
and more steady light to the wide slanted windows as well as a better view. The
blinds on these three-metre-wide windows on the northern facade rise from the
bottom up, offering privacy while still allowing inhabitants to see the sky.
• The south facade's windows aid in the creation of a stack effect, which helps to
ventilate the central atrium by releasing any trapped heat and attracting breeze
into the garden.

Fig. 9. Ground floor plan of Tree House Apartments

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3F Femme

4F Nomad

5F ‘Cat’

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6F Terrace

7F Minimal

8F Pent

Fig. 10. Various Interior Layouts and views of Tree House Apartments

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Table 4
Analysis of Tree House Apartments

QUALITY OF • Located in Gangnam, the start-up hub & educational

URBAN LIFE hub of Seoul.
• Easy access to the airport, bus stop, metro, etc.
• Reflects the communal lifestyle.
• Shared amenities like green lounge, co-kitchen,
restaurant, pet baths, office spaces, cinema nook,
etc.

FUNCTIONALITY • Unification of public zones around the atrium.

• Laundry, pet care & co-kitchen are aligned in the
same axis so that water management is made easier.
• Use of different concepts on each floor adapts the
users of different mindsets.
• Micro units of various sizes and configurations are
available to meet the demands of various
households.
• Use of slanting windows help grab more sunlight in
the individual unit typologies.

SPACE & STORAGE • Area of each unit varies from 16.5, 23 to 33 square-
metres.
• Built-in modular storage and magnetic wall paint
have been developed to make space personalization
simple and quick.
• Sliding doors that double as shelving, customized
furniture, etc provide more storage within a limited
space.
• Mezzanine floor helps add more features within a
minimum space.

MATERIALS • Structure : exposed concrete, steel

• Windows : steel
• Interior finish : plain concrete, wood claddings,
magnetic wall paint
• Ceiling : exposed plain concrete
• Exterior : exposed concrete
• Flooring : red oxide, wood, tile

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3.2. Literature Case Study 2: Chandler Boulevard Tiny Home Village

Fig. 11. Aerial view of Chandler Boulevard Village (Source : Wang)

Table 5
General Information of Chandler Boulevard Village

Location 11478 Chandler Boulevard, Los Angeles

Architect Lehrer Architects LA

Year of 2020
completion

Builder Ford Construction

Budget 3.487 million

User Group Homeless people of Los Angeles

Awards 1. Award for Excellence in Design, The American Institute of

Architects Los Angeles 2021
2. Honor Award, Los Angeles Business Council 2021

INTRODUCTION
The community project of Chandler Boulevard village offers an experimental and
timely template for improving Los Angeles’ homelessness crisis by transforming a
forgotten, oddly shaped infill lot into a 39 one-or-two-person/unit facility for unhoused
Angelenos using prefabricated “pallet shelters”. Lehrer Architects LA designed a plan

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of spatial character, colourful details, and logistical efficiency in collaboration with

multiple city agencies, including the Bureau of Engineering, Department of Public
Works, and Ford Construction, to create a model community space with a level of
design sensibility and beauty not often seen in these types of projects.

The Los Angeles City developed and funded the project as part of an emergency
response to the ongoing homelessness crisis that has been further exacerbated by the
pandemic. According to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s 2020
Homeless Count, the number of people lacking shelter in the city has increased by more
than 16 percent from the previous year. (Dattilo)

SITE CONTEXT

Fig. 12. Aerial View of Chandler Boulevard village site - Before and After (Source:
https://www.lehrerarchitects.com/project/chandler-tiny-home/)
The Chandler Boulevard Bridge Home was built on an oddly shaped, leftover infill site
that could have easily been overlooked if it hadn't been for eagle-eyed City authorities

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on the lookout for property to build bridge homes. Pallet shelters, rather than massive
trailers, are used in this approach, which opens up a slew of previously undeveloped
areas across the city because their size allows them to be built into a variety of different
designs. These 8x8' Pallet Homes are easy to put up, give private, self-contained
conditioned space for the people who live in them, and, like pixels fitting an odd shape,
bring genuine value to an under-utilized space.

Although there is no time limit for how long residents are allowed to stay at the village,
the community is intended as interim housing to help each resident transition to
permanent housing.

MAJOR FEATURES

• The architects used low-cost architectural touches like modernist paint

highlights to bring the practical space to life, creating plenty of visual variation,
delight, and a sense of community.
• On the ground, color is used to emphasize the trailers' individuality while also
providing a cohesive sense of a town and the aesthetically engaging and
uplifting impact of a three-dimensional painting.
• The Orange Line was surrounded by a chain link fence, which was used to
create geometric patterns while also giving seclusion and visual separation.
• The new 550-foot sewage line expansion, pedestrian protection barriers,
levelling the street for ADA owing to the lack of sidewalks, and building a fire
lane throughout the site were the largest cost contributions. However, because of
the upfront investment, the land is now developed in perpetuity and will
continue to serve the city after the houseless residents have been served.

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• For an efficient and cost-effective answer, the city resorted to prefabrication.

Pallet Shelter, a prefab builder, delivered the units as stacks of panels that were
ready to assemble when they arrived on site.

Fig. 13. Elevation and Sectional view of Pallet Shelter

• Each unit cost $7,500, including labor and supplies, and took less than an hour
to assemble.
• The aluminum-framed prefab dwellings by Pallet Shelter are made of sturdy,
easy-to-clean composite materials. The units are strongly insulated and can
withstand winds of up to 110 miles per hour and snow loads of up to 25 pounds
per square foot.
• Fold-out beds, storage space, electrical outlets, lights, heating and air
conditioning units, as well as a locking door and windows, are all included in
each prefab.

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Fig. 14. Plan view of Pallet Shelter

Fig. 15. Front view of Pallet Shelter

• Communal amenities include a shared dining-and-gathering space, a pet play

area, five portable showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, pest control, Wi-Fi
access, secure storage and on-site services. (Wang)

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Fig. 16. Community Living of Chandler Boulevard Village

MAJOR IMPACTS

• This village enhances its immediate neighborhood as it borders the Orange Line
busway and is close to an important North Hollywood Park.

• Preconceived conceptions regarding homeless housing in the community are

challenged by the neighborhood. The project included a simplified and efficient
layout of prefabricated modular units to enable communal dining and meeting
space, a pet play area, showers, restrooms, laundry, pest control, safe storage,
and assistance with city services.

• Because of off-site fabrication and specialized excavation-free foundations, the

use of state-approved modular and even "mobile" structures not only simplifies
permission but also allows for rapid deployment.

• 5 similar projects have been set up due to the success of the Chandler Boulevard
village, across the Los Angeles city.

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Table 6
Analysis of Chandler Boulevard Village

QUALITY OF • Built as an urban land-fill development.

URBAN LIFE • Access to public transport facilities
• Reflects communal lifestyle.
• Case management, housing navigation, mental health
services, substance abuse therapy, and job training
and placement are all available to all residents.
• The village's purpose is to provide stability and a
temporary home for its residents while also assisting
them in transitioning to more permanent homes.

FUNCTIONALITY • Includes 40 tiny homes & 75 beds.

• Provides communal facilities separately like pet play
area, communal dining and gathering space, baths,
bathrooms, laundry, pest treatment, secure storage,
and assistance with city services, etc.
• To keep the village seeming vibrant and non-
"institutional," parts of the community, including
some of the tiny dwellings, have been painted vivid
reds, yellows, and blues.
• Securing doors and windows using locks, water
diversion with integrated rain gutter is supplied, as is
a secure ventilation system with openable ridge top
for improved ventilation.

SPACE & • Each tiny house is 64 square feet.

STORAGE • Each home includes two beds, heat, air-conditioning,
windows, a small desk, electrical outlets, and a front
door.
• For storage purposes, integrated shelving is given
along the walls along with underbed storage.
• Vaulted 9-foot ceilings
• Interchangeable bed/desk options
• Folding bunk system for customized sleep and living
space

MATERIALS • Aluminium-framed prefab dwellings are used.

• Includes smoke & CO2 detector, pest proof &
insulated walls.

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3.3. Literature Case Study 3: Love2 House

Fig. 17. Street View of Love2 House (Griffiths)

Table 7
General Information of Love2 House

Location Bunkyo, Tokyo

Architect Takeshi Hosaka Architects

Year of completion 2019

Area 18 m2

User Group Architect couple

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INTRODUCTION

With a total floor area of 18 sqm, the Love2 House by Takeshi Hosaka is a small,
compact hut in Tokyo that manages to cater to the needs of a couple. The detached,
concrete residence incorporates a main frame complete with a round skylight, which
ensures enough natural light within the interior throughout the year.

CONTEXT

Love2 House was designed by Takeshi Hosaka as a means to lessen his commute to his
new job at the Waseda University Art and Architecture School on a plot of 31.41 m . 2

Inspired from the ‘Nagaya’ house of the Edo-period, which was a 9.6 m house built for
2

a family of 4, Takeshi Hosaka changed his initial two storey design of the house to a
single storey house of not more than 18 m . The house was to be designed for 2 and they
2

realized that 18 m was more than enough for both of them.

2

Love2 House encapsulates a full 18 meters of living area between its reinforced
concrete walls, embracing the natural bustle of the Tokyo lifestyle by easily slipping
into a vacant alcove between two traditionally urban living spaces.
Hosaka managed to achieve the delights of country living while living in one of today's
busiest cities by architecturally sculpting and designing both into and around the 30
meters of Tokyo pavement where Love2 House nestles. The house's proximity to the
road means that when the door is open, the inside becomes part of the streetscape, and
passers-by frequently stop to converse with the couple while they sit at the dining table.

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Fig. 18. Ground floor plan of Love2 House (Ott)

MAJOR FEATURES

• The design of Love2 House was influenced by concepts drawn from ancient
Roman villa architecture, which emphasize the value of study, bathing, drama,
music, and epicureanism — a philosophy of pleasure through modesty.
• The slanted ceilings' height adds to the compact interior's overall volume.
• Seven partitions extend out from the reinforced-concrete walls to define the
dining, kitchen and sleeping zones.
• The building's sense of vastness is increased by connecting it to the outdoors
through skylights and a big sliding door that runs the length of the living space.

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• The site receives no direct sunlight for three months. This led to the design of
the two curved rooftops that open to the sky.

Fig. 19. Section of Love2 House (Ott)

Table 8

Analysis of Love2 House

QUALITY OF • Located in Bunkyo, the residential and educational

URBAN LIFE center in Tokyo, the house was constructed to reduce
the commute distance to the client’s job.
• The proximity to the road makes the inside part of the
streetscape enhancing the communication to the
neighbors.

FUNCTIONALITY • The house is more than enough to function for a

couple.
• The conical roof with a round opening brings
sufficient light during the 3 months of no direct
sunlight.
• The height of the slanted ceilings enhances the overall
volume of the compact interior.
• The three main zones (dining, kitchen, bedroom) are
separated by seven short partitions whose thickness is

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decreased for 15mm from top to bottom to install the

shelf boards and the kitchen counter.

SPACE & • The 18 m house includes everything from a dining &

2

STORAGE kitchen to a bed space and an open air bath.

• Storage shelves are provided along the walls.
• The seating benches also perform the function of
storage.

MATERIALS USED • Roof is composed of two HP shells.

• Galvalume steel plate roofing sheet.
• Walls and ceiling are of exposed concrete.
• Walnut flooring.
• Double layer tempered glass for skylight

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3.4. Literature Case Study 4: Micro Apartment, Taiwan

Fig. 20. Interior Top View of Micro Apartment, Taiwan

Table 9
General Information of Taiwan Micro Apartment

Location Taipei, Taiwan

Architect A Little Design

Year of completion 2015

Area 22 m 2

User Group Young professional

INTRODUCTION

The project involves the renovation of a 23 m micro-apartment in Taipei as a response

2

to Taiwan's high urban living costs. The designers reorganised the unit to achieve
optimum space efficiency, removing one of the original walls to create a functional,
flexible scheme. In order to bring a diversity of textures and personalities to the limited
space, the concept assigns separate places for hobbies, home duties, and daily scenarios
across the interior.

CONTEXT

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Due to Taipei City's high property prices, the amount of living space that young people
can afford has shrunk during the last decade. The flat in question is an example of a
living space that isn't particularly large but nevertheless manages to meet all of life's
essential duties.

The apartment's owner travels regularly for work and occasionally lives abroad for brief
periods of time. When she's in Taipei, she prefers a shorter commute to having more
space. Although the owner does not require a large apartment, the unit was too small to
accommodate a queen-size bed, living area, and adequate storage before it was
remodeled. Furthermore, the bathroom was large in comparison to the little square
footage of the entire property, and the kitchen lacked functionality — it was even too
small to accommodate a refrigerator.

MAJOR FEATURES

• Apart from maximizing space economy, the renovation aims to provide

inhabitants with a well-lit and cross-ventilated apartment.
• Although the layout began with a horizontal viewpoint, it eventually became
more vertical, roughly splitting the area into four parts - the relaxing zone at the
entryway, the multi-functional common area, bedroom and the kitchen.
• The apartment’s spaces were redistributed so that the living, sleeping and
bathing spaces had more practical proportions.
• The doorway and kitchen were integrated to create a continuous area, and the
bathroom and kitchen were switched positions.
• The built-in wardrobe provided at the entrance functions as a storage unit as well
as a partition tool which prevents direct visual access to the living space.
• Although the bathroom has been significantly decreased in size, its new location
gives greater ventilation and adequate sunlight to the damp space.
• Within the bathroom, a sense of spaciousness, ample natural light and
ventilation and privacy is achieved by a sliding glass door, white metro tiles,
white and chrome fittings and mirrors.

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• The sleeping area is located on the mezzanine level where a tabletop and drawer
are located under the beam.
• A staircase helps not only to access the sleeping loft on the mezzanine floor but
also the high built-in storage units adjacent to it.
• A built-in shoe cabinet and a desk that slides out from the adjacent wall serve as
dressing and working areas downstairs, while a closet is integrated into the
apartment's foyer.

Fig. 21. Previous Layout of Micro Apartment, Taiwan

Fig. 22. Redesigned Layout of Micro Apartment, Taiwan

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• The sofa may also be utilized as a single bed to accommodate a visitor, and the
large drawers beneath it add to the storage options.
• The folding table may be altered in size to serve as a work or dining table.
• The floor between the bathroom and the living area raises a level to allow piping
at the base of the stairs. The designers have included a storage cabinet that also
serves as a side table, as well as a slim stack of recessed shelves that protrude up

Fig. 23. Interior Views of Micro Apartment, Taiwan

• The new layout of the kitchen allowed more space for the arrangement of
kitchen appliances like a fridge and even a washing machine unit.
• The new kitchen arrangement is more practical thanks to the larger and efficient
work surface as well as open shelving above and below the work area.

Table 10
Analysis of Micro Apartment, Taiwan

QUALITY OF • Taipei is a modern metropolis with Japanese colonial

URBAN LIFE streets, bustling shopping districts, and modern
structures.
• Located in the city center, the apartment allows a
shorter commute to all services.
• The apartment provides a hopeful solution for the
youth struggling with the high property prices of
Taiwan.

FUNCTIONALITY • Able to accommodate one guest in the living area.

• Maximum efficiency is achieved by removing one of
the original walls to create a practical, flexible
scheme.

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• The importance of free space is stressed by leaving

the center of the single room unfurnished while
arranging the functional areas along the walls
• Two slender console tables were used to create the
dining area, which can either stand alone against the
wall or be merged to create a bigger dining area.

SPACE & • Use of storage units as partition tools.

STORAGE • Storage space below the stairs.
• Fitted cabinets and shelves completely cover the
living room's windowless side wall.
• Wardrobes are provided in the bottom half, while
books can be stored in square shelving compartments
on the mezzanine level.
• Because a gas-fired water heater is not permitted in
the building, space was required for a hot water boiler,
which was put in the storage space beneath the stairs
and accessed from the bathroom via a sliding door
with a mirror.

MATERIALS • Use of space saving & multipurpose furnishes &

fixtures.
• Use of materials with good reflective properties.

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3.5. Comparative Analysis

Table 11
Comparative Analysis of Case Studies

QUALITY OF URBAN LIFE

Tree House Co-Living • Located in the startup and educational hub of

Apartments the city.
• Easy access to public services
• Affordable housing units
• Reflects communal lifestyle
• Shared amenities
• Efficient use of available spaces for green
spaces
• Commonly used by the working-class
population

Chandler Boulevard Tiny • An urban land-fill development

Home Village • Access to public transport
• Communal lifestyle
• Meant as a temporary residence
• Provisions for personal services

Love2 House • Located in the city center

• Proximity to road enhances communication
to the surrounding
• Easy access to public services
• Efficient design within minimum footprint

Micro Apartment, Taiwan • Located in the city center

• Easier commute to all public services
• Solution for high housing prices in Taiwan

FUNCTIONALITY

Tree House Co-Living • Micro units of various sizes and configurations

Apartments to suit different households
• Use of different concepts on each floor to adapt
different users

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• Unification of public zones around the central

atrium

Chandler Boulevard Tiny • Personal spaces and communal facilities are

Home Village segregated
• Use of vibrant colors to avoid the usual
affordable housing theme
• Access to daylight, natural ventilation and
security

Love2 House • Ample space to function for a couple

• Provision to allow maximum daylight to the
interiors
• Increase in ceiling height enhances the volume
• Short partitions dividing the interior spaces

Micro Apartment, Taiwan • Efficient use of interior spaces

• Guest accommodation facility
• Multi-purpose interior spaces & furniture

SPACE & STORAGE

Tree House Co-Living • Unit area varies from 16.5 to 33 m 2

Apartments • Built-in modular storage and magnetic wall paint

for quick space personalization
• Use of customized furniture, sliding doors that
double as shelving for storage purposes
• Addition of more features with mezzanine floor

Chandler Boulevard Tiny • 64 sq ft individual housing units

Home Village • Integrated shelving along walls with underbed
storage
• Folding bunk system for customized sleep and
living space
• Vaulted 9-foot ceilings

Love2 House • 18 m house

2

• Incorporation of all facilities usually present in a

typical residence

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• Function of storage is performed by the shelves

along the walls & customized seating

Micro Apartment, • 22 m apartment

2

Taiwan • Multi-functional and integrated storage units

• Use of conventionally unused spaces for storage
requirements

MATERIALS USED

Tree House Co-Living • Structure: exposed concrete, steel

Apartments • Windows: steel
• Interior finish: plain concrete, wood claddings,
magnetic wall paint
• Ceiling: exposed plain concrete
• Exterior: exposed concrete
• Flooring: red oxide, wood, tile

Chandler Boulevard Tiny • Aluminium-framed prefab dwellings

Home Village • Pest proof & insulated walls

Love2 House • Roof: HP shells, Galvalume steel plate

• Walls & ceiling: Exposed concrete
• Walnut flooring
• Double layer tempered glass for skylight

Micro Apartment, Taiwan • Use of space saving & multipurpose furnishes

& fixtures.
• Use of materials with good reflective
properties.

The four case studies depict the different contextual use of micro housing, in terms of
the user groups, their needs, the design features and the material usage.

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CHAPTER:4 CONSUMER RESEARCH

4.1 Online Survey- Potential House Seekers and Students

An online survey was conducted focusing on individuals who have moved out of their
hometowns to bigger cities for their jobs or education related purposes. The survey
focused on the awareness of the users about the concept of a Tiny House, their
aspirations of a future home and if given a chance, would they choose to live in a tiny
house.

Table 12

Sample Group of Survey: Age Groups

S.No Sample Group No. of Participants In %

1 18 - 25 years 54 90 %

2 26 - 40 years 6 10 %

3 41 or above 0 0%

Total number of participants 60

(Source: Online Survey Results)

Fig. 24. Sample Group of Survey: Age groups (Source: Online Survey Results)

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Table 13

Sample Group of Survey: Gender

S.No Sample Group No. of Participants In %

1 Female 31 51.7 %

2 Male 29 48.3 %
(Source: Online Survey Results)

Fig. 25. Sample Group of Survey: Gender (Source: Online Survey Results)

Table 14

Location of Participants

S.No Location No. of participants In %

1 Bangalore 5 8.4 %

2 Bhopal 2 3.4 %

3 Chennai 3 5.0 %

4 Delhi 5 8.4 %

5 Ernakulam 8 13.4 %

6 Gwalior 1 1.7 %

7 Honavar 1 1.7 %

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

8 Kozhikode 1 1.7 %

9 Mumbai 4 6.7 %

10 Puducherry 1 1.7 %

11 Pune 3 5.0 %

12 Surat 1 1.7 %

13 Thodupuzha 16 26.7 %

14 Thrissur 2 3.4 %

15 Trivandrum 6 10.0 %

16 Wayanad 1 1.7 %

Total no. of participants 60

(Source: Online Survey Results)

Sample Group of Survey: Occupation

Fig. 26. Sample Group of Survey: Occupation (Source : Online Survey Results)

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Do you study / work in your hometown?

Fig. 27. User groups working in their hometown (Source: Online Survey Results)

Majority of the users do not stay in their hometown and move to bigger cities for studies
or work-related matters.

Table 15

Current Housing Facility of Participants

S.No Current housing type No. of participants In %

1 Private home 24 40.0 %

2 Apartment 6 10. %

3 Hostel 17 28.3 %

4 Rental house 12 20.0 %

5 Villa 1 1.7 %

Total no. of participants 60

(Source: Online Survey Results)

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Fig. 28. Current housing facility of participants (Source: Online Survey Results)

Difficulty in finding the current housing facility

1: Very easy 2: Easy 3: Neutral 4: Difficult 5: Very difficult

Fig. 29. Difficulty in finding the current housing (Source: Online Survey Results)

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Satisfaction with current housing facility

1: Very satisfied 2: Satisfied 3: Neutral 4: Not satisfied

Fig. 30. Satisfaction of participants with current housing facility (Source: Online Survey Results)

Major issues associated with the current housing

Fig. 31. Major issue with current housing facility (Source: Online Survey Results)

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

The following table shows the major issues faced by the users in their current housing
facilities:

Table 16
Major issues in the current housing facility of users

S.No Issue identified No. of In %

participants

1 Affordability 13 21.7 %

2 Difficulty in maintaining a large house 3 5.0 %

3 Noise pollution in the neighborhood 5 8.3 %

4 Lack of privacy 23 38.3 %

5 Sustainability issues 3 5.0 %

6 Space restrictions 20 33.3 %

7 Lack of waste management facilities 15 25.0 %

8 Lack of ownership 15 25.0 %

9 Lack of community spaces in the neighborhood 21 35.0 %

10 Unavailability of house in the preferred location 12 20.0 %

11 Lack of design aesthetics 18 30.0 %

12 Lack of freedom 1 1.7 %

13 Air pollution due to open burning of wastes 1 1.7 %

(Source: Online Survey Results)

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Accessibility requirements for an ideal location of residence

Fig. 32. Accessibility requirements for ideal location of residence (Source: Online Survey Results)

Table 17
Accessibility requirements for ideal location of residence

S.No Public Amenities Votes (In %)

1 Public transportation 85.0 %

2 Clean, safe & friendly neighborhood 76.7 %

3 Work place or institution 56.7 %

4 Healthcare 50.0 %

5 Groceries 33.3 %

6 Parks & recreational space 33.3 %

7 Shopping 30.0 %

8 Gym & playground 25.0 %

(Source: Online Survey Results)

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Familiarity with the concept of a ‘Tiny House’

1: Very familiar 2: Neutral 3: Not familiar

Fig. 33. Familiarity of users with the concept of a Tiny House (Source: Online Survey Results)

Most of the users were found to be either in a neutral stage or unaware about the micro
houses which have been used successfully in various countries as a permanent habitable
dwelling.

Important requirements preferred in a micro house

Fig. 34. Important requirements preferred in a micro house (Source: Online Survey Results)

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Table 18
Requirements preferred in a micro house

S.No Requirements Votes ( In % )

1 Affordability 78.3 %

2 Compact spaces along with all basic facilities 60.0 %

3 Minimal lifestyle 43.3 %

4 Access to community spaces 40.0 %

5 Customizable interiors 36.7 %

6 Sustainability 30.0 %

7 Ownership potential 21.7 %

8 Use of recyclable building materials 20.0 %

(Source: Online Survey Results)

A large section of the users considers affordability as the major requirement of a house.
It is followed by the requirement of compact spaces along with all the basic facilities to
be provided in a house.

If given a choice, would you prefer living in a tiny house?

Fig. 35. Choice of users regarding life in a micro house (Source : Online Survey Results)

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

With the provided information about the micro house, more than 50 % of the
participants expressed a desire to live in a micro house. However, the lack of awareness
and knowledge about the same makes many of the participants unsure about the
decision.

Preferred size of a micro unit

Fig. 36. Preferred size of micro unit (Source : Online Survey Results)

From the graph, it is understood that a vast majority of the participants prefer to live in a
micro unit of size more than 200 sq.ft and micro units of size less than 200 sq.ft are not
very much preferred.

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

4.2 Telephonic Interview – Tiny House Suppliers in India

Question 1: Name of the Company?

Interviewee 1: DTH Prefabricated Buildings & Structures

Interviewee 2: Loom Crafts India

Interviewee 3: Rishit Bunk Makers Pvt Ltd

Question 2: Current location of the company?

DTH Prefab: Pitampura, New Delhi

Loom Crafts: Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Rishit Bunk: Vadodara, Gujarat

Question 3: Year of launch of the company?

DTH Prefab: The company was launched in 1998 but the micro house construction
came into being after 2002.

Loom Crafts: 2005

Rishit Bunk: 1998

Question 4: What defines your customers the best - tourists, campers, students,
family, young professionals?

DTH Prefab: Since the product range varies from office cabins, container homes,
modular homes, security cabins, healthcare clinics, etc. the user groups vary

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accordingly. But among those who prefer permanent residences, the most users are big
budget people.

Loom Crafts: The customers are usually family members of 2 or 3 rather than single,
young individuals.

Rishit Bunk: The customers are mostly project site executives. Micro spaces have
actually become the new normal. They are used extensively in corporate offices,
construction sites, and almost all industrial areas.

Question 5: What kind of tiny home is mostly preferred by the customers ?

DTH Prefab: Most of the big budget people approach luxury modular homes. Other
projects include community projects like prefab hospitals, clinics and affordable
housing units done by the Government. Rather than temporary caravans & trailers,
nowadays people prefer permanently built structures.

Loom Crafts: The present time sees a more preference for permanent modular houses
with foundations and not the mobile ones. The houses are usually vacation homes that
families spend time in. Among these, sizes vary from 180 sq.ft, 297 sq.ft, 360 sq.ft to
400 sq.ft and more.

Rishit Bunk: Permanent micro units are preferred. The products provided include office
and accommodation units used in real estate offices, security cabins which can be
shifted to the next site when construction is over, mobile kitchen units and portable
healthcare units. All of these are available in different sizes and colors and can be
customized as per the customers’ choices.

Question 6: On an average, how many customers do you have in a year?

DTH Prefab: The customers approaching for the purpose of permanent residential units
are about 3 - 4.

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Loom Crafts: There are about 10 - 15 customers per month.

Rishit Bunk: 50 +

Question 7: What price range best describes your products?

DTH Prefab: Price range varies according to the housing type.

Loom Crafts: Rs 3750 /- per sq.ft. 18% GST. 50% of the payment done in advance, 25%
after 30 days and 25% balance before dispatch. The completion time is 90-120 days
from the date of advance including transportation and installation at site.

Rishit Bunk: 4 lakhs to 15 lakhs

Question 8: Do you think most people are still unaware about the concept of '
Living in a Tiny House ‘?

DTH Prefab: Rather than being unaware about the concept of a micro house, people are
unsure about permanent living in a micro house, as many of them associate micro
houses with the affordable housing projects done by the government.

Loom Crafts: Yes. Very few people are exposed to the ideas of a tiny house. However,
even among them, most of them see tiny houses as only a short-term housing option like
vacation homes or cottages in resorts etc.

Rishit Bunk: No.

Question 9: Do you think tiny houses can be a solution to the urban housing
shortage crisis in India?

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DTH Prefab: Yes. Micro units can be in one way said as the next level of affordable
housing, but in a more designed manner. Micro houses are a good choice for the
younger generation of today.

Loom Crafts: No. Until and unless people become more aware of the choices prefab and
modular micro houses can offer, it would be difficult to attract people to this choice of
homes.

Rishit Bunk: Maybe

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Table 19

Information about the interviewees

1. Loomcrafts • A-7/98 South Side GT Road Industrial Area, Ghaziabad-

India 201009, UP, India
• Loom Crafts manufactures innovative Modular Homes &
Cottages, Glamping Pods, Expandable Homes, Tiny
Homes on Wheels
• [email protected]

2. DTH Prefab • Aggarwal Tower, Block CU, 3rd Floor, Office No. 301
Pitampura, New Delhi
• an emerging & renowned prefab structure manufacturing
& supplying company in Delhi engaged in presenting
excellent quality of all kind of structure & portable
structures in Delhi
• [email protected]

3. Rishit Bunk • Plot No. 363-364, GIDC Makarpura, Vadodara – 390010

Makers Pvt. Ltd. Gujarat, India.
• Portable spaces are the future of the world and Rishit
Bunk Makers have spent decades manufacturing high
quality bunkhouses, shipped all across India.
• [email protected]

Conclusion from the interviews

Some kind of awareness about micro housing came into being after the 2000s. Majority
of the people are unaware about the benefits a micro house can offer in terms of
affordability, minimal living and sustainability. People still see micro units as a short-
term housing option either as private vacation homes or cottages in resorts.

Even though a variety of micro housing options - in various sizes, layouts and for
different users - are available, most of the users are rich families who construct vacation
homes alongside their private homes. Until and unless people become more aware of
the choices prefab and modular micro houses can offer, it would be difficult to attract
people to this choice of homes.

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4.3 Telephonic Interview – Current Users of Micro Houses

Fig. 37. Container House at Thrissur

LOW-COST CONTAINER HOUSE, THRISSUR

:
Name: CO! Home
Location: Irinjalakkuda, Thrissur
Plot Area: 3267 sq ft
Built-up Area: 300 sq ft
Start Year: 2020
Completion Year: 2021
Architect: Walls N Voids Atelier

CO! Home is a cozy vacation home primarily built using a 20’X 8’ COntainer. The
client's design brief was to create a micro-residence comfortable enough for a maximum
of 2 people. The design idea was to create a tiny home big on comfort and poise. The
container incorporates a bed space, a study area, a small kitchenette, and a toilet.

Other than the enclosed spaces provided by the container, 140 sq ft outdoor space has
been incorporated in the front, which is a semi-open yoga area. It is covered by 3 solar
panels on top, which powers the entire home. Towards the south, bamboo curtains are
provided. Both these elements restrict the sunlight from clinging to the living space.

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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Another important element is a boat-shaped roof made of coconut palm leaves. This
aids in reducing heat and provides a rustic aesthetic for the built form. The entire
container is insulated with rock wool and terracotta tiles are used for the flooring.

The color scheme used for the project is mainly teal for the container, along with the
natural colors of the exposed brick and the grey color of palm leaf roofing.

Question 1 : Your Name ?

Interviewee : Praji Cherakulam

Question 2 : Your age group ?

Interviewee : 26 - 40

Question 3 : Your occupation ?

Interviewee : Self - employed

Question 4 : Current place of residence ?

Interviewee : Mumbai

Question 5 : How long have you been staying in your current micro housing unit ?
Interviewee : Less than 1 year

Question 6 : How did you come to know about the idea of a Tiny House ?
Interviewee : Through friends and relatives

Question 7 : What are the major benefits of living in a tiny house ?

Interviewee : Affordability, Minimal lifestyle, Sustainability, Availability of compact
spaces with all the basic facilities

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Question 8 : What are the major issues associated with living in a tiny house ?
Interviewee : The house is designed with the idea of catering to 2 people. Hence, there
are no major issues.

Question 9 : Do you think most people are still unaware about the concept of '
Living in a Tiny House ' ?
Interviewee : Yes

Question 10 : Do you think tiny houses can be a solution to the urban housing
shortage crisis in India ?
Interviewee : I am not sure

Question 11 : Will you recommend living in a tiny house to your close ones ?
Interviewee : Maybe

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CHAPTER:5 RECOMMENDATIONS &

CONCLUSIONS

5.1 Guidelines for effective design of Micro Houses & Apartments

From taking inferences from the different literature case studies, the online surveys and
the interviews, certain design practices which can lead to an effective design of micro
houses have been identified:

• Access to public means of transport

• A clean, safe and friendly environment
• Easy commute distance to basic facilities like healthcare, shopping, recreation,
workplace, etc.
• Affordable design focusing more on middle working classes
• Shared community spaces like parking, laundry, seating, storage, etc.
• Use of green spaces for interactive activities
• Segregation of public and community spaces
• Use of modular construction
• Provide micro units with various sizes and configurations to suit different
households.
• Compact interior spaces with all basic facilities
• Consideration of space requirements for one or two people.
• Separation of spaces with distinct functions
• Access to daylight, natural ventilation and security
• Increased ceiling height to enhance the interior volume
• Provision for a multi-functional living space
• Provision for guest accommodation
• Use of customizable interior spaces
• Use of convertible furniture, partitions doubling as shelving, seating performing
the function of storage.
• Incorporation of overhead storage wherever possible
• Provision of integrated, vertical storage units.

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• Use of staircase or ladder to access the vertical storage units.

• Addition of more features with mezzanine floor.
• Use of materials with good reflective properties in the bathroom.

5.2 Conclusion
The aim of the research was to study the scope of micro houses as a solution to the
urban housing crisis in India and also to form certain guidelines for the effective design
of micro houses, especially for the younger working population moving to bigger cities
in search of jobs and for education purposes.

The concept of micro houses and its evolution over the years was studied through the
background study. The identified literature case studies depict the use of micro houses
in various contexts - designed in different countries for different users and in different
needs of the hour. Certain guidelines for effective design of micro houses in terms of
the quality of urban living, functionality, spaciousness, storage and material usage were
identified through the literature case studies.

For the further research methodology, three different user groups were identified -
potential house seekers and students, tiny house suppliers in India and current users of
micro houses in India. An online survey to analyze the preferences and awareness of
users about the micro houses were conducted. Phone interviews of tiny house suppliers
and current users were done to study the customer groups, the benefits and issues
related to the same.

Based on the study, micro housing can be a viable option to house the urban youth of
India if they are made more aware of the same and if provided with more affordable
options focusing on the middle-income classes. According to the study, multiple micro
units or a micro apartment would be a more viable and preferred option than an
individual tiny house on a plot.

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CHAPTER:6 BIBLIOGRAPHY/REFERENCES

Alterman, Liz. “What Is a Tiny House? A Huge Trend Explained in Simple Terms.” yahoo!news, realtor.com,
2016, https://news.yahoo.com/tiny-house-huge-trend-explained-
200024934.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referre
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5MmweLvGb0I6StFmBh97g85L8bW42hoBuvP7tvMS2_gDVFxeRtreAAq6vOL8AUmff.
Amador, Alexa. “Pros and Cons of Tiny House Living.” LoadUp, 2019, https://goloadup.com/pros-cons-tiny-
house-living/.
Corbett, Kelly. “This Village of 103 Tiny Homes Just Opened — And it Is Officially California's Largest
Homeless Facility.” House Beautiful, 2021, https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-
inspiration/a35473349/los-angeles-tiny-home-village-homeless-shelter/.
Dattilo, Karen. “CHANDLER – Tiny Homes Village.” LEHRERARCHITECTS LA, 2020,
https://www.lehrerarchitects.com/project/chandler-tiny-home/.
Ford, Jasmin, and Lilia Gomz-Lanier. “Are Tiny Homes Here to Stay? A Review of Literature on the Tiny House
Movement.” Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 2017.
“The Interesting History Of Tiny Houses: Timeline Explored.” Super Tiny Homes, July 2021.
Koppisetti, Divya. “What Is The Tiny House Movement And How Is It Affecting Millennials At Large?” ED
Times, September 2019, https://edtimes.in/what-is-the-tiny-house-movement-and-how-is-it-affecting-
millennials-at-large/.
Krishnan E R, Amal. “TREEHOUSE CO LIVING APARTMENT-CASE STUDY.”
https://pdfcoffee.com/qdownload/treehouse-co-living-apartment-case-study-pdf-free.html.
marjoleininhetklein. “What is a Tiny House.” marjolein in het klein, https://www.marjoleininhetklein.com/en/my-
tiny-house/what-is-a-tiny-house/.
Ness. “Composing Community: Treehouse by Bo-DAA.” 2020, https://nessmagazine.com/composing-community-
treehouse-by-bo-daa/.
“Opportunities in an Urbanizing World.” Credit Suisse, 2012.
Rekhy, Richard. “Bridging the Urban Housing Shortage in India.” REAL ESTATE AND CONSTRUCTION, 2012,
kpmg.com/in.
Rosete, Anna. “Itaewon-based Architecture Firm Designs A Co-Living Space That Shows COVID-19 Is Not The
Death Of This Typology.” metro.style, 2020, https://metro.style/living/home-tours/itaewon-based-bodaas-
tree-house-co-living/24516.
“The scope of the 'Tiny House Movement' in India and its possible repercussions on the industry.” Hero Housing
Finance, January 2021, https://www.herohousingfinance.com/blog/knowledge-series-of-experts/trend-
watch-the-scope-of-the-tiny-house-movement-in-india-and-its-possible-repercussions-on-the-industry/.
Shearer, Heather, et al. “Planning for tiny house.” Australian Planner, 2019,
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 Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

Shearer, Heather, and Paul Burton. “Tiny houses: movement or moment?” Housing Studies, 2021, pp. 6-7,
https://www.tandfonline.com/action/showCitFormats?doi=10.1080/02673037.2021.1884203.
Shearer, Heather L., and Paul A. Burton. “Towards a Typology of Tiny Houses.” Housing, Theory and Society,
2019, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14036096.2018.1487879.
“Treehouse Coliving Apartments / Bo-DAA.” Archdaily, 2020, https://www.archdaily.com/932735/treehouse-
apartment-building-bo-daa.
“TREEHOUSE Design & Build.” https://dionysus.works/project/treehouse/.
“Urban Housing Shortage.” e Technical Urban Group (TG-12), 2012. Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty
Alleviation.
“Urban Infrastructure in India.” Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, 2011.
Wang, Lucy. “L.A. Is Taking On Homelessness With a New, Brightly Colored Tiny Home Village.” dwell, 2021,
https://www.dwell.com/article/chandler-boulevard-bridge-home-village-lehrer-architects-los-angeles-
3177ad59-01fc2609.
Wyatt, Anne. “Tiny Houses : Niche or Noteworthy ?” American Planning Association, 2016.
Zerodown. “What Is a Tiny House & Why Do People Love Them?” The Lowdown, The Zerodown Team, 2019,
https://zerodown.com/blog/what-is-a-tiny-house-why-do-people-love-tiny-homes.
de Valk, Van. “Evaluating Tiny Houses as a sustainable answer to relieve the housing crisis in the Netherlands.”
HOUSING SHORTAGE & TINY LIVING, 2020.
Livingston, Amy. “What Is the Tiny House Movement – Plans, Resources, Pros & Cons.” Money Crashers, 2015,
https://www.moneycrashers.com/living-tiny-house-movement-plans/.
保坂猛建築都市設計事務所 [TAKESHI HOSAKA architects], https://www.hosakatakeshi.com/. Accessed 2
December 2021.
Castro, Fernanda. “22m2 Apartment in Taiwan / A Little Design.” ArchDaily, 2 August 2020,
https://www.archdaily.com/790542/22m2-apartment-in-taiwan-a-little-design. Accessed 2 December
2021.
Griffiths, Alyn. “Takeshi Hosaka designs tiny house in Tokyo with funnel-like roofs.” Dezeen, 3 June 2019,
https://www.dezeen.com/2019/06/03/love2-house-takeshi-hosaka-micro-home-tokyo/. Accessed 2
December 2021.
katsikopoulou, myrto. “micro-apartment by nestspace design in taiwan fits everything within 23 sqm.”
Designboom, 17 March 2021, https://www.designboom.com/architecture/micro-apartment-nestspace-
design-taiwan-23sqm-03-17-2021/. Accessed 2 December 2021.
lekka, sofia. “takeshi hosaka's love2 house is a 19 sqm hut for a couple in tokyo.” Designboom, 7 May 2019,
https://www.designboom.com/architecture/takeshi-hosaka-love2-house-19sqm-tokyo-05-07-2019/.
Accessed 2 December 2021.
Morris, Ali. “A Little Design creates a 17.6-square-metre micro flat in Taiwan.” Dezeen, 5 February 2019,
https://www.dezeen.com/2019/02/05/tiny-apartment-little-design-taipei-taiwan-micro-home/. Accessed 2
December 2021.
Ott, Clara. “Love2 House / Takeshi Hosaka Architects.” ArchDaily, 30 April 2020,
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Peters, Fabian. “A comfortable microapartment by A Little Design.” Stylepark, 5 July 2019,

https://www.stylepark.com/en/news/micro-apartment-taipei-microliving-a-little-design. Accessed 3
December 2021.

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

ANNEXURE 1
Questionnaire for Survey 1
User Group: Potential House Seekers & Students

S.No Question Options

1 Your Name (Short answer type question)

2 Age • 18 - 25
• 26 - 40
• 41 or above

3 Gender • Female
• Male
• Prefer not to say
• Other

4 Your current place of residence? (Short answer type question)

5 Occupation • Student
• Employed
• Other

6 Do you study/work in your • Yes

hometown? • No

7 What defines your current housing • Private home

facility? • Apartment
• Hostel
• Rental house
• Villa
• Other

8 How easy/difficult was it to find • Very easy

your current housing facility? • Easy
• Neutral
• Difficult
• Very difficult

9 How satisfied are you with your • Very satisfied

current housing facility? • Satisfied

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• Neutral
• Not satisfied

10 What are the major problems • Affordability (includes high

associated with your current house? private rental prices)
(Choose any 4) • Difficulty in maintaining a
large house
• Noise pollution in the
neighborhood
• Lack of privacy
• Sustainability issues
• Space restrictions (lack of
facilities for guest
accommodation)
• Lack of waste management
facilities
• Lack of ownership (you are not
the sole owner of the house)
• Lack of community spaces in
the locality
• Unavailability of house in the
preferred location
• Lack of design aesthetics
• Other

11 According to you, an ideal location • Public transportation

should have easy access to: • Your work space or institution
(Choose any 3) • Healthcare
• Shopping
• Groceries
• Parks & Recreational spaces
• Gym & playground
• Clean, safe & friendly
neighborhood
• Other

12 How familiar are you with the • Very familiar

concept of a Tiny House? • Neutral
• Not familiar

13 Micro housing can provide the • Affordability

following requirements. Which are • Customizable interiors
• Minimal lifestyle

Dept. of Architecture | TKM College of Engineering |

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Micro Housing: A Solution to the Urban Housing Crisis in India?

the most important to you? (Choose • Access to community spaces

any 3) • Sustainability
• Compact spaces along with all
basic facilities
• Use of recyclable building
materials
• Ownership potential

14 If given a choice, would you prefer • Yes

living in a tiny house? • No
• Maybe

15 Describe the size of the micro house • Less than 200 sq.ft
preferred. • 200 - 400 sq.ft
(Source: Author)

| 72 Dept. of Architecture | TKM College of Engineering