When New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced in July that the city was inviting developers to submit proposals for the adAPT NYC micro-unit project, news started buzzing in other markets around the country that 275- to 300-sq. foot apartments were a hot trend for Gen Y renters on a budget.
In cities like New York, where rents average$1798/month and there are 1.8 million households with only one or two occupants, the trend makes sense. Similar apartments are currently being constructed in Boston and San Francisco, as well.
But if your contractors and renters think there’s not a lot to do with that little amount of space, Swedish retail-giant Ikea wants to change their minds. Now the store’s location in the Brooklyn, N.Y. neighborhood of Red Hook is modeling a micro-unit that is 391 sq. feet and fully functional. It features a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment with plenty of built-in storage space and a spacious-looking kitchen with glass cabinets.
(Check out these photos of how Ikea designed its micro-unit onInhabit)
Are micro-units being developed where you are? Do you have ideas on what developers could do with that tiny amount of space? And what do you think of Ikea’s micro-unit design? Leave a comment.