Re-imagining the ‘Minimum Dwelling’ By Solachi Ramanathan
I 04 April 2014
Abstract ‘The collective lifestyle is changing as a result of the economic prosperity, shortage of urban space, the general need for mobility, the firmly entrenched individualism and phenomena such as working from home and flexible working.’ (Kloos and Wendt, 2006:summary) There is a need to rethink urban housing strategies, as good quality living environments are essential for cities to attract and retain young professionals. Teige’s theories about the ‘minimum dwelling’ serve as a springboard for a discourse on the evolution of dwelling types to suit the needs of todays working professional. While collective living serves as a compelling format of dwelling for professionals, especially those who live alone or away from their family, how can we design a more innovative and sustainable form of collective housing than established forms like hotels and hostels? What are the challenges in implementing these forms of housing? Keywords: Minimum Dwelling, collective living, second home, professionals housing, changing
lifestyles, new housing strategies