


Al Rezoski
Feb 1, 2022
China
Categories:
Housing, Construction, Homelessness
The video series Never Too Small highlights innovative ways to build small and affordable housing. An article in Business Insider dated January 20, 2018, describes one type of inexpensive housing.
OPod is a concept developed by Hong Kong-based architect James Law. In a city with a shortage of cheap housing, the idea is to stack water pipes into apartment buildings. The cost is $15,000 versus the $1.8 million price tag for a new apartment in Hong Kong. They may be small, with a diameter of only 8.2 feet and an area of about 100 square feet. Still, they are functional apartments with functioning washrooms and kitchens. They also do not require bolting together because they are so heavy. Stack them on a freestanding site, place them in underutilized lots between buildings, or add them to make larger dwellings.
Three applications come to mind for this type of housing. Many people cannot afford a house and live in makeshift and unsanitary housing. This modular housing concept could meet a basic human need. Many people worldwide are over housed and spend a lot of energy to heat/cool and maintain a house. This type of housing provides an alternative for those that want to downsize or live with a smaller ecological footprint. Lastly, there are millions of students in the world that live in small rooms in student dorm buildings. This type of housing could house students across the globe, a population that often doesn't need much living space.
Look around your local community and see the types of housing available. Now research the average selling price in your home and the average household income. For example, the average selling price of a single-family home in Seattle (US) in September 2021 was USD 875,000. (Source-Keller Williams Real Estate, Seattle) The average household income in Seattle in 2021 was USD 128,184. (Source-WorldPopulationReview.com). An average household in Seattle requires 6.82 times their income to buy a single-family home. Expressed differently, the average household income in Seattle can reasonably afford a house priced at USD 366,240 based on a maximum of 35% of gross income allocated for housing. There are other types of housing available, such as condominiums and other types of housing tenure, such as rentals that may be affordable. Still, the city is known to have a housing affordability problem.
What can you do to help? Educate yourself about the current housing affordability in your community. Check out some of the latest designs and types of new housing. You will be amazed at the latest developments in affordable housing. While the concrete pipe housing described in this article may not be suitable for your hometown, other types may be, such as tiny homes. Lobby your local government for changes in local codes to make it possible.
Still not convinced? Many people living comfortably in their own homes don't want change, and they can't see how it will benefit them. Think about where your children are going to live. Will they be able to stay in the community where they grew up, or will they be forced to leave? The choice may be in your hands.
(Picture Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/hong-kong-housing-water-tubes-james-law-cybertecture-2018-1)
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