COMPACT LIVING

ENR: - 4022

Submitted to: - Prof. Surendra Shirke

Date: - 11th February 2020

ST. FRANCIS INSTITUTE OF ART & DESIGN

1.0. INTRODUCTION

What is compact living?

Compact living can be understood as a small composition of the things which are necessary in
our lives. Compact living is the definition of what we really need and what are the things which
are most important to live a healthy life. In compact house the space is task oriented rather than
furniture oriented.

Due to an increase in population it is now but a necessity to live in a compact space. Everyday
activities happen in the same space but supported by different products instead of taking place
in specific areas with specific products. There can be many reasons for people to move into a
small compact space, and while it may be out of need for many, it is a conscious choice for
others. With the limited space, light and temperature are important aspects. Compact living can
be a better approach for students, where in they can use the confined space much more
practically and make the most out of it. Many people are opting for compact living now a day,
which will be a necessary implementation in the coming future, the reason would be a
consistent growth in population.

Today’s society is affected by growing population and urbanization. (MUMBAI, 2014) This is
resulting in an increasing demand of housing in the cities, which has led to higher market prices
and smaller apartments. The perception of what a small apartment is, has totally changed. For
almost 30 years ago the small apartments offered a floor space of about 55 square meters.
Today the apartments are as small as 10-15 square meters, and that is just the floor space.
Furniture and belongings are taking up just as much space as before. One of the example of
compact living is the slums of Mumbai city, people here, live in a very confined space. The
major issue here is, it is highly populated and people dwell here in single storey spaces, due to
a lot of lower middle class people residing here, accommodation is now a big issue! That is
why the government has now come up with SRA (slum rehabilitation association) this initiative
provides people to live in multi storey spaces, and accommodate a much more, in much less
spaces. Compact living here is not an option but a necessary requirement. The carpet area of
the flats here ranges from 269sft to 315sft. This data varies according to the situation and new
government policies.
1.1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Back in the past the average sizes of the houses were about 2000sft to 5000sft. this was because
there was an ample of space and very less population, living in such a big house was affordable.
In present, the scenario is completely different. It Is now but a challenge for the common people
to afford sufficient amount of space in metropolitan cities. The average house size for a family
used to be around 1,780 square feet in 1978. This almost doubled in 2007 when the average
family household grew to 2,662 square feet for a normal house size. While material wealth still
means a lot, many families have chosen to downsize their homes for economic or other reasons.
There were also families who moved into tiny homes instead.

A tiny home averages not more than 400 square feet. Some tiny homes, however, can average
around 80 square feet. Tiny homes have been around since the Pioneer age, but they have only
become popular over the last decade. These homes emerged from the huts, tents, igloos,
wigwams, and grass huts during the early settler’s days. The Sioux, Inuits and Samoans were
considered the earliest originators of tiny homes.

In 1000 BC, “Yurts” or “Gers” were established in Mongolia as practical small mobile homes.
In 500 BC, Native Americans used tipis, small houses that were not only portable but also
waterproof and extremely heat-resistant. In the 1800s, “Shot Gun Houses” with heavy Haitian
influences emerged in the south. In the 1970’s, a man named Allan Wexler pursued the idea of
living in a compact space which helped him promote his work of art. In 1973, an author Loyd
Kahn and Bob Easton released the book called “Shelter” which advanced the idea of living in
a compact space even further to the masses.

In Mumbai the history of compact living is very peculiar. The seven islands of Mumbai, prior
to the colonial rule, were inhabited by indigenous agrarian settlements. These communities, the
kolis, the bhandaris, the kunbis, were engaged in fishing, a typical house in such a settlement
consists of a multifunctional living space, several small rooms, a tiny kitchen and a toilet. The
verandah outside the house becomes a very important element. It is used for various purposes.
Tools of fishing are stored along one side of the veranda. Small rooms are added to this house
after every marriage as the family grows.

Mid nineteen century saw the process of industrialisation move to Bombay, with the first
spinning mill being set up in 1856. The chawl can be described as a typology comprising of
several single units of a multipurpose space with a kitchen facility and a wash area (mori), all
strung along one common access corridor also leading in to the shared toilet. This typology is
known for housing densities as high as 3000 persons/ha.

The Bombay Improvement Trust (BIT) was set up in the late 19th Century to address the
problems of overcrowding, dilapidation and infrastructure. BIT also made new plans for
several parts in the city for new housing development. Several chawls were constructed by the
BIT to house the burgeoning labour groups.

1.2. RATIONAL AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

As per the rapid increase in population it is now a necessity to move to compact spaces. It is
now a requirement that designers need to fulfil, transforming a small space into a maximum
output is now a challenge. This research study is bringing awareness in the mind-set of the
people and providing suitable solution or ways to deal with compact spaces. The standard of
living of the people in Mumbai has changed and is much more precise and compact now. In
Mumbai space is a major issue! Not everyone can afford to dwell in big spaces. Space
management is the biggest challenge in compact living, because there are more activities
involved in one particular space only!

1.3. RESEARCH CHALLENGES

The space remains the same but the activities keep on changing. Another challenge people
could possibly face is selection of appropriate furniture. It is very important to analyse the
space and select the proper furniture that could fit properly and have a proper storage space for
e.g. bed. There are various folding furniture available in the market which can disintegrate and
then again integrate and can be used appropriately. Lighting can be a major issue to solve, to
provide specific task lighting is a necessity but to also not illuminate it too much or else it will
be a disturbing factor. In compact spaces it is very important to deal with the problem of heat.
In spaces like Mumbai where the climatic condition is quite humid heating becomes quite a
major issue to deal with.
1.4. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study is limited to the people of Mumbai slums. The slums of Mumbai are facing a lot of
problems of space. Compact living may be fantastic for young professionals in their 20's,” but
they definitely can be unhealthy for older people, say in their 50’s and 60’s, who face different
stress factors that can make tight living conditions a problem. The reason is that Mumbai is a
metropolitan city and people come from all over the country to fulfil their dreams. This is the
reason why there is not much of a space to dwell and compact living is the only option in such
cities.

1.5. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this research is to find an appropriate solution to compact living. How can
designers make optimal use of space and keep it simple. The reason why studying about
compact living is very important because it is a necessity of the upcoming society. The rate at
which the population is increasing, living in a compact space will be a necessity. It can be
upgraded any time. They are easier to manage and highly customisable. Studying about this
topic can help solve the problem of space in the coming future.

1.6. WORK ALREADY DONE

Ar. Katja Risager’s study on compact living depicts the through study of the requirements and
the various aspects that needs to be considered while designing a compact house. In her project
she has designed a plot which has a cluster of compact houses basically a complex of compact
houses. Different layouts and different design implementation for different age groups.

Ar. Luke Riggall, Ar. Matthew Kennedy have done a study on compact living and provided a
significant information on the subject.

In 1990s, artist named Andrea Zittel used the concept of the tiny home in her work which
became another inspiration for the tiny home trend. In 1997, an author named Sarah Susank,
published a book called “The Not So Big House” which promoted the environmental benefits
of the small houses that later led to the tiny home crusade. In 2002, Greg Johnson, Shay
Salomon, Nigel Valdez, and Jay Shafer created a society called “Small House Society”. In
2012, a company called the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company was founded by Jay Shafer,
who wanted to push the tiny homes towards the masses. Shafer then created a second company
called Four Lights Tiny House Company that took the tiny house movement forward. He
popularized tiny homes by creating his first design that was only 96 square feet. He then moved
forward with creating tiny homes on wheels. The other founders of the society, Nigel Valdez
and Shay Salomon, published their guides of the small house movement in 2006 while Greg
Johnson published his memoir in 2008.

1.7. SCOPE OF THE STUDY

living in compact space is the need of the future! The reason is the increasing population and
lack of space in cities which actually has a potential to provide more opportunities to earn
money and make a living. That is why studying this topic and providing a practical solution is
a necessity.

1.8. EXPECTED OUTCOME

Much more detailed research is needed regarding the space-saving issue to produce a more
consistent set of general and specific recommendations. Some recommendations imply subtle
but effective changes in design like the direction of the swinging-door opening or the sliding-
door choice so that the opening-angle area is free. Some other proposals, instead, may involve
more substantial alterations to the interior living areas like the reduction of wall section or the
inclusion of a storage area. And finally, other references do not infer any physical change to
the living areas, but the results may be as effective as though they did. These suggestions imply
a change in the user’s psychological perception. For example, we can make a bathroom look
bigger with smart use of mirrors, colours and lines.

1.9. CONCLUSION

The development of small compact dwellings is about more than just taking away square
meters - it is about making well-functioning dwelling in that small space. This requires a re-
evaluation of the use of space, as well as the amounts of space used for different functions. The
smaller volume inside a bigger volume creates a hierarchy in the dwellings, and serves to both
divide and define the spaces. The choice of contrasting materials enhances the effect of the two
volumes.
1.10. REFRENCES

https://projekter.aau.dk/projekter/files/212915454/Compact_Living_2_.pdf

https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/2487233/diplomareport%
20lower.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y

http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1038538/FULLTEXT01.pdf

http://www.kon.org/urc/v15/kiser.html

https://www.ntnu.edu/documents/139799/1279149990/31+Article+Final_kritho
g_fors%C3%B8k_2017-12-07-22-08-50_TPD4505+-+Designteori+-

https://critmumbai.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/house-types-in-mumbai-
final.pdf
 CHAPTER 2

2.1 INTRODUCTION

What is compact living?

Compact living can be understood as a small composition of the things which are necessary in
our lives. Compact living is the definition of what we really need and what are the things which
are most important to live a healthy life. In compact house the space is task oriented rather than
furniture oriented.

Due to an increase in population it is now but a necessity to live in a compact space. Everyday
activities happen in the same space but supported by different products instead of taking place
in specific areas with specific products. So the function of the room is defined by the product
used at the moment and the more compact the space is, the more obvious this characteristic.
There can be many reasons for people to move into a small compact space, and while it may
be out of need for many, it is a conscious choice for others. With the limited space, light and
temperature are important aspects. Compact living can be a better approach for students, where
in they can use the confined space much more practically and make the most out of it. Many
people are opting for compact living now a day, which will be a necessary implementation in
the coming future, the reason would be a consistent growth in population.

Today’s society is affected by growing population and urbanization. (MUMBAI, 2014) This is
resulting in an increasing demand of housing in the cities, which has led to higher market prices
and smaller apartments. The perception of what a small apartment is, has totally changed. For
almost 30 years ago the small apartments offered a floor space of about 55 square meters.
Today the apartments are as small as 10-15 square meters, and that is just the floor space.
Furniture and belongings are taking up just as much space as before. One of the example of
compact living is the slums of Mumbai city, people here, live in a very confined space. The
major issue here is, it is highly populated and people dwell here in single storey spaces, due to
a lot of lower middle class people residing here, accommodation is now a big issue! That is
why the government has now come up with SRA (slum rehabilitation association) this initiative
provides people to live in multi storey spaces, and accommodate a much more, in much less
spaces. Compact living here is not an option but a necessary requirement. The carpet area of
the flats here ranges from 269sft to 315sft. This data varies according to the situation and new
government policies.

When talking about small compact housing it is important to remember that small housing can’t
necessarily all be put into the same box of definition or typology. Instead it should be
considered that there are several different types of small compact housing, which all differ
more or less from each other, either in size, shape, function or practical use etcetera. Which
type people choose might depend on many things, and the reasons may also change depending
on the user group in question. When one chooses to live in such a small space it is important
that the space fits to the wants and needs of the user. The apartment Apartments differ in size
from the really big, to the really small, and some apartments might be found that are incredibly
small. These small apartments of-ten found in big cities where population density and demand
make the prize per square metre dwelling go through the roof. In these situations, some people
make the best of these small apartments, often only consisting of one room. These apartments
would be ideal for students needing a small space in the city or close to their place of study.

2.2. Historical development

The history of compact living in India dates back to the civilization of the Indus valley. People
receding near the Indus valley lived in a comfortable houses built around courtyards. Stairs led
to a flat roof where there was extra space to work and relax. Although there was not much
furniture, the homes had wells for water and bathrooms with pipes that carried waste into the
main drains. Some even had toilets, which were the first in the world.

House in a fishing village: -

The seven islands of Mumbai, prior to the colonial rule, were inhabited by indigenous agrarian
settlements. These communities, the kolis, the bhandaris, the kunbis, were engaged in fishing,
farming, toddy-tapping respectively. Though substantially transformed, some of these
settlements still exist today in the city, now engulfed by newer developments all around, facing
impending pressures of development. A typical house in such a settlement consists of a large
multifunctional living space, several small rooms, a tiny kitchen and a toilet. The veranda
outside the house becomes a very important element. It is used for various purposes. Tools of
fishing are stored along one side of the veranda. Small rooms are added to this house after
every marriage as the family grows. While older houses are typically ground storied with
sloping tiled roofs and wooden columns, newer houses are two to three storied, flat roofed,
built in RCC construction. Despite of 2-3 storey house the people residing in one particular
house are in great number which might comprise 4-10 people.

Single family houses in Agrarian villages: -

The compact settlements in the agrarian landscapes are either inhabited by people who own
small pieces of land or are lower caste landless agricultural labourers. There are also other
lower caste settlements that specialise in some production or the other i.e. tanning, pot making,
etc. The lands outside these settlements are kept for agricultural purposes. Mumbai still has
some of these compact agrarian villages, but fewer agricultural fields. These villages are
characterized by a main street with shops on either sides. Thin roads lead perpendicular to the
main spine, into the settlement. There is generally a religious place within the village – either
a temple or a mosque. While most of the houses are single family houses, there are also
buildings occupied by multiple families who rent these tenements. These are generally single
room tenements with a common corridor and shared toilets. These buildings often have shops
at the ground floor. Some single family houses along the main road also have shops in the front.

Chawls built by private Enterprise: -

Mid nineteen century saw the process of industrialisation move to Bombay, with the first
spinning mill being set up in 1856. A cotton boom followed as a result of the American Civil
War and discontinuation of textile supply from America to Europe.

The chawl can be described as a typology comprising of several single units of a multipurpose
space with a kitchen facility and a wash area (mori), all strung along one common access
corridor also leading in to the shared toilet. This typology is known for housing densities as
high as 3000 persons/ha. The urban character of these areas gets defined by the corridors
flanking the streets. Most chawls on the busy streets have shops on the ground floor. Sometimes
the types also have a courtyard in the center with tenements strung around this courtyard. The
building construction is generally load bearing type with wooden frames and pitched roofs.
Some later chawls were also constructed with reinforced concrete frames. The corridors
become significant for not only climatic reasons but also cultural reasons, when rooms inside
are small and time is spent outdoors most of the time.
Chawls built by Government Agencies: -

The Bombay Improvement Trust (BIT) was set up in the late 19th Century to address the
problems of overcrowding, dilapidation and infrastructure. BIT also made new plans for
several parts in the city for new housing development. Several chawls were constructed by the
BIT to house the burgeoning labour groups. The Bombay Improvement Trust (BIT) was set up
in the late 19th Century to address the problems of overcrowding, dilapidation and
infrastructure. BIT also made new plans for several parts in the city for new housing
development. Several chawls were constructed by the BIT to house the burgeoning labour
groups.

Slum: -

The economic vibrancy of Mumbai attracted people into the city much before independence.
The access to housing remained inadequate and people started living in slums since the late
19th Century, providing services to the formal industries and city building activities. Houses
in a slum are generally very small (about 100 sq ft.). But there are instances where large houses
of about 1000 – 2000 Sq. Ft. could be found. These mostly belong to the slum-lords who control
land in the slum.

Slum Rehabilitation with Private Initiatives: -

Projects involving private initiatives in Slum redevelopments came about since the early 90s.
The Scheme sought to involve the Private Developers to address the problem of Slums. As per
the scheme, the slum dwellers need to form a society and register it with the Slum
Redevelopment Authority (SRA, instituted as a single window to overlook the schemes). The
society formation required 70 % of the slum dwellers to agree to the scheme. These societies
could then appoint a Developer who would develop the land on which the slum existed. The
Developer is required to provide free tenements of 20.9 sq m to all families registered in the
society. During the construction period, the Developer is required to accommodate the slum
dwellers in a transit camp and also needs to deposit Rs 20000/- per tenement with the SRA for
future maintenance. In return, the Developer gets free additional development rights (75% to
133% of free housing for the slum dwellers). The Developer could use these rights to develop
real estate to be sold in the open market. The Developer has to use this right on the same site
where the slum is rehabilitated.
According to the norms of the SRA, if a person owns 3 houses in the same chawl then he gets
3 flats in the building which is going to be constructed. The carpet area of these flats generally
range from 269 sq. ft. to 315 sq. ft. these data varies according to the government. The
government provides 1bhk flat in exchange of one house. This allocation scheme does not
depend on how huge or how minimalistic one’s house is in the chawl. The flat allocations
norms are equal for all. This generally creates disputes and obstruction in development of the
chawls.

2.3 Tiny house movement.

Percolating on the fringes of our housing culture, the tiny house movement has continued to
gain international attention over the past decade. The movement’s biggest growth has been
witnessed in the United States of America. The first signs of real traction occurred shortly after
Hurricane Katrina (2005), when designer Marianne Cusato released a series of small house
plans branded as Katrina Cottages. The designs ranged from 300sqft (28m 2) up to 1800sqft
(167m 2), and were developed as more aesthetic and amenable alternatives. When the US
housing bubble burst during the global financial crisis (2007-08), the same concept of a smaller,
more affordable housing solution drew the attention of those worst affected. Since then the
movement has continued to attract people willing to downscale their dwelling space in order
to live mortgage free, while others turn to it as a means of reducing their carbon footprint and
living more sustainably. The tiny house movement markets itself as responding to the very real
need for more affordable, amenable, and sustainable housing.

2.4 Different types of small compact dwellings

Compact houses or compact living is a practice which is in trend among the youths. People are
moving in smaller houses because it requires less maintenance it costs less and also has a
tendency to modulate as per the user requirements. Below are the various types of compact
living methods that portray the idea of living big in small space. There may be various types
of small compact dwellings such as: -

a) The apartment: - Apartments differ in size from the really big, to the really small, and
some apartments might be found that are incredibly small. These small apartments often
found in big cities where population density and demand make the prize per square
metre high. In these situations, some people make the best of these small apartments,
 often only consisting of one room. These apartments would be ideal for students
needing a small space in the city or close to their place of study.
b) The moveable dwelling: - A movable dwelling may be ideal for people who like to
travel a lot or people whose jobs, study or interest require for them to move around a
lot. This kind of small dwelling have many different ingenious design solutions as to
how exactly the dwelling is movable. The dwelling may resemble a caravan in the sense
that it functions as a dwelling with wheels underneath. It may also be buses or other
vehicles like it that are fitted out as a dwelling or it may be some sort of collapsible of
roll able dwelling.
c) The temporary dwellings: - Not all small compact dwellings are meant to be lived in all
year round. Some may be meant as a seasonal get-away, others may function as a kind
of hotel, allowing many different people to take up residence for shorter periods of time
and yet others may also be temporary in the sense that they are only meant to be
standing for a temporary time-span before being dismantled once more.

2.5 How to live big in a small space?

In compact space every inch counts and using it to its zenith is the core responsibility of a
designer. When dealing with compact spaces it is important to set the priorities and then think
of feasible furniture if space permits.