Minimum Spatial Housing Requirements for Human Flourishing
This study defines evidence-based minimum internal floor areas required to support long-term residential use across different household types. It addresses the following question: what is the smallest viable floor area that supports sustained occupancy without persistent stress, conflict, or turnove...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2623 |
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| author | Karl T. Ulrich |
| author_facet | Karl T. Ulrich |
| author_sort | Karl T. Ulrich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study defines evidence-based minimum internal floor areas required to support long-term residential use across different household types. It addresses the following question: what is the smallest viable floor area that supports sustained occupancy without persistent stress, conflict, or turnover? An integrative review method was employed, drawing from behavioural studies in environmental psychology, international regulatory standards, and real-world market data. The analysis focuses on essential domestic functions including sleep, hygiene, food preparation, storage, social interaction, and work. Quantitative findings from tenancy surveys, post-occupancy research, and market performance data indicate that residential units below 30 square metres for single occupants and 45 square metres for couples are consistently associated with reduced satisfaction and shorter tenancies. Regulatory minimums across diverse jurisdictions tend to converge near these same thresholds. The study proposes technical minimums of 30, 45, and 60 square metres for one-, two-, and three-person households, respectively. These values reflect functional lower bounds rather than ideal or aspirational sizes and are intended to inform performance-based housing standards. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0bf38d2a642a42e2af4ee0953b9fc54a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-0bf38d2a642a42e2af4ee0953b9fc54a2025-08-20T03:36:39ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-07-011515262310.3390/buildings15152623Minimum Spatial Housing Requirements for Human FlourishingKarl T. Ulrich0The Wharton School, Operations, Information, and Decisions Department, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USAThis study defines evidence-based minimum internal floor areas required to support long-term residential use across different household types. It addresses the following question: what is the smallest viable floor area that supports sustained occupancy without persistent stress, conflict, or turnover? An integrative review method was employed, drawing from behavioural studies in environmental psychology, international regulatory standards, and real-world market data. The analysis focuses on essential domestic functions including sleep, hygiene, food preparation, storage, social interaction, and work. Quantitative findings from tenancy surveys, post-occupancy research, and market performance data indicate that residential units below 30 square metres for single occupants and 45 square metres for couples are consistently associated with reduced satisfaction and shorter tenancies. Regulatory minimums across diverse jurisdictions tend to converge near these same thresholds. The study proposes technical minimums of 30, 45, and 60 square metres for one-, two-, and three-person households, respectively. These values reflect functional lower bounds rather than ideal or aspirational sizes and are intended to inform performance-based housing standards.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2623minimum home sizeaffordable housingfloor areaunit sizehousing standardsmicro housing |
| spellingShingle | Karl T. Ulrich Minimum Spatial Housing Requirements for Human Flourishing Buildings minimum home size affordable housing floor area unit size housing standards micro housing |
| title | Minimum Spatial Housing Requirements for Human Flourishing |
| title_full | Minimum Spatial Housing Requirements for Human Flourishing |
| title_fullStr | Minimum Spatial Housing Requirements for Human Flourishing |
| title_full_unstemmed | Minimum Spatial Housing Requirements for Human Flourishing |
| title_short | Minimum Spatial Housing Requirements for Human Flourishing |
| title_sort | minimum spatial housing requirements for human flourishing |
| topic | minimum home size affordable housing floor area unit size housing standards micro housing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/15/2623 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karltulrich minimumspatialhousingrequirementsforhumanflourishing |