<Obtaining suitable housing that meets a family's needs has become difficult, given the rapid rise in land prices, and the absence of a proper system of sustainability is bringing the country's housing crisis back to the beginning. A move toward smaller housing options would help increase equity and potentially reduce the environmental impact of housing and maintain housing prices, through fewer materials to build and fewer utilities to live comfortably, by offering a variety of housing options including tiny homes and micro-housing.

These homes are generally standard homes with front and back yards. Tiny houses range from 90 to 350 square meters, with their own bathroom and kitchen.

Tiny houses are generally standard homes with front and back yards.

Sustainability through micro-housing

Small housing and tiny houses in particular promote sustainable consumption in several ways:

Small housing and tiny houses in particular promote sustainable consumption in several ways:

Smaller units require less space and materials to build and less consumption of utilities such as water, gas, and electricity than traditional single-family homes or condominiums.

Smaller units require fewer materials to build and less consumption of utilities such as water, gas, and electricity than traditional single-family homes or condominiums. Similarly, “micro homes” (<350 square meters) produce 36% less greenhouse gas emissions than the lifecycle of “typical homes” (690 square meters).

Similarly, "micro homes" (<350 square meters) produce 36% less greenhouse gas emissions than the lifecycle of "typical homes" (690 square meters).

Tiny homes and micro-housing can help cities meet the growing demand for affordable housing while keeping housing prices low.

Tiny homes and micro-housing can help cities meet the growing demand for affordable housing while keeping housing prices low.

Policy Amendment

Providing subsidies, accessible financing, density bonuses and fee waivers, waiving onerous development standards such as minimum parking and square footage requirements.

Support and Education

Providing information and technical assistance regarding tiny homes and micro-housing to developers and the public.

Motivation

Providing subsidies, accessible financing, and fee waivers for micro-housing and small home development.

Implementation challenges and potential solutions

Parking requirements may restrict homeowners or developers from building if their sites lack the required space to accommodate the required parking spaces.

development

Propose new rules for

1) Scale of houses: Smaller homes that better fit existing neighborhoods.

2) Housing options: More housing options for the needs of changing households. 3) Small lots: Clear and fair rules for small lot development.

*Architect and faculty member at King Saud University

@ArchHesham

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