In Boston, Massachusetts, as with many other cities around the world, housing demand is off the charts.
According to Progrss, the case in Boston has compelled the city, along with the Mayor’s Housing Innovation Lab, Livelight and BSA Space to commission the design of a modular micro house called the Uhü (Urban Housing Unit).
Pronounced “yoohoo”, the unit is a micro house prototype created to alleviate the issue of housing for singles and couples in urban areas.
Coming in at 385 square feet, the Uhü is divided into several areas, including a bedroom, hallway with storage, bathroom, living room/dining area, kitchen and balcony.
The stackable modular design can be shipped to virtually any location.
“Maintaining a strong middle class is critical to ensuring that Boston continues to be a thriving, diverse city where people want to live and employers want to locate,” said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.
“No city in the United States has solved the middle income housing challenge yet; I want Boston to be the first.”
In a city where singles and couples make up two-thirds of the population, Boston studio and one bedroom housing inventory currently only supports about 17 percent of this demographic, creating a huge need.
The Uhü is designed to support future modifications, including wheelchair access and accommodation for larger families. The units are also part of the city’s plan for proximity to transit lines, making it easier for residents to travel and forgo the use of automobiles.
After showcasing the unit in several locations around the city and getting feedback on it as a potential solution, Mayor Walsh appears confident.
He has called for 53,000 new housing units to meet demand. ##
(Image credits are as shown above.)
Submitted by RC Williams to the Daily Business News for MHProNews.
