LIVING small

Could you live in a home that is only 37 square metres in size? That is the size of a so-called 'tiny home', which has become a big craze in some parts of the world, giving rise to a new social trend: the 'tiny house movement'. These compact properties have become more popular as people recognise the benefits of 'living small'. For some, it's the only way to afford a home, but for others it's a lifestyle choice, offering a way of living more ecologically and less wastefully. Living in a small space means that you have to get rid of your excess possessions. It also forces you to go out and engage with the rest of the world.

Living small requires careful planning and who better to turn to for inspiration than the Japanese, the masters in the art of saving space. In densely populated cities like Tokyo, many people live in apartments smaller than ten square metres. They have managed to come up with ingenious space-saving solutions to make the apartments feel less cramped, such as the use of deep wardrobes and cupboards for storage. In this way, bedding can be folded and put away every day, allowing the room to be used for purposes other than sleeping. Another method is the use of sliding doors which can divide the room into different living areas when required.

Living in a compact home might work for one, or even two people, but what about when you are obliged to compete for space with several others? This is a question being investigated by a NASA-funded Mars simulation experiment. A 'habitat' has been located on the slopes of a volcano in the Pacific Ocean, and its goal is to understand how people can successfully live and work together on trips into space. Six crew members share a space which is 11 metres in diameter, i.e. the size of a medium-sized, one-bedroom apartment. They each have their own personal space, big enough for a tiny bed and chair. They are not permitted to leave the capsule unless they are wearing a spacesuit. There have been five 'missions' so far, lasting between six and 12 months. The experiment shows that although some privacy is essential, people in confined spaces get on better when they spend more time together rather than retreating to their own private or personal space.

Professor Ellen Pader from the University of Massachusetts, who has published research on the impact of space on relationships, believes a major benefit of sharing space with others is that you learn respect for other people, and you also learn to negotiate with people, instead of just withdrawing when things get difficult. In many western countries, there is an assumption that we all need privacy, but this is not a universally shared belief. In Mexico, for example, according to Pader's research, people often prefer to share bedrooms and bathrooms because being alone feels like a punishment.