Living Big, Living Small

Is Anchorage really ready to go small?

The proliferation of “tiny home” television shows continues to push conversations in this direction and CIHA struggles to find the “right” size for the market and for financial feasability. 

As we continue to shrink unit size, in order to maximize # of units, land restraints, affordability and budget, our 2-D models have not fully helped us understand the real constraints of smaller rooms and units. When we move from 2-D to real life we are not satisfied that we have found the right solution. 

We wanted to explore how we could maximize a one-bedroom unit design for ultimate livability and financial feasibility for actual development. We partnered with set designer Sheila Wyne to design a scale 3-D unit model with multiple moving parts and furniture to allow for real interaction in the space illustrating real constraints for real world living.

In the Summer of 2017, we invited different focus groups, current residents, variety of demographics, to play in the set – arranging furniture how they would if they lived there and engaged them for their thoughts on layout.

Fort building meets innovative design tactics. Do you want to try your hand at designing a 3D model of a micro-unit?

Read more about the project in the Anchorage Daily News