NewVistas

One of the most effective ways of making housing sustainable is to reduce the size of living space. Smaller size translates to less resource consumption in construction, maintenance, and energy usage. By using space efficiently, however, smaller size can still provide all of the comfort and convenience of modern homes. Per capita private living space has grown dramatically in developed nations over the past 100 years. How much private living space do people really need?

Issues and Questions

Energy Information Administration, 2005 Residential Energy Consumption Survey

Website EIA table indicates that single family detached homes average 90 square meters per person (960 sq ft/person) and high rise apartments average 40 square meters per person (430 sq ft/person).

200 Square Feet

Article (Salomon) explains why we must learn to live well within 200 sq ft per person in order to be green.

NewVistas Model

Description and Targets

The NewVistas model for housing is based on a small household private living space that is comfortable, optimally resource efficient and meets all of the private needs of the household. Much of the living in a NewVistas community takes place in the larger mansion beyond the private living space. Within NewVistas' flexible work-live units, space transformation technologies allow the same space to be used for many different purposes.


Targets:

1. 150-200 sq ft of living space per person.

2. Same space usable for many purposes. 

3. Minimization of space idleness in living areas.

4. Same space usable for many different purposes - transformable throughout the day.

5. Effective storage solutions for furniture and other items.

6. Availability of completely individual space.

7. Availability of completely private space.

8. Availability of commercial space in close proximity to living space.

Live-Work Unit Fly-Through Video

Rough fly-through video illustrates principles of transforming space using moveable walls and ceiling storage.

Tranforming Spaces

Less Stuff, More Happiness

TED talk (Hill 2011) about the freedom we get when we edit our lives to the essentials. He discusses his 420 sq ft. appartment that uses transforming technologies.

Incredible Transforming Apartments

Web article (Mikls 2014) showcases apartments with small square footage that use transforming technologies to turn themselvese into roomy homes.

Space Saving Hong Kong Flat

Article and video (Alter 2010) about an architect in Hong Kong who has made his own 344 square foot apartment into a transformable living space.

Suitcase House (2001)

Review (Mimoa) exploring the "Suitcase House" in China, where an open space can be transformed into any number of room combinations by lifting up floor panels.

Pico-Dwelling (2014)

Website (Sauer) Seattle apartment is 182 square feet, utilizing smart design and some transforming space technology to accommodate all the functions of a modern home.

Lego-style apartment transforms into infinite spaces (2011)

Video and Article (Dirkensen, FairCompanies.com) of a 258 Square Foot Transforming Apartment. small apartment that transforms space with a bed that stows under the balcony, a table that folds into the wall, and other uses stowed in a wall cabinet.

Mansion on Wheels

Web article (Farnham 2004) covers high-end trailers built for on-site movie work. A key feature of the trailers is a second floor that folds down into the first for transportation (causing a wall to fold, etc).

Accordion Wall Video

Video (MoveoGlass) shows how an accordion wall could seal tightly to the floor and ceiling.

Tiny Houses

Blog discusses very tiny houses and shows examples.

Flatpack Nano House

Web article (Alter 2011) describes a self-assembled 215 square foot home being sold in a flatpack for $720.

L41 Home

Website (Katz) shows the L41, which is a modularized 250 square foot home.

Efficient Space Usage

Use of Small Spaces

Website (Abito) suggests a number of ways in which smart design can make optimum use of living space comfortably.

Big City Little Loft

Web article (Friedberg 2009) about a small apartment (12' wide x 12' tall x 50' long) that utilizes a loft bed to maximize and retain the open feel of the space.

Kitchen Space

Webpage (Mike 2010) shows an approach that is similar to NewVistas vision of sustainable use of space that increases ingenuity in the use of space, while still making living environment look good.

Stowable Furniture

Dual Rooms Transformation Specialists

Website US Distributor for Belitec and Liftbed systems. Site contains video demonstrations of Liftbed (bed lifts into ceiling on wall mount system) and Belitec (bed has an articulated foam mattress and frame that rolls up into a wall cabinet).

BedUp

French website for BedUp, a manually operated lifting bed suspended from the ceiling. Bed lifts into ceiling when not in use. Product not currently available outside of the EU.

Resource Furniture

Website, U.S. dealer for CLEI transformable furniture, including multiple bed designs.

HiddenBed

Website U.S. distributor of company with claims to key patent(s) related to desk-bed transforming mechanisms. Products are used in college dorm housing (Stanford, Texas Tech, etc).

Reversica

Website company makes moving furniture that allows multiple use and conceals doorways, cabinets, beds, etc.

Fold Out Kitchen

Video (Chikukagu 2008) of a space saving kitchen design that folds up into a storable cabinet unit. Also includes a space saving bed and office.

Adaptable Kitchens

Webpage (Mike 2008) shows an adaptable kitchen module that allows different appliances to be accommodated while maximizing the functionality of the kitchen space.

Fold Out Bed

Video of a space saving bed design that folds up into a storable cabinet unit. Also includes a space saving kitchen and office.

Space Saving Ceiling Bed

Web article (Treehugger 2008) describes the bed-up solution for saving space by lifting a bed into the ceiling when not in use.

Getting Rid of the Bed

Web article (Treehugger) discusses innovative methods to get the bed out of the way.

Land Peel

Web article (Yamashita) flat floor panel converts to table and chair.

Space Saving Furniture

Video about Italian-designed space saving furniture.

Zoom Room

Website of Zoom Room, a company that makes beds that slide behind a cabinet as an alternative to traditional murphy beds.

Other Information

Death of the McMansion

Article (Perman 2010) from CNBC discusses the trend toward smaller homes.