Yale and UN Create Tiny, Sustainable Home Design

Many thought leadership groups worldwide are trying to address the housing crisis with new solutions, while also keeping an eye towards how to minimize the environmental impact of creating the amount of new housing the world needs. This UN News brief shares a project that is small and sustainable, while also amazingly efficient in construction.

Measuring just about 22-square-meters, or some 200-square-feet, a demonstration unit for the eco-friendly and affordable housing, debuted on the UN Plaza in New York this week.

This structure is a type of “tiny house” which is traditionally comprised of one room with a loft or pull-out bed, complete with hidden storage, and condensed amenities, such as a kitchen, that maximize the space available to live in.

The design, created by UN Environment and the Center for Ecosystems in Architecture at Yale University in the United States, in collaboration with UN-Habitat, is meant to get people thinking about decent, affordable housing that limits the overuse of natural resources and helps the battle against destructive climate change.