A millennial housing typology: redefining the home of the next generation in Toronto laneways

Abstract

The “millennial” has become a prominent term in today’s society and culture. “millennials” refers to a generation of young adults born between the early 1980s and 2000.1 Made up of over 92 million people this generation is larger than the Baby Boomers2 , and have a huge influence on the world’s economy, social policies, culture, and urban fabric. As of 2018, the millennial generation will have an annual spending of 3.39 trillion dollars, surpassing the Baby Boomer generation in buying power.3 However, millennials have inherited a different circumstance from the previous generation, dramatically changing the social, cultural, and economic needs of the millennials. Challenges such as climate change, the housing bubble, and an inflated economy, influence the possibilities of future home ownership for this generation. Additionally, the element of technology is intertwined with the day-to-day of millennials. How might technology manifest itself within architecture of the future? And how will architecture adapt to suit the needs and desires of the upcoming generation?