Furniture for micro-living: responding to shrinking residential units in Toronto, Ontario

Abstract

Responding to rapidly emerging micro-residential units in dense cities including Toronto, Ontario, this thesis critiques the current furniture industry offerings and addresses the shortcomings of this typology. While residential units have shrunken, furniture has not effectively evolved with this change. Limited by functionality, inadequate storage, and inefficient use of space, the existing options struggle to provide the adaptability, affordability, and durability necessary to meet the unique demands of micro-units and their occupants, ultimately leading to occupant discomfort and a decline in psychological and physical well-being. To address this gap, this research applies and modifies the methodology of Kaare Klint, along with insights from the work of Hans J. Wegner and Børge Mogensen, to propose furniture that enhances usability and spatial perception in micro-units. By integrating concepts of modularity, multi-functionality, material perception, and residential crowding, a methodology that addresses the physical constraints of these spaces and improves occupant well-being has been developed. The resulting furniture line aims to create comfortable and equitable micro-living conditions, offering sustainable, affordable, and beautiful solutions that frame furniture as not only a functional object but a tool to define the spatial experience.