An analysis of building records reveals that New York City has lost over 100,000 apartments since 1950 due to apartment combinations and building conversions into single-family homes. While the overall number of apartments in the city has grown, it hasn't kept up with the population and demand. The rate of combinations increased in the 1990s, particularly in wealthier neighborhoods, exacerbating the city's housing shortage. While some view these combinations as restoration projects, others argue that they contribute to the housing crisis. The need for new construction to address the housing crisis is emphasized, as combining apartments may not always be a good investment.
Many New York City apartments have eccentric kitchens, with features like bathtubs, miniature appliances, and outdated ovens. These peculiar kitchens are often a snapshot of the city's history, with bathtubs in the kitchen being a requirement after the New York Tenement House Act of 1901. Despite the limited space and unconventional layouts, New Yorkers have found creative ways to make do and even enjoy their wacky kitchens, using mini fridges, toaster ovens, and Instant Pots to cook delicious meals. Some have even turned their kitchens into photo shoot studios or storage spaces for books and tchotchkes.
The Golf House in Senningerberg Niederanven, Luxembourg, designed by dagli + atélier d’architecture, comprises an architectural studio and five apartments. The ground floor has an open plan and spatiality that allows as much light as possible, with large windows and glass doors creating a seamless connection between the interior and exterior space. The facade of the building has a vertical texture that complements the openings ornamented with dagli frames. The building is both bold and refined, modern and timeless, and is designed to be sustainable, with a green roof, minimization of the sealing degree at the open spaces, and the greening of the façade having a positive influence on the urban climate.
Six Parisian apartments built during the Haussmann-era have been renovated by architects and interior designers to mix period details with contemporary interventions. The apartments feature high ceilings, parquet floors, and elaborate mouldings and boiserie. The renovations include a book lover's loft, two flats combined to form a family home, and a multi-faceted furniture block made from wood-fibre panels. The apartments are located in trendy Marais and Canal Saint-Martin districts and the Arsenale district.
A fight involving several people in Grand Rapids ended with several shots being fired, hitting several vehicles and two apartments. No one was hurt, and it's unclear what led up to the fight. The case remains under investigation by the Grand Rapids Police Department.
New apartments in the US have seen a reduction in size, with the average square footage dropping by 30 square feet to 887 in 2022, according to a report by RentCafe. The decrease in size was most significant in studio and one-bedroom apartments, which have seen an increase in market share. The report also found that the average apartment size varied by region, with the South, Southeast, and Western regions offering the most space, while the Pacific Northwest, California, and Mid-Atlantic regions offered the least. The average apartment size has seen a 5.7% drop between 2013 and 2022.
Seattle has been ranked as the city with the smallest average apartment size in the United States, according to a recent report. The study found that the average apartment size in Seattle is just 711 square feet, with many units being even smaller. This trend towards smaller living spaces is reflective of the growing popularity of urban living and the high cost of housing in many cities.
New apartments in Seattle are the smallest in the US, with an average size of 659 square feet, 26% smaller than the national average. This trend of shrinking apartment sizes is happening nationwide, with newly built apartments shedding an average of 30 square feet compared to 2021. The decrease is due to more studios and one-bedroom apartments entering the market, accommodating more units in projects. The size of apartments under construction could signal whether the trend of smaller rentals will continue.
