Will Small Go Big in 2015? Maybe. Finally. Here's why.

Dwell small; live large. It's something many passionate urbanists have been working on for a decade. Could 2015 finally be the year small goes big?

1 minute read

January 19, 2015, 1:00 PM PST

By Hazel Borys


Small Lot Townhouses

Plukhin / Shutterstock

"One of the big lessons of the cottage movement: Design matters. A lot."

"Before they set aside their concerns, most people — especially those who live nearby — need a demonstration of how these small-scale neighborhoods can add to the beauty and function of existing neighborhoods. And the tolerance of neighbors is essential, since cottage-scale communities need to be in places that offer the kinds of amenities already associated with high-value locations — access to work, transit, schools, shops and restaurants within walking or biking distance."

"Simply put: The trade-off for living in small spaces is proximity to most daily needs not far outside your door."

The article includes a run down of some successful cottage courts and pocket neighborhoods, as well as some pointers to where the conversations are happening to generate more small-scale living.

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