For ages, living in the suburbs has been associated with spacious homes, private lawns, and quiet streets. But as cities grow bigger, land prices increase, and lifestyles evolve, a new housing trend is emerging — compact apartments in suburban locations are becoming more common than ever before. Let’s explore whether compact apartments located in suburban areas can be the real answer to the growing housing crisis of Bangladesh.
People usually choose to move to the suburbs to be able to enjoy more affordable homes at better prices. Suburban homes often have larger living areas, lower housing costs, and calmer environments compared to the hustle and bustle seen in larger towns and cities.
In recent times, however, the preferences are rapidly changing due to:
- Growing urban populations
- Rising prices of property
- Remote and hybrid work culture
- Demand for sustainable housing
Real estate developers are now introducing smaller & more efficient apartments in suburban areas — combining urban practicality with suburban comfort.
Pros:
1. Affordable Homeownership
Compact apartments usually cost less than large suburban homes. Smaller units equal lesser purchase price, maintenance costs, and utility expenses — making homeownership accessible to young professionals and first-time buyers.
2. Peace Without the Chaos
People who move to the suburbs choose to live there largely because of the calm and quiet in the surroundings. Suburbs usually have less noise, reduced congestion and cleaner surroundings compared to bustling city centres. Therefore, residents living in suburbia can enjoy a modern apartment while still living in tranquility.
3. Low-Maintenance Living
Efficient design is almost always inspired by compact homes. Smaller spaces are much easier to clean and maintain, consume less energy, and make more efficient use of available space. Compact houses also advocate for sustainability by limiting land and energy used per household.
4. Ideal for Evolving Lifestyles
Households these days are drastically different from what they used to be even 5 years to a decade ago. Families are smaller and often nuclear, with couples both working at jobs outside the home, and retirees seeking to live a simpler life post-retirement. People seeking to have a home that is easy to maintain, both in terms of logistics and cash required for upkeep. Convenience is often preferred over bigger spaces.
Like having pros, compact housing also has certain factors that go against it. Here are some of the reasons explained in further detail.
Cons:
1. The Promise of Space Gets Diluted
Most people who move to the suburbs do so because they are looking for the additional space, the calmness in the surroundings, as well the amenities like parks, lakes etc. that might be nearby. When they move to a compact apartment, however, there is much less space on offer, meaning that privacy and expansive layouts remain unfulfilled promises.
2. Longer Commutes
In countries like Bangladesh where commute within a district, especially for areas surrounding Dhaka is largely limited by heavy traffic congestion and under-availability of public transport, suburban residents face longer delays in commute to and from work, places of entertainment, and service centres like banks and hospitals. Limited availability of transport in our low-income country means that time and cost are automatically added to daily life.
3. Fewer Lifestyle Amenities
Apartments in the city are close to the best that urban life has on offer – be it restaurants, shopping malls, etc. In a suburb like Savar or Gazipur, the amenities might be few and far between, depending on the density of the population in that particular area. Therefore, many residents who opt for tranquility end up sacrificing accessibility in the long run.
4. Risk of Poor Planning
There needs to be supporting infrastructure when any kind of apartment is being built in an area, suburbs run the risk of becoming overcrowded but never convenient. Good design is more important than anything else. The success of compact apartments in suburban areas depends on how well-planned they are, and whether they are serving their true purpose or not. For compact apartments to be a great fit for residents, the following pre-conditions must be met:
- Strong transit connectivity
- Mixed-use developments
- Community spaces are also available
- Each unit has been designed with a purpose
However, these same compact apartments fail to fulfill their basic purpose when:
- Infrastructural development has fallen behind
- Rising density of compact apartments & not enough amenities
- Areas are designed ignoring suburban lifestyle expectations
That is why more urban and city planners are now suggesting that cities and local towns move towards something aimed at the masses; such as medium-density suburbs that have the perfect balance of amenities and services. While smaller homes fit the current trend, community living is also preferred where both husband and wife are working, as this offers a chance for children to grow up in a family setting even if they live far away. This means that deciding on whether it is a good idea for us to be building compact apartments in suburban areas depends on what we are hoping to ultimately achieve.