Micro apartments and small houses

The Globe today reports on the arrival in Boston of the micro apartment trend, a movement in urban housing that began in San Francisco. Urban living is increasingly popular to young people but it is also increasingly unaffordable. That's where micro apartments come in. Averaging 300 square feet or less, living in a micro apartment seems a lot like living in a tent only with modern amenities like flush toilets and running water but without the bugs and mud. Housing advocates are concerned that these units are just catering to young professionals and will tend to drive up overall housing costs if they become too numerous. Micro apartments are also related to the "small house movement" which strives for similar micro living in detached residences.