Most historic small roomed dwellings were not dismal "never again" tenements. Until zoned into illegality in the mid 20th century, tiny room SRO hotels and boardinghouses for middle and upper class people were common:
https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft6j49...
Many people don't want to cook or clean. Many people don't want or need a living room or a private bathroom. This does not necessarily imply that these people must live in horrid squalor.
Re:I hate living in my tiny house
by cardiffspaceman on Monday October 07, 2019 @12:18AM
(#21177417)
I grew up in a tract of suburban houses which typically had two 9x10 bedrooms plus a larger bedroom. Two twin beds could be stacked in one of those rooms. These totally-not-exploited people shared the rest of the 1300 sq. ft. house. So I think that small bedrooms in one place do not equate to small bedrooms in another place.
I respect the folks who try out tiny houses. It’s hard for me to picture them having a happy time or if they do maybe when they accurately document their experiences I will have a better idea of what I really need, which might still be a 2500 sq. ft. McMansion, but maybe not.
My 'apartment' when I was at university was 100 sq ft with 3 apartments sharing a bathroom and kitchen area. Sure I wouldn't have wanted to live there forever, but for the 2.5 years I was there it offered everything i needed, and it was 5 minute walk from campus and a ~20 minute walk to downtown. I also had the choice of a real 500+ sq ft apartment 30 minutes by bus from the campus, but I never even seriously considered swapping.
They have in the past. They were tenements, projects etc. Most have been torn down and a vow made to never do this again.
Look at places like Hong Kong and other big Asian cities today, to see what high density living looks like. It can be good but often isn't.