Intentionally Small Urban Living?

As a documentary version of a blog, Urban Living, Intentionally Small: Urban Living in North Carolina illustrates how an architect in Raleigh, NC, creates a sustainable lifestyle by choosing to downsize. To encourage both efficiency and green living, filmmaker and architect Nicole Alverez decides to rent a 300 square foot apartment above a dentist office rather than adopting the large house culture of most cities and suburbs around the U.S.

The documentary introduces Alvarez and her home, but it also provides a strong rationale for downsizing that takes the joys of everyday life into account. Alvarez's initial studio apartment was small but well-designed for her single lifestyle. Everything she needed was in reach in and outside the apartment. She could reach the sink and recycling bin from her kitchen table, for example. And she could walk to her architecture design firm. 

As Alvarez explains in her blog,

"It was the first time that I could walk to a coffee shop, a few bars, a yoga studio, even my job. I  felt connected to my community in a way I never had before. I quickly realized that what I loved most about living in a small space was the way of living that inevitably followed. Less space meant less physical and mental clutter, and therefore more time to enjoy life."

After viewing the documentary and reading Alvarez's blog, I'm not quite ready to move out of my 1100 square foot house, but I am ready to give away and recycle some of my unnecessary belongings. As Alvarez suggests, "Living comfortably in a small space is all about editing out what you don’t need – both in your physical environment and your general lifestyle." Even in the 1170 square foot city house she now shares with her husband and dog, Alvarez embraces this advice. I'm willing to begin this editing process today.