# 21-Square-Foot Homes Beijing's Capsule Apartments Rent for Less Than $35 Per Month By Katie Cordrey | Published 2010-08-11 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beijings-capsule-apartments References: [chinahush](http://www.chinahush.com/2010/04/09/young-girl-becomes-first-tenant-of-capsule-apartment/) & [english.cctv](http://english.cctv.com/program/chinatoday/20100412/101004.shtml) Zhang Qi, a 25-year-old has taken up residence in a 21-square-foot capsule apartment to save on rent in order to help her family. Beijing's capsule apartments were designed and built by a 72-year-old retired engineer and rent for less than a third of the standard Beijing apartment. Zhang's primary objection to Beijing's capsule apartments is the fact that the toilet and shower are on a different floor of the complex. She is the first occupant of this [smaller-than-a-jail-cell housing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nano-micro-house), but thinks that the apartments will appeal to other young people who want [independence on a budget](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sora-model). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.3/10 - Popularity: 81% | Activity: 100% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Regional](https://www.trendhunter.com/regional) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Capsule Living:** The trend of small, compact living spaces such as capsule apartments provides affordable housing options for individuals on a budget. - **Micro-housing:** Micro-housing, like 21-square-foot apartments, caters to the needs of individuals seeking minimalistic, efficient living spaces. - **Affordable Housing:** The concept of capsule apartments highlights the growing demand for affordable housing solutions in overcrowded cities. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Real Estate:** The real estate industry can explore opportunities to develop and market small-scale, cost-effective housing options like capsule apartments. - **Architecture and Design:** Architects and designers can embrace innovative approaches to create functional and space-efficient micro-housing solutions. - **Construction:** The construction industry can capitalize on the demand for compact living spaces by developing efficient building techniques for micro-housing projects. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cleverly Designed Micro Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cabanon.md) - [Reinvented Compact Living](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/affordable-housing-prototype.md) - [Singular Person Foldable Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-baby-box.md) - [Thoughtful Micro Studio Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mini-studio-apartment.md) - [Smartly Designed Compact Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/compact-apartments2.md) - [Prefabricated Miniature Home Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cpsula.md) - [Affordable Portable Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/boxabl-baby-box.md) - [Next-Generation Egg-Shaped Tiny Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecocapsule-nextgen.md) - [Futuristic Capsule House Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/capsule-house.md)