# Compact Prefab Apartments New York's 'Carmel Place' is the City's First Official Micro-Apartment By Christopher Magsambol | Published 2015-12-09 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carmel-place References: [wired](http://www.wired.com/2015/12/nys-first-micro-apartments-actually-look-kinda-comfortable/) & [stage3properties](http://www.stage3properties.com/portfolio/) Although New York City has been known to have tiny apartments, a new development called 'Carmel Place' is the Big Apple's first official [micro-apartment complex](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/minuet). To qualify as a micro-apartment, the unit's square footage must be under 400 square feet, and Carmel Place offers apartments between 260 to 360 square feet. The apartments have a neutral, [minimal finishings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/minimalist-cocoon), with plenty of whites, grays and pale wood. To lure prospective tenants, the initial images of the units show [modular furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ambra) -- like sofa beds and extendable dining tables -- that will be made available with each apartment. Other apartment throw-ins include high-end Italian furniture, a housekeeping service, Wi-Fi and cable. Despite its small frame, Carmel Place offers tenants rent prices that are comparable to New York City studio apartment, as well as the inclusion of more luxurious amenities. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 83% | Activity: 80% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Micro-apartments:** Developing micro-apartments that offer luxurious amenities at studio apartment prices. - **Modular Furniture:** Creating modular furniture for micro-apartments that is functional and space-saving. - **Minimalistic Design:** Designing minimalistic micro-apartments that maximize living space and invoke a feeling of spaciousness. ### Where This Applies - **Real Estate:** Real Estate developers can take advantage of the trend towards micro-apartments and the need for affordable housing solutions in crowded cities. - **Furniture:** Furniture manufacturers can develop modular furniture that is affordable, space-saving, and functional for micro-apartments. - **Interior Design:** Interior designers can create minimalistic designs that maximize functionality while also invoking a sense of spaciousness and luxury in micro-apartments. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Smartly Designed Compact Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/compact-apartments2.md) - [Reinvented Compact Living](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/affordable-housing-prototype.md) - [Rainbow Micro Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skittles-little-living.md) - [$1 Tiny Apartment Rentals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tiny-apartment-rental.md) - [Thoughtful Micro Studio Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mini-studio-apartment.md) - [Low Footprint Compact Houses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nano-micro-house.md) - [Compact Urban Dwellings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miami-tiny-house.md) - [Compact Sustainable Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-cabana.md) - [Reimagined Minimal Parisian Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/minimalist-cocoon.md)