Common Storage
This pattern is shaped by
Problem
As housing units get smaller — especially in missing-middle and multi-unit buildings — personal storage becomes a luxury. Seasonal items (winter gear, camping equipment, holiday decorations) that are used once or twice a year consume precious square footage year-round. The choice becomes: larger unit (more expensive) or no storage (less livable).
Evidence and Discussion
Shared storage — lockable units in a common area, organized by building or block — allows small units to stay small while providing the seasonal and occasional storage that every household needs. The key is access: convenient enough that it's used, secure enough that it's trusted.
Therefore
in every multi-unit building or dense neighborhood, provide shared storage — lockable units of 2–4 square meters per household, accessible without stairs, well-lit, and climate-controlled (at minimum, frost-free). Locate the storage within a two-minute walk of every unit it serves. Include a few oversized bays for items like kayaks, bicycles, and lumber. Shared storage lets small homes stay small without sacrificing livability.