A Tale of Two Housing Styles 

Housing patterns in Bangladesh are quite different from UK, USA and many developed countries. While middle-class and upper-middle-class families in Bangladesh often prefer larger flats with separate rooms and facilities, similar families in many developed countries often live in much smaller apartments.

Md. Kamrul Islam, Managing Director of Abiding Development & Holdings Limited., said that, except for million-dollar homes, apartments built for middle-class and upper-middle-class families in developed countries are generally much smaller. He said flats of 600 to 1,000 square feet are common in this category.

According to him, these apartments usually have one or two toilets. The kitchen, drawing and dining areas are often combined, rather than being separated into large individual spaces. This helps residents make better use of limited floor space.

He said the individual rooms in these apartments are also much smaller than those commonly found in Bangladesh. In many cases, a room may be up to 100 square feet. Despite the smaller size, proper planning allows families to use the available space efficiently.

The housing pattern in Bangladesh is different. According to Kamrul Islam, a typical flat of 1,150 to 1,350 square feet generally has three bedrooms, three toilets, a separate kitchen, and a combined drawing and dining area.

He said each bedroom in such a Bangladeshi flat is generally at least 120 square feet, while the toilets are also relatively large.

The difference is not only about the size of the apartment. It also reflects differences in lifestyle, family structure, land prices, urban density and housing culture. In Bangladesh, families often prefer larger bedrooms, separate kitchens and several bathrooms. These preferences increase the overall size of a flat.

In many developed cities, however, limited land and high housing costs have encouraged families to live in smaller spaces. Smaller bedrooms, compact bathrooms and combined living areas allow more efficient use of expensive urban land.

Kamrul Islam also pointed out that, outside million-dollar homes, 8-by-9-foot bedrooms can be found in middle-class and upper-middle-class housing abroad. In such homes, the focus is often on making every part of the apartment useful rather than making each room large.

In Bangladesh, larger rooms are often associated with comfort and a better standard of living. Separate kitchens, larger bathrooms and additional rooms are also considered desirable by many families. A larger flat can provide more privacy and space for children, guests and family activities.

But a larger home also means higher costs. A 1,150�"1,350-square-foot flat generally requires more money to buy or rent than a 600�"1,000-square-foot apartment. Larger homes can also require more spending on furniture, cleaning, maintenance, lighting and air-conditioning.

Smaller apartments have their own advantages. They can reduce housing and maintenance costs and may allow families to live closer to workplaces and city centres. However, very small homes can create problems with privacy, storage and personal space, particularly when several family members share the same apartment.

The comparison raises an important question for Bangladesh's growing cities: Do families really need larger homes, or do they need better-designed homes?