In Europe,researchers and designers have developed the m-ch (micro-compact home),a tiny,two story,aluminum cube that,through efficient use of space,can serve as a home for one or two people.The 8.5 foot(2.6-meter) m-ch was inspired by the compact spaces in the first-class airplane cabins. These tiny,transportable homes are now being sold throughout Europe.Hilda Koch,who lives in an m-ch with her husband,points out,"In the past,it might have been difficult to live in such a small space,but as long as you have a laptop and digital music player,you no longer need a stereo system,countless CDs,photo albums and shelves of books." After years of houses growing bigger and bigger in some parts of the world,we may now by seeing a reversal in the trend.The growing desire to live more simply and more economically may mean that the house of the future is not only smaller-it may be tiny!