Society has undergone many changes in recent years, and the home is no exception. The unprecedented pandemic redefined some of our needs and must-have elements for our homes. Culmia has compiled a list of six trends that will shape the home of the future, ranging from natural materials to predictive intelligence.
Demand for natural materials will rise
Wood, ceramics, natural paints and varnishes, hemp or cork are materials that will become increasingly popular. This is due to society's growing interest and change of mentality, with more people being aware of sustainability issues and the link between these materials and home and building users' health. Sustainability and health will influence all aspects of housing design.
Predictive intelligence
Smart homes will operate independently and learn from the people who live in them. In the not-too-distant future, for example, tech systems installed in our homes could recognise and identify the routes we take and anticipate turning on the lights in different rooms, in line with our daily movements, so we don't have to stop and do it ourselves.
Furthermore, not only will these integrated systems allow the home to adjust to our habits, preferences and needs, but they'll also adapt to the surrounding environment, such as the climate.
Bringing the outside in
Bringing homes closer to nature and taking the outdoors indoors will become increasingly important. Biophilia – our urge to connect with nature – is a fully recognised practice. Users will also prefer a greener, healthier and quieter living environment, facilitating the connection between the interior and the naturalised exterior.
Making living spaces more uniform
Room size, light and ventilation will be designed to minimise hierarchies and make the home flexible throughout its life. For example, areas will be separated with panels or multi-purpose furniture. Homes will become multi-purpose and their rooms more versatile. We'll see more open-plan spaces that maximise natural light.
Our house will care for our health
The home will become another space to promote individual health, focusing on disease prevention. To this end, devices and sensors will be installed to monitor health, enabling health professionals to perform future analyses.
Community individualism
More and more users want to live in a community without giving up their individual space. There will, therefore, be more supply and demand for communal housing models that facilitate community living and its benefits, such as increased sociability, common spaces and shared services. Among the new housing solutions emerging, coliving and senior living, among others, will be gaining market share.
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