How Family Structures Changed Housing Design and Construction?
Between 1950 and 2011, the world'due south urban population increased fivefold. In 2007, for the outset time, the number of people living in cities surpassed the number of people living in the country. In 2019, the urban population had already reached 55% of the total population, and by 2050, it is estimated that only over two thirds of the population will live in urban areas. However, this growth is not constant in all parts of the world: according to the Un Globe Urbanization Prospects 2018 Written report, the global urban population is expected to grow past 2.five billion inhabitants between 2018 and 2050, with almost xc% of this increase full-bodied in Asia and Africa. As populations in these areas increase, then will the demand for free energy, nutrient, and h2o, making resources more than scarce. This scarcity volition be compounded by the negative bear on of urbanization on the climate and the environment.
Moreover, per the highlights of the 2019 study, in 2018, for the showtime fourth dimension in history, the number of people aged 65 and over exceeded that of children aged nether v. Projections bespeak that past 2050, at that place will be more than twice as many people over 65 as children under v or young people between fifteen and 24.
Predicting the beliefs of man beings and, correspondingly, what the world will await like in the future, is never easy. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how apace our certainties tin can disappear. Many competent researchers are struggling to predict how the world will fare after this economic crisis, every bit well as how labor relations, travel, and migratory flows volition change. But global trend towards urbanization and an aging population are shifts that take already been observed and that will similarly change the mode cities and buildings are designed. How can architects prepare to answer to the specific needs and desires of this increasingly urban, aging population in the not too afar future?
A simple answer is: through a more than witting and consistent use of homo, natural, financial, and of grade, spatial resource. To swoop into more particular, the impact of the cyberspace is an important element that must be seriously considered, every bit its facilitation of more widespread access will rapidly transform consumption patterns and business concern models. Information technology is estimated that at that place are more than 5 billion Internet users (that is, effectually 64% of the world population), with effectually l% of them accessing it on the motility. The internet, as ubiquitous as it is, volition probable play an enormous role in transforming people's lives and their relationship to compages.
Co-living and changing habits: owning your own home is no longer a primary objective
Facilitated access to products and services, usually through online applications or the cyberspace, are increasingly valued over buying. For example, having a car in a big city tin can cost more money and time dealing with bureaucracies than using carpool services, apps, or even car rentals when needed. The aforementioned goes for a drill, a workspace, or a house. It is estimated that the sharing economy volition grow from $14 billion in 2014 to $335 billion in 2025. This trend, of grade, covers means of living besides. Hélène Subremon [1], a housing sociologist and social cohesion projection manager at Saint-Gobain, points out that, different previous generations, owning a dwelling house is no longer a primary goal of life.
Even among unrelated people, the ascent of unconventional housing is already happening. The concept of co-living emerged in Denmark in the 1970s as high property prices and the increasingly lonely lifestyle of big cities led people to seek a new way of living, one which fostered a sense of community, sustainability, and a collaborative economy. Recently, co-living gained many additional followers and aroused involvement in the marketplace, which has since launched projects post-obit this concept. In this method, common areas are shared by several people and even families, saving resources and creating community living spaces.
Housing should exist adaptable, covering different programs and family members from other generations
Information technology is as well expected that housing will adapt to different phases of utilize, changing its function over fourth dimension. The business firm should allow for these changes, such every bit receiving some other relative or providing a comfy place to work in the outcome of a pandemic. Investing in modular solutions that can be easily attached or disassembled is a proficient get-go approach to designing for irresolute demands. But organizing open spaces without supporting walls, equally Le Corbusier advocated virtually one hundred years ago, remains an equally adept solution, in which low-cal, opaque, or translucent partitions (but with proficient audio insulation), can shape new spaces according to the needs of the occupants. Beingness in tune with the changing needs of people and families, adapting to the urgent demands of space, but allowing a family unit to evolve, is fundamental. Thinking about housing that can form different configurations for changing families or even that can be a source of income for certain periods is urgently relevant. Since its creation, Airbnb has received 400 million visitors; the platform operates in more than than 81,000 cities and 191 countries worldwide.
Harmony and quality of life get increasingly important as well: people aspire to have a balanced life, particularly equally remote piece of work gains popularity and individuals spend more and more time on leisure and shopping (which is besides increasingly online). Much of the mistrust and fears surrounding remote work had to be rethought and overcome quickly with the COVID-xix pandemic. It didn't take long before the domicile office was normalized, and now many companies have been rethinking their work policies and their needs for huge headquarters, which are often underutilized. A Saint-Gobain survey found that, for example, buildings in the tertiary sector of the economic system accept a very low occupancy rate of around 25%.
In the same way that many realized that homes were not well prepared to become an office overnight, housing an elderly relative or someone with special needs all of a sudden can be complicated. Developing the flexibility and convertibility of buildings will optimize the occupation of infinite, since living with different generations of a family has become more common. 2018 information from AMA Research pointed out that, in the Britain, the number of multigenerational families has increased by 42% in the past decade, and the ONS (Office for National Statistics) estimates that there are currently 1.viii 1000000 such families in the Great britain . [2]. "Cohabiting is not a new phenomenon, it was the norm less than a century ago in the West. And it still is today, in sure places. Simply what is new are the reasons for cohabiting today. [ane]" In dwellings with increasingly limited infinite, the big challenge is to create a comfortable surroundings for all occupants with adequate levels of privacy.
Health and safety are top concerns and will challenge designers
8-80 Cities, a non-profit organization focused on improving public spaces in cities, writed: "If everything nosotros do in our cities is great for an 8-twelvemonth-sometime and an 80-year-old, then information technology will be bang-up for all people." This mantra applies to homes equally well. As previously noted, betwixt 2000 and 2050, the world population anile over 60 years doubled to reach 22%, but 25% of homes are considered unsuitable for the elderly. Creating spaces where individuals of all ages and abilities tin can live and thrive is an indispensable approach and one that is, above all, inclusive from the heart. Traditionally, products that better accessibility - whether for the elderly or for people with a disability - are seen equally attachments; an reconsideration to be added to existing spaces, commonly with little aesthetic appeal. Kitchens and bathrooms are two rooms where accessibility is about critical and, therefore, crave the most carefully executed designs. Using appropriate dimensions, configurations, and materials to accommodate as many people and functions equally possible has get an essential task of urban design.
Since we spend about 90% of our time indoors and this percentage is unlikely to diminish, information technology is particularly disturbing to consider that there are elements in our buildings that can harm our bodies and subtract our quality of life. In add-on to facilitating users' mobility and autonomy, in the future it is essential that all building materials volition provide skilful living conditions for its occupants. One prominent concern regarding living conditions is that of the indoor temperature, which will be affected past surrounding climate alter and past waves of cold and heat observed in the cities.
For elderly people, the consequences of poor structure and bad temperature regulation can go beyond malaise, having serious consequences for their wellness. During the summer or during hot flashes, they tin can experience exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration and overheating - which tin worsen whatsoever centre and breathing problems. In the winter, those aged 65 and over are at increased hazard of flu, pneumonia, hypothermia, strokes, and heart attacks if the temperature drops below viii° C. [3]
Investing in passive solutions, without requiring circuitous heating or cooling systems, is both cheaper in the long run and much more than sustainable. Information technology is the architect's responsibility to e'er be up to date with new materials, technologies, and constructive solutions to provide maximum thermal condolement in buildings.
For cold climates, because walls with adept thermal insulation is a starting betoken. Ensuring that homes are complimentary of drafts and using energy-efficient glass can \assistance maintain a consistent temperature, aided by well-designed and well-regulated heating systems. As elementary as information technology may seem, being aware of all the elements of the building, from the cladding to the limerick of the construction's materials, is vital to existence aware of the building'due south performance. For hot places, in addition to thermal insulation, cooling systems and devices blocking directly solar radiation should be considered. Architects can also incorporate operable windows, allowing pleasant air flow.
Noises, pollutants, and poor quality in indoor spaces: new issues with urban density in the time to come
In addition to urban pollution, it is vital to pay attention to indoor air quality. This is a largely overlooked issue, but information technology has been proved how harmful it is for someone's health to be in a polluted indoor environs. Research by King's College London suggests that, if we spend an actress hour cooking every day due to social distancing regulations during the pandemic, we are exposed to an boilerplate of 19% more particulate pollution. Cooking methods, such as frying and baking, produce a big number of small particles. Equally nosotros inhale, these particles can enter our lungs, bloodstream and centre. [4]
Internal pollutants tin cause irritation, headaches, sore throats and even respiratory illnesses. Only how can nosotros reduce their presence? Commencement, architects must choose building materials and products that emit low levels of VOC and formaldehyde. Providing adequate ventilation and a constant air flow is important - sunday and air are very essential for homes, peculiarly for children and the elderly. Some products exist to improve indoor air quality, such as plasterboard or wall coverings designed to blot pollutants and guarantee quality air for occupants. Architects may also utilise low-emission materials, such as glass wool.
Environments without adequate ventilation can become clammy, creating an surround conducive to biological agents like mildew and mites, which can be harmful to those with allergies or breathing problems. Mold can as well cause breathing issues and trigger asthma attacks. And once again, the elderly and people with respiratory problems or weakened immune systems are amongst the most affected.
Architects also need to consider how a space will be used to ensure that it creates the right audio-visual environment. Being in a noisy surround or in a space with bad acoustics is highly unpleasant, and tin bear upon our entire torso and mood. The reduction in hearing capacity among the elderly is something that tin can make living with older generations quite complicated, forcing them to isolate in their own worlds and increasing the chances of depression and dementia. Studies show that hearing is the sense with the most pregnant impact on the quality of life of people with dementia. Exposure to noise can crusade agitation and trigger problems with other senses, such equally vision and sensitivity to low-cal [iii]. Since hearing is linked to rest, noise can also increase the risk of falling. Background racket can impede the comfort of elderly people and too limit their interactions with the people effectually them.
Windows frames and walls with good sound insulation are a good first footstep to preventing this trouble. The correct residuum of surfaces with proficient sound assimilation can as well be useful for reducing reverberation noise and making advice easier. Choosing products that residual sound assimilation tin can contribute to making the environment more acoustically suitable. In more open spaces, minimize sound propagation, while in smaller rooms, prioritize the clarity of voices and sounds.
Some other important concern for the health of all generations is access to daylight. An fifty-fifty distribution of natural light can both help people see what they are doing and regulate the circadian bicycle (our body clock), improving mental health and a sense of well-beingness. Interacting with nature - even if it is just by looking out the window - can help the elderly and people with dementia connect better with others, feel more confident, foster a sense of belonging, and control and improve their mood.
"The goal of architecture is to back up the unpredictability of life." Paulo Mendes da Rocha repeatedly affirms this phrase, which seems to utilize more and more than every bit uncertain times have demanded flexibility and versatility on the office of architects. If architects consider, from the beginning of the blueprint procedure, that the needs of the occupants will change significantly over fourth dimension - and that, often, the edifice will be used past an elderly person or someone with a disability - so the world volition see more than flexible and inclusive that serve everyone's needs. New structure technologies, products, and processes must come across the evolving needs of the population through innovation in materials and new connected systems.
Notes
[1] Our lives are evolving... Our homes besides!
[2] Is multigenerational living good for our wellbeing?
[3] How do nosotros design and build homes to improve the quality of life of elderly people?
[iv] Cooking and indoor air pollution
Cite: Souza, Eduardo. "How volition Families' Architectural Expectations Change over the Next Few Years?" [Como o estilo de vida e as expectativas arquitetônicas mudarão nos próximos anos?] 28 Sep 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/943940/how-will-families-architectural-expectations-change-over-the-next-few-years> ISSN 0719-8884
Source: https://www.archdaily.com/943940/how-will-families-architectural-expectations-change-over-the-next-few-years