Space, and how people interact with it, is ever evolving. Architectural advancement, progress in technology, evolving family and social relationships, and enhanced living standards have all played vital roles in determining the course of evolution of a space, be it residential, commercial, retail or hospitality.

While we may not be able to accurately predict where the growth trajectory of spatial usage is headed, what’s certain is that space, and land, particularly in urban areas, will be at a premium and will become even more so in future. Hence, managing space usage is a crucial factor in any kind of development to meet the ever evolving needs and lifestyles of a skyrocketing population across the globe.

1. Urban housing  

One of the most important space considerations lies within the home. According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey, universal design elements with an emphasis on increased functionality have taken precedence in new developments.

“Homeowners have indicated a strong preference for functionality, accessibility and sustainability over the last ten years,” says AIA chief economist, Kermit Baker. This trend is expected to continue in future.

People are living longer and populations around the world are aging. This means spaces within the home will need to cater to the elderly with more accessibility features.

For this reason, dual-key units are also gaining popularity amongst home buyers who wish to accommodate two generations of family under one roof. This is an especially apt solution for Asian households, where the children are able to live independently and separately while still being able to care for their aging parents who live next door. Dual-key units also offer the ideal option for single dwellers or couples to share their properties with other tenants, especially with more homeowners looking at taking on the business of home-sharing.

Another increasingly important consideration for homes of the future would be on sustainability as public environmental awareness increases. For urban dwellers in the foreseeable future, green features in their condominium or houses may become the norm including the use of energy-efficient fittings, rainwater harvesting systems, and the use of environment-friendly building materials.

Paints and coatings manufacturers such as Nippon Paint Malaysia is leading the way forward with low-VOC paints and heat reflective paints. More of such innovative products are in its pipeline.

Sustainability could also be achieved through residential regeneration and an adaptive re-use of buildings. Representing sustainability at its most elementary state, the adaptation of old buildings for new use is essential in extending the life cycle of an existing structure while paving the way for innovative building features.

In an internet age, we will also see more people choosing to work from home, hence we can expect a rise in demand for residential spaces devoted to home offices.

2. Agility in the workspace

In the traditional office structure, the amount of space required for an organisation is typically determined by the number of desks occupying a space. Today, as business volatility and mobility become the new norm, clearly defined workspaces are becoming less visible.

Agile working practices, such as working from home and third places or office sharing, are regarded as an effective method to drive productivity and efficiency in a business. The notion of a third place is now widely accepted as a workplace. Where the home is regarded as the first place and the office is the second place, the third place encompasses informal settings, such as coffee shops or libraries.

Similarly, shared offices perfectly cater to the mobile workforce of the future, such as entrepreneurs and freelancers, where they serve as temporary turn-key work environments that don’t require long-term commitment while providing the flexibility to conduct business remotely.

Hot desking, the practice of working without an assigned desk, is gaining momentum in a growing number of multinational corporations. In many cases, employees are given just a laptop and personal locker with the freedom to move around the office premises and choose any spot to work – whether at a desk, at the lounge or in the cafeteria. With the hot desking policy, employees can sit with different team members as they work in multiple projects, resulting in increased productivity and enhanced employee engagement.

3. Retail stores – offline and online

The onslaught of online shopping will be a major factor in shaping the retail landscape of the future. As boundaries blur between the brick-and-mortar stores and the online platform, physical retail spaces will primarily exist to establish brand presence. This means that retailers may not require as much space to display products, leading to smaller but more customer-centric stores where user experience and service fulfilment become a key focus – a concept which have already been adopted by a large number of luxury brands.

The mobilisation of retail stores will also be a norm in the future, with pop-up stores taking on a primary role in marketing limited edition products or bespoke collections at a temporary location. Both physical and online retailers are set to benefit from pop-up stores, which allow them to extend their brands and showcase new products to different markets without the strain of a long-term lease.

4. Hotels as homes and vice versa 

For decades, hotel chains have monopolised the hospitality industry on a global scale. However, the trend is shifting now as hotels begin to see the rise of short-term rental homes, thanks to travel intermediaries such as Airbnb. It’s hardly surprising though, considering that travellers now crave bespoke experiences with unique locales and personalised services – elements that are often lacking in big chain hotels.

Also changing the hospitality scene are serviced residences, which are quickly becoming a preferred choice of accommodation for travellers seeking medium to long term stays. Compared to hotels, they offer a higher degree of privacy, freedom and security while providing modern conveniences such as 24-hour concierge services, housekeeping and a comfortable home-style living.

Though the future is unpredictable, what’s certain is that space will continue to evolve and result in the development of new space usages to greatly improve the quality of life.

This story first appeared in TheEdgeProperty.com pullout on Nov 18, 2016, which comes with The Edge Financial Daily every Friday. Download TheEdgeProperty.com pullout here for free.

 

 

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