–Mr. Shyam Motwani, Executive Vice President & Business Head, Godrej Lock
We have been speaking about how the pandemic has altered our day-to-day functioning right from the way we live, the way we work, learn or even socialize. Over a year later, the pandemic continues to dominate how we conduct our daily life on a personal as well as professional front., and it will continue to do so. In a short period, the home has become a place to work, exercise, relax, and even attend classes/school. Spending a lot more time in your house, ensuring timely completion of multiple tasks between those four walls has made people desire for more flexible spaces. Most millennials plan on working from home for a longer period, as it lets them stay close to their family, but this also means that a limited space (for most people) will have multiple purposes. As people adjust to life at home, they are reassessing their living situations to meet their current and future needs.
Flexible spaces
This is also one of the reasons why today we are seeing that the millennial generation is showing an increased preference towards purchasing homes in non-metro cities. The pandemic has transformed homes into workstations, virtual classes, gym areas and play areas, and so it is vital to envision the variety of demands that people will have in the future when designing a space. Therefore, architects and interior designers are envisioning to maximize the available space and develop futuristic homes in the new normal. There are two types of people, one who have the budget or the space, are simply expanding and making larger houses, for larger offices or play areas etc. The second set includes people who have to function within a limited budget and have to start making flexible spaces within the available limit so that one particular space can be used for multiple things. The key is now to create these kinds of flexible spaces and also to make every space self-sufficient, keeping in mind the taste of each individual. Thus, architects need to build and craft flexible spaces at home that can add value to the homes of individuals.
Sustainability
We’ve started making a conscious effort over the last few years to integrate sustainable design solutions while creating homes such as installing solar panels, LED lights, or other products that can essentially help in conserving energy to a large extent. Today, the focus is shifting towards how we can design spaces by leveraging technology and blend sustainability within home designs to create a holistic environment. When we talk about how to integrate the idea of flexibility and sustainability, our gifted architects are making the public more aware of how they can get involved and use sustainability products and solutions in their homes.
Homes getting smarter and safer
COVID-19 has considerably augmented the use of automation systems both in commercial as well as residential spaces. The young generation today is looking at integrating technology and automation as millennials want to enjoy the benefits provided by smart & contactless technology. Controlling devices such as fan/light using tech, automated curtains, and multiple devices can be operated at the tip of their finger. Not just that, demand for home safety products and solutions such as digital locks, home CCTV cameras are on a rise. Architects are considering these to be a crucial part of the home design, as more and more people are concerned about going back to work, leaving behind kids, older parents or pets.
For everyone, today a ‘home’ has become more important than it ever was. Homes are constantly evolving, and with innovation and technology, they will continue to evolve. Along with that, the needs of consumers are persistently evolving with the passage of time. Hence, architects have to keep up with the ever-changing trends of the industry. This World Architecture Day, let us not forget that the list of contributions an architect makes towards building a home is endless. Through their innovative design solutions, they increase the value across various aspects of our life, providing a sense of wellbeing and safety.