How has the pandemic redefined the use and design of housing around the world?

Drawing on data from 12 countries* in Europe, North America and the Middle East, PlanRadar provides a detailed analysis of the influence of the pandemic on the design and use of housing. Thus driven by the development of remote working, the house of the future must be more functional, sustainable and connected to adapt to the new needs of its occupants.

The accommodation will be larger and more flexible

Today in Europe, the Czech Republic is the country in Europe where the minimum surface area of ​​a living room is the largest: 16 m². Italy follows closely, with a minimum area of ​​14 m². France seems to be in the middle (9 m²), far from the United States (6,5 m²) and the United Arab Emirates (3 m²).

The PlanRadar survey reveals above all that in most of the countries studied, the minimum size of housing is increasing, while the average surface areas per inhabitant remain very disparate from one country to another: 46 m² in Germany and 27,5 in Poland for example. In Austria, the size of dwellings increased from 86 m² in the 90s to 99,2 m² in 2015. In France, the minimum size of dwellings eligible for property tax aid (Pinel) will double in 2023, to increase to 28m² for a T1. The trend is therefore towards an increase in the minimum size of surfaces.

With the emergence of telecommuting and hybrid work, the boundary between private space and workspace has gradually thinned, contributing to the emergence of new needs and desires of its occupants. As a result, millions of homeowners and tenants are now looking for homes with space where they can work without being interrupted by family life. When this is not possible, they look for flexible furniture that allows them to transform certain rooms into an office during the day, before rearranging them into a kitchen, living room or bedroom when the working day is over.

PlanRadar's study shows that multifunctional spaces are now a priority in 7 of the 12 countries surveyed (US, UK, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Italy and the United Arab Emirates). Some countries like France, USA, UK, Germany and Austria even claim that home offices will be a key trend in the future.

New aspirations towards shared and sustainable spaces

Increasingly concerned about the climate crisis, citizens are turning to “sustainable living”. This aspiration, shared in the majority of countries, is expressed through different prisms. Germany, France and the Czech Republic are betting on biosourced materials while the United Kingdom is prioritizing passive houses. For its part, the United States is directing its efforts towards sustainable mobility with the development of charging stations for electric vehicles. All are concerned about the impact of furniture on the environment. 9 out of 12 countries surveyed expect their furniture to be made from recycled, sustainable or naturally sourced materials. Thus, four countries (Germany, Austria, France and Hungary) are showing an interest in locally sourced furniture, both to support sustainability efforts and to avoid supply delays seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Germany is the only country to express an interest in self-cleaning surfaces and antibacterial materials.

Finally, the survey reveals that sustainability rhymes with shared uses. Deprived of outdoor spaces during the pandemic, residents have new expectations in terms of green spaces. Thus, the Americans, the British and the Italians are particularly keen to have an outdoor space directly accessible from their home. It is not necessarily a private garden; many are interested in common outdoor spaces.

The connected home: a priority for France and the United States

Thanks to technological advances, home automation is developing and connected or “smart” homes are becoming a reality. These connected devices should make homes more comfortable, easier to manage and safer, but should also save money. This is revealed by the PlanRadar study, which shows that openness to smart technologies is becoming widespread throughout the world. Among the most popular technologies are smart lighting systems, connected thermostats and connected home security devices. France and the United States are the most advanced and plan to adopt 14 of the 24 technologies listed in this study such as (smart thermostat and lighting as well as connected security devices).

Find the complete study of this third part on this link.

*Study conducted by PlanRadar in June 2022 on the trends and priorities of architects concerning the construction, habitat and offices of the future in 12 countries United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia , Hungary, Italy, United Arab Emirates and Poland. Sources are primarily public data from experts, independent institutes, and professional and government bodies. In France, it is mainly the National Council of Architects, the Ministry of Ecological Transition and UNSFA.