• Healthy homes, returning to natural materials free of harmful emissions, which will gradually replace the synthetic and plastic-based materials that have such a significant impact on the health of their residents
• Open-concept spaces that maximize natural light will become more important, as will spaces divided by movable panels to provide flexibility and allow for changes in use based on users’ needs.

August 1, 2023 — Society has undergone many changes in recent years, and housing is one area that has not been spared. This is especially true in light of events such as the pandemic, which caused us to rethink some of our needs and the essentials that our homes must have.

To catalog these emerging changes and identify the new trends shaping the design and layout of our homes, Culmia, Spain’s leading residential real estate project management platform, has developed the report“Macrotrends in Housing 2023–2030” in collaboration with the consulting firm A Piece of Pie, compiling and analyzing the potential characteristics that will shape our homes from now through 2030:

1- Demand for natural materials will increase.

Wood, ceramics, natural paints and varnishes, hemp, and cork are materials that will become increasingly important. The reason for this lies in society’s growing interest and changing mindset, with greater individual awareness of sustainability issues and the link between these materials and the health of occupants in homes and buildings. Sustainability and health will influence every aspect of residential design.

At Culmia , we have just launched our first wood-frame construction project in Sant Antoni de Calonge (Girona). Wood construction offers benefits related to health and energy efficiency. Furthermore, since wood is a natural material with low environmental impact and a negative carbon footprint, it is reusable and recyclable.

2 – Predictive intelligence.

The home will operate autonomously and learn from its residents. In the not-too-distant future, for example, the technological systems installed in our homes could recognize and identify the paths we take inside our homes, so that they would turn on the lights in different rooms, guiding the user along their path by tracking their daily movements, without the user having to stop and do it themselves.

In addition, these integrated systems will allow homes to adapt not only to the habits, preferences, and needs of their residents, but also to environmental factors, such as the weather.

At Culmia, we’re already putting technology to work for our customers through the CulmiaHome app , which allows users to manage various features of their homes and common areas, such as efficiently monitoring energy use within the home, reserving common areas, unlocking doors, and more.

3. Internalize the external.

Bringing nature into homes and bringing the outdoors indoors will increasingly become an essential aspect of design. There is broad consensus on the importance of biophilia for people’s health. There will also be a demand from residents for a greener, healthier, and quieter living environment to facilitate the connection between the interior and this naturalized exterior.

4. Standardization of spaces within the home.

With regard to the size, light, and ventilation of spaces, they will be designed to minimize hierarchical distinctions between them and provide flexibility to the home throughout its lifespan. E.g., separating spaces with panels or multipurpose furniture. Homes will now be multitasking, and their rooms will be more versatile. Open-concept spaces that maximize natural light are becoming increasingly important.

5. Our home will take care of our health.

The home becomes yet another space for promoting individual health and will serve as a hub for disease prevention. To this end, devices and sensors will be installed to monitor health, enabling future analysis by healthcare professionals. In this vein, Culmia is the first developer to create its own health certification—the Cuarzo certification—which ensures that its homes are healthier for residents, with a special focus on indoor air quality and the careful selection of materials used.

6. Individualism in the community.

Users want to live in a community without giving up their personal space. As a result, the supply and demand for community-based housing models will increase, as these models foster a sense of belonging to a community and offer associated benefits such as greater social interaction, common areas, and shared services. Among the new housing solutions that have been emerging , coliving and senior living, among others, will continue to gain market share.