The Post-Covid-19 Home

Homes and the way we live tend to adapt and develop slowly over generations based on gradual cultural and societal trends and changes. What is usually a glacial paced change may be shortly be engulfed by an avalanche triggered by Covid-19.

The full article from The Sunday Independent (19th April 2020) can be found here. 

How might our homes be shaped in the post-pandemic future? The notion of a home as a ‘place of shelter’ now has a new and profound meaning. While much of the overnight change imposed without choice has been unwelcome there are some more positive aspects which may become more permanent and feature in the homes of the future. These can be summarised under a few key headings that we have all become experts on in a very short space of time :

Quality of Space + Light

More than ever homeowners are now realising the inflexibility of mass house design. Mass designed houses have been built by developers for decades based upon ‘selling the dream’ but no one would have ever dreamt of the current nightmare. House design has for the most part been based upon a way of living, dining, sleeping rather than working. Throw home-schooling into the mix and the result can be chaotic. People now have time to deeply reflect on their living quarters – to fully understand what works and what does not for their own circumstances. Not all homes can be architectural wonders but all should be capable of adaptation. Perhaps post-pandemic homes will be offered with an a-la-carte selection of internal layouts that suit the individual rather than the collective – customisable on the inside once the shell is built. What will not change are the basic need for natural light, well-planned spaces, fresh air and a house that functions as a home for the user’s needs. The value of a well-designed home will regain a basic and universal appreciation – beyond the ‘Room To Improve’ fascination.

Size Does Not Always Matter

The first reaction is that we all need more space. The post-Covid 19 home should in fact aim to make better use of the space available. Land and space will remain scarce and the need to densify our built environment will not stop. High density apartment schemes will continue to maximise land use, increase population density and ultimately save energy. This presents an obvious conundrum as far as social distancing is concerned. The future apartment communities will now have to learn from the lessons of the pandemic, to cater better for self-isolation and facilitate home working as an option.

The trend towards ‘open-plan living’ which has gained popularity since the 1960s may now be nearing an end or at least face new opposition. Suddenly people are aware of the need for privacy and the impact of distractions. There has always been an argument for a room to retreat to from family chaos – these days it would be better described as a ‘panic room’. The possibilities of the modest pocket sliding door will be finally appreciated by all. This will allow rooms to instantly open or close up and without the awkward swing space of traditional side hung doors. To counteract the problem of space, storage solutions will take on a newfound relevance and become the new ‘must-have’. After all where will all of the jigsaws and family board games go when all of this is over? Every nook and cranny will be utilised to full effect so that clutter is but a distant memory. No distractions. Children however are more difficult to store out of sight! No useful space will be left unturned – the full potential of attics, extra unused height around our rooms and the spaces beneath and beds will all be explored.

Of course when the limits of the existing home are exhausted the possibility to extend still exists. Firstly make the best use of what you have before deciding to extend – as you will see below, gardens now have a new importance. The extension often presents an opportunity to re-orientate a house towards the garden, undertake wider renovations and create open plan living while retaining more private or cellular rooms to the front. For those whom moving or building a home is not an option, a well-designed extension post-Covid-19 holds the next best solution. Sometimes there is no substitute for extra space particularly for larger households or those with special needs.

Working from Home

‘WFH WTF’ is a new but all too often used expression since mid-March.

Work From Home (WFH) has suddenly become a more acceptable norm and one that most wished they had tried earlier and not under pressure. This is a positive that will now likely have a permanent place in our homes post-pandemic. However, a good home workspace does not happen at the end of the dinner table, on a tray in bed or even by accident. It needs careful planning and consideration.

Ideally the space should be a separate room, defined by function and kept away from the acoustics of family life. A space with a window is a must – this provides the necessary air, light and if lucky a viewt. A clutter free and clean space, well equipped and organised is also essential. A pop of colour, some artwork or some family photos are the finishing personal touches which often are missing from the traditional workplace but welcome at home. It should combine the best that work and a home have to offer but without the distractions.

If a separate room is not possible then the wonder of our new friend, the pocket door, can transform a ‘corner of calm’ or a ‘heavenly nook’ into an ‘office away from office’.

Working ‘Almost-From-Home’ may also provide the happy medium in the future. Some of us just need to get out of the house. Be it to engage with colleagues or just to hold a meeting, safe in the knowledge that a disruptive child will not suddenly appear! In the future there is likely to be an increased demand for small serviced office space. Think of it like allotments only for working and within easy reach of the home. A small but efficiently planned work-pod within easy commute but perhaps within a town centre. This form of satellite working almost certainly will have an increased demand post pandemic for those who like the taste of the work-life balance but are keen to avoid hours in traffic. Combined with the WFH model the best of both worlds may be possible.

The Garden + Garden Room

The restorative powers of fresh air and nature now have a new lease of life. Likewise the potential of the garden for relaxation, recreation and self-sufficiency have been unleashed. In a crowded house, the garden becomes the extra room to use especially for the children. Post pandemic homes will no doubt place a larger emphasis on quality open space – private or communal, small or large. The garden will no longer be an afterthought but become central to the life of the home. The correct orientation, quality and size will become more important. As with the house, the organisation of the garden will be vital – ample storage, dedicated spaces for furniture, play and indeed growing vegetables will take on a new importance. Even the smallest of outdoor spaces can make a big difference.

Energy + Comfort

Future homeowners will now have a much greater awareness of the energy that their homes consume. Spending increased time at home brings an acute awareness of how warm or cold a house is or how difficult (or expensive) it is to heat and keep warm. Post pandemic there will be resurgence in home insulation retrofitting and thermal upgrades for greater comfort. Equally, homeowners will become more aware of the cost of electricity and the increased amount we have been consuming to light, cook and keep us entertained. Post pandemic it is highly likely that there will be a new found interest in photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate electricity and home batteries to store that energy for use after dark. Existing government grants will receive new found interest. More home owners may look to move ‘off-grid’ entirely.

Functionality

Self-isolation was a word that few of us thankfully had to use in the past but which now unfortunately is a stark reality for many. This is a difficult scenario to plan for on a permanent basis however with some creativity and flexibility that scenario could be provided for in homes post-pandemic with a little forward planning. On its simplest level it can be a master bedroom with an ensuite, plumbed with a potable water source. Taken a level further it could incorporate a laundry chute to the utility and a dumb waiter to the kitchen for complete isolation. However, many families have now awoken to the wider potential of the ‘granny-flat’ or to give it the formal title, the ‘family member flat. Afterall, Grandads often need to live somewhere too! This used to be the space to give a family member some independence. Will it be now seen as a self-contained living unit for potential self-isolation? Perhaps homes of the future will be planned to allow for a family member flat addition or adaptation as a standard requirement.

For those without any outdoor space the importance of a space for indoor exercise has become evident. This may be the living room carpet but space for mats and equipment needs to be considered. The home gym will also gain in popularity as will steam rooms and saunas. This can be as simple as appropriating a spare room but will trend towards a dedicated space designed and finished to suit the use.

Technology + Connectivity

The information superhighway has never been busier even if the roads have never been quieter – it is what is keeping us connected and working from home. It is also educating our children and keeping us entertained. Therefore, a reliable and robust broadband service will become even more indispensable post-pandemic. Homes will be designed to cater for WIFI, as a fundamental requirement, far better than they currently are. The trend towards home automation and smart technology will continue. Smart-fridges will become more popular to organise our shopping for us to be delivered completely contactless. The place of Augmented Reality (AR) may take on a new and wider acceptance as a means to create virtual workplaces or experiences from the self-isolation of our homes.

Above all, the houses of the future will need the families that live in them to become homes. Each will need to have flexibility built-in to meet the needs of each occupant and be able to adapt in times of change, not only pandemics. If the avalanche of change sweeps over us again in the future, with a bit of careful planning we may just cope a bit better and return to normality that bit quicker.

Alan Burns MRIAI
Bright Design Architects, April 2020

Bright Design Architects / Remote Consultations for Charity

Bright Design Architects specialise in transforming and creating homes and would love to share this expertise. No project is too big or too small.  It might be ideas for a room makeover, a home office, perhaps an attic conversion, insulation upgrades or an extension. Now is a time when people are appreciating that quality spaces bring quality to life. We are available to give a 45 minute remote design consultation and advice on anything to do with your home in return for a donation to Pieta Darkness into Light – Cabinteely. This year’s Darkness into Light has unfortunately been postponed and at a time when mental health awareness is needed more than ever. However they still need funding and nationwide support for the rescheduled events later in the year. 

The steps are simple:

1. Send Bright Design Architects an email to info@bda.ie to request a consultation 
2. We confirm availability and send back a questionnaire with a link to the Pieta Darkness into Light Cabinteely donation page. Return the questionnaire with the donation ref number. There is no minimum donation (€102 is suggested). 
3. We email a guide and confirm a slot. 
4. The consultation takes place by phone or video call. 

Full details can be found on this short YouTube video: https://youtu.be/aKvJtqnl-NI

Tags: dublin architects, home office design, lockdown design, post-pandemic home, postCovid-19 home design