What kinds of homes will our descendants occupy in years to come? Basing ourselves on trends and what’s up and coming, RE/MAX Québec has had some fun imagining the home of tomorrow.
It is difficult to know where people will live in 200 years unless you have a crystal ball: triangular properties floating over the ocean, completely subterranean suburbs, buildings with legs that we can move as we please? And yet, it is possible to predict what the next 50 years have in store for us. The home of the near future is nothing like a sci-fi film, but it’s still the stuff of dreams!
Mirror, Mirror…
Over the next few years, screens will no doubt continue to be omnipresent in our lives. As thin as a sheet of paper, flexible and tactile, they will be found in every room of the house. You will therefore be able to take a video call wherever … even in the shower if you like! Plus, mirrors will no longer exclusively reflect our faces back at us: futurists are predicting that we will be able to use them to continuously follow the news, to watch films or to play video games.
Brilliant!
After smart phones, we will have smart homes. Applications to make occupants’ lives easier already exist, but they will be even more ubiquitous in the future. Homeowners will have complete control from anywhere on the globe: lock doors, turn on lights, adjust the temperature, open the curtains, monitor the yard with cameras or modify the acoustics. Furthermore, to make mealtime easier, a simple photo of what’s in the refrigerator will prompt any number of recipe suggestions. Homeowners may become increasingly lazy when it comes to home maintenance: the house itself will alert them when the gutters need to be cleaned out, for example.
Compact Design
Considering the planet’s increasing human population, it will be vital that we abandon the idea of a single person living in a grand house on a large plot of land. It would be environmentally catastrophic to continue on this path considering the number of trees that must be cut down to build new homes and that the larger the square footage, the larger the environmental footprint. The tiny house movement has gained traction over these past years. In addition to being affordable (between $50,000 and $120,000), these homes are incredibly green and practical. Every square inch is utilized. The municipality of Lantier in the Laurentides has created a neighbourhood for small-sized properties. The city of Sherbrook is likewise interested in the concept and has announced the launch of a similar project.
A Full House!
In Quebec, intergenerational houses will no doubt become increasingly popular. Grandparents, uncles and cousins could live together in harmony. It is a very widespread practice elsewhere in the world and is an excellent example to follow! There are numerous advantages: saving money, family support, sharing responsibilities and knowledge, etc.
Adaptable Buildings
In China, engineers have developed an impressive technology that allows them to construct adaptable buildings. In other words, walls can be taken down and reinstalled as the owners see fit. For example, a skyscraper could be converted into several small shops. Super practical, no?
No More Living Near the Water?
As climate change causes glaciers to melt at ever-increasing rates, it may be that some waterways, today completely safe, will overflow in the future. Fearing such natural catastrophes, many may decide to abandon their waterfront property, although there is no need to worry at this time.
Going Green!
Of course, homes of the future will be far more environmentally friendly: green roofs, rainwater harvesting, compost systems, geothermal or solar energy heating, triple paned windows for greater insulation, electric car charging stations. Energy efficiency will trump looks.
A New Type of Pool
Above-ground or in-ground, pools have been popular for a long time now, and there is no sign of this changing. They may look completely different, though: your great-great-grandson’s pool may be made out of renewable materials, like stainless steel, or out of repurposed objects like dumpsters.
And What About Decor in All This?
Predicting what will be fashionable for home decor in the future is extremely difficult. One only needs to watch old futuristic movies set in the year 2000 to realize how far off the mark creators were when it came to how things would look or be designed today! What we can expect, however, is that the age of plastic and ready-to-wear will be past and gone. People will more probably opt for long-lasting quality furniture that can be passed down from one generation to the next. There will no doubt be a marked preference for repairing and reconditioning instead of throwing away. As veganism gains ground, it would be surprising if fur and leather continue to be used as a material for home decor or upholstery.
What about you? How to you imagine the home of the future?