Looking within
All this time at home has bought attention to the things we previously overlooked as we rushed off to work in the mornings. The intricacies within our home are now scrutinised as we look to the ceiling for motivation and inspiration countless times during our home-work day, the fridge door has never seen more use, and social-media breaks are the new norm. Looking back, it was almost a blessing to leave the home for a full eight hours each day because, cooped up inside, we’re fast understanding what does and doesn’t work for us in our spaces.
The home office was traditionally the runt of the bedrooms, a spare (if you were lucky) room full of paperwork that got seen to once a week. Today, a home workspace is meant to be a bastion of efficiency and creativity, but sadly that’s not often the case because of one or more of the following: lots of stuff, the absence of decent sunlight, or a woeful desk/chair combo. Home offices now need to encourage your working life, instead of just being a place where bills pile up. Cue stand-up desks, ergonomic chairs, soft natural light and task-specific zones that enable you to get the most out of your ‘office day’.
But it doesn’t end there. Being home at all hours teaches us how our domestic environments change throughout the day and how that affects what we do inside. It may be the fact that the morning light hits the dining table at just the right time, or the neighbours blast their karaoke rendition of When Doves Cry at 1pm every second Thursday, each home is different and it takes a little creativity to achieve a work/life balance around what were once niggling issues and have become major bugbears.
It’s no surprise, then, that interior designers are busier than ever, taking calls from people who hate the sight of their work spaces or need them to be more flexible. Many people are working in or near their kitchens, so this epicentre of family life may need to cater to a range of possibilities: the breakfast rush and dinner madness, the student stuck at home, the work-from-home dad and the super mum juggling it all. Spaces of peace, spaces of chaos, and zones of utility all need to co-exist to create functional homes that also feel inviting to everyone.
And in case you didn’t get the memo, open-plan living is no longer the go for home workers; instead, we need separate, more private zones that cater to different needs. As time goes on, this might mean an upswing in kinetic homes, with one floor space under a clever assembly of shifting walls, retractable furniture and movable lighting.
Major events inevitably contribute to the way our homes are drawn up, and COVID-19 is no different. Seclusion, adaptability and health will be at the forefront of architect briefs for many years to come. Materials that encourage cleanliness will be in high demand, passive design and outdoor living will be the mainstay, and home acoustics, lighting and privacy will improve.
Look at how hospitals are designed; they’re built around atriums of greenery and natural light, the floors and walls are washable, and certain parts are sectioned off from each other to prevent contamination and transmission. There’s not a timber feature wall in sight, no fabric pendant lights to speak of, and the furniture looks like it could survive a nuclear blast. Yes, it’s an extreme example, but one that gives a little insight into what could easily become a slice of our future.
Apartment living will see the biggest changes, and selfsufficiency will be at the forefront of multiple-dwelling design. Supermarkets, coffee shops and restaurants will be designed together to promote high-density community life and, should an outbreak occur again, these communities can effectively isolate together with the requisite amenities contained within their ‘bubble’. Quarantine areas, community gardens, exercise spaces and zones for contact-free food delivery and online shopping will all be carefully considered in the cities of tomorrow.