THE NEW NORMAL
The world has changed, so has our home. To navigate this new normal, industry insiders and experts share their insights and ideas.
EXPERTS SPEAK
Industry insiders share how the design of our homes is changing in a post-COVID world
CHEERFUL SPACES
All you need to know to transform your interiors to exude a happy vibe
GIZMO GAGA
From refrigerators that help you with grocery to dressers that recommend makeup, smart homes are here to stay
Human race is experiencing a black swan moment. The world as we experienced and recognised has changed. The outcome in the near and distant future will have many ramifications in both personal and work life. But this sudden pause to our momentum has brought on a sense of reflection and self-introspection. This hopefully will be a singular most positive takeaway from this pandemic. Designs will evolve from having “curb-appeal” to a more socially contributing device. Home grown compost from waste to manure your plants, design with less frills and show, home office to accommodate for a healthy home-work balance life, materials which are more sustainable and environmentally safe and most importantly less density per floor are some apparent observations that reflect the coming times. As designers we will need to build homes with fresh air circulation and natural light. The designs will need to cater to bring harmony with nature as much as possible.Technology and data are going to be the front runners in designing spaces of the future. AI homes is not a novel concept. This has already found a niche audience. However, the future will see it permeate into all homes. Homes will be the next bridge to achieve “wellness” and create oasis for a healthier safer and comfortable living.
Homes have always been seen as a personal extension of the family that inhabits them. They were showcases to be shared with the friends and family and also to entertain socially. Suddenly it has also become the safe haven that one just wants to cocoon themselves within. Post COVID homes will definitely aspire to be much more. Irrespective of the size one has to play with, one needs to be pragmatic and at the same time also aspirational. These are few of the essentials that homes will need to really incorporate. The quality of natural light and air is what really will make a difference. Balconies and open spaces for apartments, gardens for larger homes, plants and greenery can be such joy and therapeutic relief. Gardens or a patch of green will become important factors in design. Technology and automation will also play a major role in the newer homes as these are not just gimmicks but can clearly contribute for a better way of living. Meditation rooms that add a sense of calm are needed in times which are troubling. Even puja rooms will definitely become larger to accommodate a few people to meditate. Media rooms are now seen as necessary havens within the home, these spaces need to be extremely well air conditioned, acoustically treated, emphasis on comfort is essential. Home office, library and study are now an extremely important part of the home. A home gym, a space for exercise with basic equipment would be in demand.A well-appointed kitchen with a stocked pantry and lots of storage space and refrigeration will be what people go for.
Staying indoors has emerged as the new way of living and we are beginning to realise the importance of the spaces we inhabit and its influence on our psychological wellbeing. With maturing ‘smart’ technology, we are heading into times of furthermore ‘smart’ abstractions. It’s time for a ‘smart design’ now. An approach where we don’t restrict ourselves into budgets as top priority and shift ourfocuses to addressing all exigencies of the current scenario. To tackle the drawbacks, we could start with taking careful consideration of the following—lighting, both natural and artificial, right choice of colours, configurations of elements that constitute that environment, scale and proportions of these elements with respect to each other and to the inhabitants, acoustics to help you focus better and impart your private spaces and spaces to share with all, ventilation of hot and cool air and the materials we choose to live in (such as budget-restricted cheap plastic chairs or varnish on wood responsible for the harmful emissions at home). For one of our on-going projects of a co-work space of around 10,000 sq ft in Mumbai, we suggested some revisions such as less crowding, using more sensor technology to minimise human touch and atomisation of water taps in washrooms.