The future of living: Innovative sustainability in your own home

The future of living: Innovative sustainability in your own home

According to a report from www.welt.de, the detached single-family home is still the most popular type of construction in Germany, despite criticism of its climate footprint and high land consumption. Last year more single-family homes were built in this country than ever before. Living in one's own home was subsidized by the state after the Second World War and symbolized freedom, self-determination and security. The renowned “Houses of the Year” award recognizes this trend, but also shows an increased awareness of sustainability and ecological responsibility. An example of this is the winning house by the Atelier Kaiser Shen architectural firm, which is mainly made of environmentally friendly and resource-saving materials such as straw bales and wood. The builder of this house is a man of conviction who came across straw bales while researching the most energy-efficient and CO₂-friendly building material. The house was built on stilts to avoid moisture and mold problems, providing an additional floor for an electric car charging station, a workshop or a granny flat. Architect Kaiser emphasizes that straw bales have a good insulating effect and the risk of fire is low because they are covered by wood or clay plaster. The house's flexible apartments can also be divided into separate units if necessary. Thomas Hoinka, the builder and civil engineer, supports the use of natural building materials and regrets that more single-family homes are not being built with these materials. He sees natural building materials at a disadvantage compared to the dominant plasterboard, metal and concrete lobby. Overall, the winning house of the “Houses of the Year” award shows that living in a single-family home and sustainability are definitely compatible. It represents a building that gives hope for a more sustainable future of living in Germany.

The effects of this development on the real estate market can be diverse. On the one hand, the trend towards sustainable building materials such as straw bales and wood could lead to increased demand for corresponding properties. This could lead to rising prices for houses and land built with these materials. In addition, builders and investors could invest more in sustainable construction projects and create new markets for environmentally friendly construction companies and materials.

In addition, such sustainable living concepts could also have an impact on the construction industry as a whole. If the trend towards environmentally friendly houses continues, construction companies could increasingly specialize in the construction of such buildings and adapt their offers accordingly. This could lead to a shift in focus in the construction industry, away from conventional building materials and techniques towards more sustainable approaches.

Overall, the current trend towards sustainable single-family homes offers potential for the real estate and construction industries, both in terms of increasing demand and innovative new business models. It remains to be seen how this trend will develop in the coming years and what impact it will have on the market and the industry.