Future of living: How we will live until 2050!

Future of living: How we will live until 2050!

The housing market is facing significant changes influenced by demographic changes, housing shortages and new technologies. Loud nau.ch futurologist Georges T. Roos comments on future residential development in Switzerland. The forecast that the number of individual households will increase by 2050 is particularly striking.

This increase in small households is being driven by the aging of society and increasing individualization. The Swiss population is growing, especially in the over 65 age group. Children leave the parental home while parents continue to live in one- or two-person households.

New forms of living and challenges

Individualization means that new forms of living, such as the concept of “living apart together”, are becoming more important. Given rising prices and a tight supply of housing, shared apartments could serve as a possible solution to the housing shortage.

Another aspect that will become increasingly important is so-called smart living. It plays a crucial role in improving energy efficiency. Intelligent assistance systems and home robots are becoming absolutely necessary, especially for older people and those with disabilities, in order to enable independent living.

Cities in transition

The building sector is a significant contributor to CO2 emissions. This requires the microclimate to be taken into account in urban planning. Against this background, there is an urgent need for green facades, unsealed floors and air corridors.

New buildings should ideally function as “power plants” that meet their own electricity needs. Nevertheless, it is clear that the housing shortage is not equally pronounced everywhere, with connections for commuters playing a crucial role.

It is expected that the trend towards urban exodus is not universal. But given the high prices and the shortage of supply, more and more people could move to more rural areas. Small centers are likely to grow in the future.

Classic living models under pressure

The traditional living model of a single-family home with a garden remains an unattainable dream for many. High costs and the ongoing expansion of settlement areas are making this form of living increasingly appear impractical. These trends are also supported by further studies, such as those in the working paper Technical University of Darmstadt are held, underpinned.

Overall, we are facing a transformation phase in the living sector, characterized by social, ecological and technological changes. These developments invite us to rethink the perspectives of living in the future.