Decades ago, people predicted that, by 2020, life would have changed significantly. They thought that, by now, there would be flying cars zipping through the sky. Instead, everyone is still stuck in mind-numbing traffic on the ground.
However, many things have actually changed over the years. There are so many new technologies that people in the past could never have imagined, and things will continue to change in time.
The home will look very different in ten, 20, and 50 years. There is no way to see into the future, but it is fun to speculate how houses will evolve or what new technology will be widely used. These may be the features that future home buyers may ask from their real estate agents.
Green Spaces All Around
What people want nowadays are green spaces. People, especially younger generations, are yearning for greenery, even in urban areas. In the future, neighbourhoods will look a lot more green. Every house will have lush gardens and backyards.
Plants will surround even tall buildings. In the future, eco-towers will become more common. Buildings that use natural materials, such as plants, will increasingly become the norm, not just for aesthetic purposes but also to combat climate change’s negative impacts. So-called living walls will rise to improve the cityscape, clear the air, and cool the spaces within.
Devices that Monitor the Health
The Internet of Things (IoT) will only be more ubiquitous in the future. Almost everything at home — from the light bulbs to the mirrors — will be smart.
Many of these technologies exist now. Scalers nowadays do not just tell you your weight; every time you step on it, it does a quick scan and provides you with more information about your body, including your body fat percentage, an estimate of your metabolism, your muscle mass, etc. One day, even your mirror, your toilet, your toothbrush, and your mattress will be able to give you a deeper insight into your health.
In the future, almost every home will have at least one smart device that can check a person’s health and make recommendations that will improve well-being. About one in five Americans already use a smartwatch or a fitness tracker to monitor their well-being.
Solar-Powered Homes
Consumers are more and more aware of how their consumption — from food to energy — affects the planet. Many will be making major changes at home that consider the environment.
And, one decision that a lot of people will make for the planet in the future is to use renewable energy, particularly solar.
As of 2016, solar power has already become the most popular form of new electricity generation around the world. Its household adoption is only expected to increase in the future as the cost of solar panels falls. By 2030, experts predict that the cost of solar will halve, making it more affordable for more people. The lower cost, coupled with advancing technology, will lead to solar becoming the more desirable option.
Printed Starter Home
People are using 3D printers to create anything, so why not make a home out of it? This would not be entire skyscrapers but smaller units that use materials that are lightweight and low-cost.
This year, a couple from the Netherlands became the first to live in a 3D-printed house. Their home single-story structure has 94-square meters of floor space, two bedrooms, and a living room. The interiors are very comfortable; it has insulation and a heating network, keeping the inhabitants warm and cosy. It was also designed to be energy-efficient. The exterior, meanwhile, makes the house blend into its environment. It resembles a giant rock, demonstrating the freedom that 3D printing allows architects and homeowners.
In the future, more people will be living in 3D-printed houses because of the advantages of the technology. These living units are easier and quicker to build than a regular habitat. The number of builders that will be needed to construct houses will be lower. They also will be cheaper, which makes them perfect as starter homes. Some people are hailing it as the solution to the housing crisis not just in the United States and the United Kingdom but around the world.
The homes of the future will have smart features and technologies that will be unrecognizable to people in the present. That will be like how houses of today look different from what homes looked like in the past. New technologies, changing preferences and trends, and global and national events will affect how people will build their houses in the future.
