It goes without saying that any building is designed and built with an end goal in mind, a purpose that it lives every day to fulfill; this applies even if a building is designed to be multi- purpose.
For the longest time, residential spaces – whether villas, apartments, studios, or anything in between – were built with the intention to serve as a safe haven, a place where people could unwind, hang their social life personas at the door, and sink into the comfort and safety of being “at home”. This sentiment, paired with other market- specific needs, lay at the heart of developing and innovating housing products. However, this notion also grew around the assumption that each life – whether personal, professional, or social – has its own designated space.
All of this entirely changed as the “new norm” transpired during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing half of the global population into mandatory quarantine, where life with its expansive diversity was confined to the limits of one’s residential space.
The spaces that were once entirely dedicated to relaxation and family bonding were, all of a sudden, expected to also serve as workplaces, gyms, playgrounds, and much more. For almost two years, between the declaration of COVID a pandemic and the release of its vaccine, everyone slowly adapted to this tango, learning to move back and forth between their different lives within the bounds of the same space: home.
Although the pandemic- induced lifestyle has entirely receded, many of the alterations it influenced stayed with us as we migrated back to our “old routine”, especially how we relate to our living spaces and how we expect them to serve a wider range of our needs.
Understanding this paradigm shift that occurred in the wake of the global pandemic – and was adopted more religiously by the digital nomads and the rest of the “work-from-home” generation – Mountain View’s Innovation Department set out to design a new product that addresses this budding market need.
This led to the inception of the Millennial Apartment, one of Mountain View’s latest products, which reimagines living spaces for the millennial adults as inspired by their aspirations.
But, what do millennials aspire to in their living spaces?
1. Maximized Benefit
One of the things that millennials truly appreciate is the versatility and all round functionality of the things they invest in, whether it’s a phone, a car, or an apartment. To deliver on this need, the Millennial
Apartment is designed with minimal waste of space and resources in mind, allowing every wall, corner, and open space to be utilized fully.
2. Convenience
A convenient product is one that comes in handy in more ways than meets the eye; and that’s exactly what the Millennial Apartment delivers on. Understanding the new relationship that binds millennials to their living spaces, the Millennial Apartment is designed to include designated spaces for work, spacious terraces – that span up to 20 m – for hosting workshops or social gatherings, and even spaces fit for home workouts.
While new aspirations are tended to, old ones, such as the need for privacy, are not forgotten. The Millennial Apartment arranges its double- height open spaces so that
even when you’re enjoying a bit of fresh air from the comfort of your home, you’re neither exposed to your neighbors nor are you invading their privacy.
3. Personalization
To many millennials, a nice home isn’t just one that’s well designed; it’s a physical reflection of their characters, their values, and even their quirks. That’s why the Millennial Apartment is designed with flexibility that allows homeowners to adjust their space to their liking, needs, and aspirations.
With every growing generation of homeowners, ‘home’ means something different. And with change comes new opportunities to innovate.
What do you think a Gen Z Apartment would look like?
