yael c. agmon

The Next Residential Experience:
A Future Report

© Tellart

Clients: Great Gulf + Terracap, Toronto
My Role: Strategy and Concept Development

This projects involved a through research into future trends and drivers that are shaping the residential experience of upper-middle class in the Western world. The purpose of this report is to inform the client (real estate developers) about opportunities and challenges that might rise in the next decades and provide them with practical tools to make better design choices. These are the main themes the report is looking into:

THE FUTURE BUILDING IS ______

SMART
The future smart building is connected and dynamic. The building sensors account for changes in use throughout the day and adjust systems accordingly, optimizing building energy usage and predicting maintenance. Likewise, a smart building offers residents control over their spaces and a building app allows them access to a variety of information..

ADAPTABLE
An adaptable building is about creating flexible spaces that will be resilient to future developments. Traditional programming for spaces like parking, drop-off zones and retail will all shift dramatically in the coming years. This type of building must consider the rise in delivery and ride share services, as well as consider flexible common spaces that can shift in use from daytime to evening. Generally, residents are demanding personalized and on-demand services - building systems need to be responsive and personalized in order to meet new demands.

WELLNESS - FOCUSED
Wellness today means much more than going to the gym. When we look at the rise of organic foods, meditation apps, and yoga it is no surprise that the wellness industry is already valued at $3.7T. Condo residents will expect to live a healthy life in all senses of the word, and they expect that where they live helps support these choices. The future building will be designed to consider the wellness of the heart, body, and mind of its residents. It provides space to seek solace and lean into a meditative mindset, opportunities to naturally form a community, and connection to nature as residents age and grow.

COMMUNAL
The future resident looks for a building that is providing unique services that go beyond typical amenities such as a pool or gym. They are looking for homes that facilitate connections to their neighbors and larger community. The boundaries between public and private spaces are blurred, but they expect a building to manage these spaces. The future resident appreciates the shared resources the building provides, removing the need to purchase their own.

ICONIC
An iconic building not only serves the needs of its residents; it also acts as a landmark for the neighborhood and gives back to the environment. It provides a welcoming space for the community and is highly considerate of its location and importance in the neighborhood. It gives back to the city by reducing emissions and purifying the air. Toronto benefits from a new neighborhood landmark which, with unique public art and dynamic lighting, becomes a recognizable part of the neighborhood fabric.