9 Ways the Coronavirus May Shape Future Housing Design

The relationship between Americans and their homes is changing amid COVID-19. Many Americans sheltering in place stay within the same four walls for a majority of—if not all of—the day, and what was once a place to relax and spend time with family when not at work has now become the home office, the gym, and the restaurant. From these shared experiences, Housing Design Matters pulled out nine ways that home design may change in response to the pandemic, including a preference for single family over multifamily and a focus on speciality rooms such as the home office or gym. 

The response to this pandemic has hit the American way of life so hard that we will see bruises for some time to come. Yes, we will recover (take a deep breath). What it takes for us to recover is for others to discuss.

Instead, I want to talk about the possible changes we will see in our built environment from social distancing, sheltering in place, working and schooling from home. The areas I believe affected will be:

• Mass migration to the suburbs
• Single family over multi-family
• Single family rentals
• The Home Office – or two
• A Zoom Room?
• Kitchens
• Home gyms
• Touchless devices
• Aging in place vs Senior living facilities

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