Multifamily housing is popular in both urban and rural areas, making it one of the most in-demand residential development sectors right now. Managing an apartment complex doesn’t just mean providing your current residents with top-notch service. It also means staying on top of the multifamily design and architectural trends that will modernize your property and appeal to future generations.

What is multifamily housing?

Multifamily housing, or multifamily residential, is a type of housing where multiple separate units for residential use are contained within one building or complex. Units can be on top of each other or side by side; examples of multifamily housing are apartments, townhouses, and condos. Multifamily housing can be more affordable for residents in denser cities when compared to single-family homes.

In this post, we’ll go through five multifamily design trends that will keep you on the cutting edge of real estate. By borrowing from these ideas, you’ll increase demand for your property and enhance the resident experience, leading to more lease renewals.

How did the multifamily housing sector do during the pandemic?

According to CRBE, “Multifamily housing weathered the 2020 recession better than most property sectors—only industrial held up better—and market deterioration was far less than in previous recessions.” That’s why multifamily housing development continues to be a good area for builders to invest in.

Here are five multifamily apartment designs that will attract residents:
  • Mixed-use planning
  • Biophilic design
  • Active design
  • Co-working spaces
  • Smart building technology

1. Mixed-use planning

A mixed-use structure is one that houses both residential and commercial tenants. In contrast to entirely residential or commercial buildings, a mixed-use building allows residents and workers to enjoy the best of both worlds. Mixed-use buildings, in other words, are a “third place” property. Third-place spaces, as opposed to simply living in a space, include places where residents may spend their free time.

Mixed-use buildings contribute to the density and the walkability of a neighborhood. In particular, younger generations seek out highly walkable areas because of the environmental and financial burdens of car usage.

2. Biophilic design

The emphasis of biophilic design is on our connections to the natural world. Biophilic design principles are used by property owners to give residents a connection to nature by incorporating natural elements such as sunlight, airflow, and plant growth.

Biophilic design, like mixed-use planning, is popular today because it addresses the lack of liveliness in today’s built environment.

multifamily-design-biophilic

Prior to the introduction of biophilic design, architects and city planners did not place a premium on the human experience and the well-being of residents. However, a new generation of designers actively working to reconnect today’s residents with the natural world.

3. Active design

Active design is a movement in architecture that emphasizes residents’ physical and mental health by encouraging them to live more active lives. As such, it addresses another major flaw of modern architecture: inactivity.

Today’s working world, as well as residents’ lifestyles at home, are not conducive to an active, healthy lifestyle.

People today spend a lot more time sitting and inactive than our forefathers did, whether it’s in traffic during rush hour or at a laptop working an office job. Inactivity also increases the risk of heart failure, obesity, and worsened mental health.

Active design, on the other hand, challenges the unsuitable aspects of modern life by altering a property’s exterior and interior. A multifamily housing manager, for example, might install bike racks to encourage residents to stay fit by making it easier for them to use bikes as their primary mode of transportation.

4. Co-working spaces

Working from home has become the new norm. As a result, as a property manager, you must follow the new multifamily design trend of providing coworking spaces to residents. Offering this amenity will increase the level of interest from remote workers.

Furthermore, many remote workers are maximising their new remote capabilities by leasing short-term rentals. This gives them the freedom to explore new cities and cultures. These remote workers are known as digital nomads, and you can attract them to your property by investing in coworking spaces outfitted with cutting-edge technology and innovative access control solutions.

A smart access control system will also help you to securely assign and revoke access credentials to these digital nomads, who are typically not long-term tenants.

5. Smart building technology

Residents today are increasingly tech-savvy, so they want proptech amenities that make their lives easier. The ease of use of internet-connected, automated building systems is unparalleled.

As an example:

Consider controlling your apartment’s thermostat from your smartphone, ensuring that it is the ideal temperature when you arrive home. Consider turning your lights and HVAC systems off automatically when you leave the house. You won’t have to worry about forgetting to turn them off this way!

Access control has also been transformed by smart technology. The best smart access control systems are simple to use and manage, which benefits both residents and staff.

Residents, for example, will appreciate features such as a smartphone app that allows them to remotely open the door for visitors. Furthermore, some smart intercoms integrate with other critical property management systems, such as your rent roll and leasing software.

Conclusion:

There are many design trends in multifamily housing that you can use to improve different aspects of life on your property for your residents. To get more information contact us.