How Urban Density Is Reshaping Housing Design and Development
Unfortunately, the attractiveness of cities for younger generations, with their jobs and new opportunities, goes hand in hand with overpopulation. This trend is only expected to increase in the coming decades, with significant consequences for the design and development of urban housing. When designing urban homes, there are some important considerations: the maximizing comfort in confined spaces, budget restrictions and efficient use of available area.
To meet these needs, we at Bao Living developed the Smart Adaptable Module (SAM). The SAM offers sustainable and functional solutions, with a faster delivery of an average of three months, up to 20% more living space in a compact format and plenty of extra storage space. In addition, we achieve up to 5.5 tons of CO₂ savings per SAM installation! In a world where urban density is becoming an increasingly important topic, the SAM offers a smart and sustainable solution to the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Space optimization in the urban housing market
It's clear that urban density has a significant impact on our housing market. It is therefore essential to maximise the limited urban space available. A densely populated city offers countless advantages, such as a thriving market and the development of various sectors. At the same time, this hustle and bustle creates challenges, such as a shortage of housing and long waiting times for homes. The real estate sector must adapt by redeveloping existing housing units and to give available spaces a new use. In this way, old, unused factories and office spaces can be transformed into residential units. Today, various developers are already focusing on these types of innovative projects, which stimulate creativity and innovative ideas.
To support these developers in optimizing space and time, our Smart Adaptable Module (SAM) can be integrated. By implementing the SAM, we can create up to 20% additional living space and reduce construction time by three months. We achieve these figures thanks to the smart integration of the various utilities into the SAM and an extensive digital design process and prefabrication. In addition, innovative, space-saving features such as a folding bed and an integrated ventilation or heating device contribute to these benefits.
Sustainability in the construction sector
In addition to space optimization, win energy efficiency and sustainability increasingly important. In densely populated cities, the urban landscape is used intensively, which makes it necessary to protect open and, above all, green spaces. When it comes to green spaces, think of parks, squares and rows of trees. These make the city greener and more pleasant to live in. Developments within existing built-up areas should therefore be encouraged, while limiting the use of new spaces. In addition to preserving these green spaces in cities it is also essential that the installation of new housing units is as sustainable as possible.
In 2019, the construction sector in Europe was responsible for 40% of greenhouse gas emissions, 50% of energy consumption, a third of water use and 50% of material costs.
Compared to traditional construction methods, using the SAM during installation can save up to 5.5 tons of CO₂ emissions—the same amount as emissions from a car traveling around the world. In addition, simple dismantling and efficient use of materials significantly reduce the environmental impact.
In addition to these benefits, we also have a SAM Buyback Plan Introduced. Since SAMs are installed in a fully circular way, users can reuse or exchange them at the end of their lifecycle. This allows our SAMs to have a second, or maybe even third, life. Customers who trade in their SAM receive a partial refund of their purchase, encouraging them to contribute to a more sustainable construction industry.
Smart design for affordability
With the right designs and installation methods, the population density in cities can be increased without sacrificing more green spaces. This shows how smart design can contribute to affordability, social cohesion and sustainability, while aesthetics and a warm home feeling must be preserved.
Our prefabricated SAMs ensure a quick installation process. This reduces costs for developers, allowing them to build more or more affordable homes. The increase in supply helps to address the housing shortage and prevents rapidly rising prices. In addition, the importance of interior design remains crucial. Each space is unique, and that won't change as cities get busier. To address this, SAM uses modules, allowing everyone to design their own SAM!
The trends above show how urban density is changing the way we live and build, with a strong focus on saving space and efficiency. SAM offers an ideal solution to address these challenges. Interested in what we can do for your next project? Let's explore the possibilities together! Simply make an appointment via this link.