Home designs undergo sea change, thanks to WFH

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The Covid-19 pandemic has altered the definition of home, at least for the urban populace. With a large number of people working from home, the basic demands have changed when it comes to buying a house. In tune with the evolving requirements of homebuyers, real estate developers have now come up with flexible designs. There is a typical demand for spaces dedicated to work and studies. Certain developers have deployed new technology to design flexible walls that allow a room to act as bedroom at night and study room during the day.

Ashok Kapur, chairman of Krisumi Corporation, says work from home has emerged as the central undercurrent that has reshaped homebuyers and their preferences.

Karle Infra, a Bengaluru-based builder, is implementing a mixed-use project that offers flexibility to the buyer and also allows them to test these features. A company spokesperson said that customers nowadays want a space that allows them to live, work and earn.

Flexibility is key

Experts said architects are using innovative techniques in their new projects as homes cannot change overnight. Some new products that are now being integrated by architects into existing homes are automation, flexible as well as movable furniture and smart devices.

NoBroker.com co-founder Saurabh Garg said there is an upward trend for such features. He added that people still have the same space, but now they need to do much more, which brings in the requirement for flexibility. Garg also said that there has been a surge in queries for flexible furniture, a concept that was already prevalent in Mumbai. He said that in order to maximise the use of the existing space, people now seek flexibility in interior design.

New experiments

Certain developers are carrying out experiments by converting additional rooms into an office. This creates a small cabin-like space within the apartment and adds a smaller room to the one/two-BHK. Others are now offering complete open floors and designing is done as per the requirement of the homebuyer. ABA Corp, an NCR-based developer, is providing additional space in the corridor of its existing projects that can be utilised as a mini-office.