At the time of writing, we are in the wake of the global pandemic known as COVID-19. Since early 2020, the world has been plunged into uncertainty and an economic decline. Governments around the world are seeking to slow down the rapid spread of the deadly virus. The UK has declared a lockdown on commerce and all types of social gatherings. As well as imposing a ‘stay at home’ order and social distancing to prevent the collapse of the healthcare sector.
The mode of transmission of Covid-19 has forced humans to adapt to a new reality of self-isolation. With social distancing, wearing of face masks, regular hand washing, and other ways to minimise human to human transmission. Forcing people to spend more time at home in a bid to stay safe.
This new global situation calls for a reevaluation of how our apartments, offices, and homes are set up. Meeting with new standards for human safety and ease of compliance with government regulations. As a rental housing investment sector that prides itself on tenant-oriented developments, it is expedient that core aspects of BTR developments’ design are reviewed to suit our new reality, post-COVID-19.
Aspects of Build to Rent Design to be Reviewed Post Covid-19
Placemaking of The Development
The value of making a tenant/community-friendly environment around a development carries more relevance now more than ever. Therefore, placemaking is necessary.
Placemaking refers to the process of creating quality places that people want to live, work, play, and learn in. Public space on the ground floor of the BTR can be tailored to suit activities that foster communal living. As opposed to commercial options that bring about the highest rental income. For instance, situating a recreational space in the building rather than a grocery store, where one is readily available nearby.
Placemaking is essential to improving the quality of life for tenants and promoting a sense of community. This benefits the investors, as placemaking aids higher retention rates which positively influences the overall financial performance of any development.
Flexibility of Space
BTRs are famous for the inclusion of amenity spaces within their developments. As, this design principle provides the investors and tenants with a number of benefits.
Amenities are mostly social, such as lounge areas, restaurants, fitness centres, cinemas, grocery stores, events spaces and secure parking spaces. Amenity spaces reduced to smaller, segregated, rentable workspaces is a pandemic-changing experience. Especially for those living in busy homes.
We at UK BTR speak of this often. – The flexibility to change the use of such space is vital for tenants to adapt to our changing world.
Social Value
In light of the current pandemic, there has been an increased need for people to reduce physical contact (social distancing). This has put a strain on social interactions. But, despite the consequences, social interaction remains an integral part of our human life.
The first half of 2020 has taught us a lesson: as humans we crave interaction. Therefore, it is essential for BTR developers to focus on creating a sense of community or avenues for social interaction. This can be achieved through tenant events and recreational activities, reinforcing that no one is living in isolation.
Technology – Touchless and Automation
In coping with this pandemic, technology has been at the forefront of keeping people safe. Whilst also keeping them entertained through the enforced lockdown.
The risk attached to touching public surfaces has resulted in the increasing need for technological automation. Helping reduce the need to touch surfaces that expose us to the virus.
Innovations such as voice-activated doors, keyless locks, phone-controlled entries, hands-free light switches, access swipe entry, etc. are now more relevant. These innovations, in a few years, will be the ‘new normal’.
‘I don’t see why if I can tell Siri to call my wife or my remote to cue up Netflix, I couldn’t tell an elevator to take me to the 10th floor.’
Miami architect Kobi Karp, principal at Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design.
Increase in Open Green Space
Due to social distancing and stay at home orders, being trapped in a one-bed in London with no balcony, (like one of our UK BTR team), is quite unbearable!
We believe it a necessity to expand the open green space people have access to, especially in megacities. Open green space will become an absolute must in BTR developments coming forward.
To clarify, green space refers to an area of grass, trees or vegetation set apart for recreational or aesthetic purposes in an otherwise urban environment. Green spaces ease mental stress and improve physical wellbeing long-term. It will be an integral addition to the design of a development, with universal benefits.
Conclusion
In the construction of a BTR development, the design takes into account the next 25 years of its life. We hope that COVID-19 has nowhere near that long an impact on how the world operates! However, we have already seen the question raised in design team meetings of post-pandemic developments: what can we do or add to make the tenant happier and feel more included within the community?
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