Virtual parallel worlds
Expanded realities for living spaces, but also a desire for real interaction
More interaction in the virtual world – more time at home, but also more loneliness
Since the coronavirus pandemic, video conferencing and working from home have become the new normal. A significant proportion of meetings and social interactions will take place via digital interfaces in the future, depending on the industry and job profile at hand. The inception of the metaverse brought with it predictions that we will spend even more time in completely virtual spaces going forward – both during our free time and for our work. Gamers already come together at esports events to prove their mettle in immersive competitions, with this billion-dollar industry illustrating what alternative models of collaboration or entertainment might look like.
In reality, however, people still occupy physical places – often their living spaces – which have taken on a new role as a gateway to the virtual world and, as a result, need to be redesigned. There continues to be a lack of established data on the impact that the transition to a virtual society has on real estate and the use of living space. This makes it all the more important to plan and design properties with an eye to the future, ensuring that they take these needs into account.
Theories on the future of housing in the context of virtualisation
We will be spending more time at home – for work, for further education and for leisure.
Existing rooms and living space will start to feel the squeeze. On the one hand, this calls for specific (small) rooms designed for virtual interaction; on the other hand, it necessitates access to alternative spaces within buildings or housing estates that offer an escape.
The increasing amount of time we spend in virtual discussions will reduce the amount of real, physical interaction between people.
Despite communicating digitally, we will be on our own more and more – with the risk of isolation and loneliness. In future, housing will therefore play an important role in bringing people together and promoting social interaction. This can be achieved by sharing certain areas or by actively encouraging a sense of community, e.g. by fostering inter-generational meet-ups or by providing open spaces for joint leisure activities.
The appreciation of nature and authentic experiences will increase as a counter-trend to artificial realities.
The importance of homes and their surroundings in facilitating a ‘digital detox’ and helping us to slow down will become ever greater. This includes designing quiet spaces as well as using natural materials or urban gardening to literally ‘ground’ us.
Despite all the predictions, however, it is crucial to make a realistic assessment of virtual realities. For example, the idea of a comprehensive ‘metaverse’ that replaces the real world, a place in which people shop, work and conduct their social lives, has not yet taken hold: sustainable business models are thin on the ground and the vision of the metaverse has not yet been well received by the general public.
Together with the think tank W.I.R.E., Livit is venturing to take a look at the world of tomorrow to mark its 60th anniversary. The project examines six long-term developments in terms of their consequences for our daily lives and the spaces where we live and work. Follow us on LinkedIn to make sure you don’t miss a post.