Home of 2030: Design Problems and Issues

‘Current Problems’
Parking and Congestion
 75% of residents in housing developments built from 2007 onwards identified parking
as an issue they’re unhappy with
 Inadequate space outside homes and streets of urban cities/areas
 Congestion made worse by garages used for storage space instead of vehicle storage

Air Circulation and Insulation

 Over-sealed homes result in excessive interior moisture which causes rotting and
premature failure of structural elements
 Inefficient placement of vents can make rooms too cold or too hot during summer and
winters
 Sealed windows mean good insulation during cold seasons but pose a safety hazard
from fire or gas leakage and poor natural air circulation

Poor floor planning and space usage

 Too little or too much storage space due to poor floor planning
 Some bedrooms or living rooms have too much space for their use leaving an
unbalanced and inefficient space to walk around and live in
 As residents age, some rooms and spaces must be renovated to be more accessible for
elderly or children

Few homes take advantage of natural lighting

 Artificial lighting can account up to 40 percent of energy consumption in a typical
building
 Poorly placed windows that do not allow sunlight through
 Many homes do not use solar energy

Sustainability
 Construction waste disposal fills up landfill sites and increases construction cost due
to transportation
 Some construction waste includes hazardous materials which can cause soil and water
pollution when improperly disposed
 Some materials that cannot be recycled or reused increases demand for landfill sites
 Excess construction materials left unused increases construction cost
 Energy use in homes has increased in previous years which contribute to about 14%
of UK’s total carbon emissions
 Construction industry accounts for 45% of total UK carbon emissions
‘Future Problems’
Overpopulation
 Population growth in the future will require more space for cohabitation especially in
urban areas
 Increased migration and population growth mean shared rooms and spaces will be
cramped
 Under-occupancy issue: having more bedrooms than residents in an accommodation
requires more homes to be built

Ageing Population
 There will be a higher percentage of older people in 2030 which will create a
disproportionate effect on housing demand
 Multiple generations of a family may live in the same house
 Older people prefer to live alone and likely to live in a house with more bedrooms and
space than they require
 Some homes have poor accessibility for the elderly including blind and
wheelchair/mobility scooter users

Improving Technology
 More people will own electric vehicles that require more energy consumption in
homes, so garages may require special wall outlets
 Elderly or disabled residents may require special technology such as motion and
pressure sensors that alert their carers or emergency services
 Homes may require automated lighting and heating systems to reduce energy
consumption

Climate Change and pollution

 Worse air quality especially in urban areas which will require better ventilation and
air circulation
 Noise pollution from nearby homes and vehicles
 New homes must withstand more extreme temperatures and be resilient to flooding

Public Space
 Taking account of the home’s surroundings and local area
 Mobility, transportation and safety of both residents and the public
 Higher population density increases demand for open and recreational areas
 Must increase and sustain quality of life
References
 https://www.rtpi.org.uk/briefing-room/rtpi-blog/what-does-population-growth-mean-
for-house-building/
 https://www.building.co.uk/buildings/parking-problems-on-housing-
developments/5066454.article
 https://globalpossibilities.org/the-future-of-architecture-7-challenges-and-trends/
 https://www.ie.edu/insights/articles/cities-of-the-future-challenges-of-architecture-
and-design/
 https://www.bigissue.com/latest/future-housing-seven-big-ideas/
 https://england.shelter.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/1257041/2016_04_20_The_
Future_of_Housing_and_Home.pdf
 https://octopusgroup.com/insights/the-future-of-living-in-2030/
 https://www.self-build.co.uk/common-home-design-mistakes/
 https://www.nachi.org/ten-problems-hhenews.htm
 https://home.howstuffworks.com/10-design-flaws-average-home.htm
 https://www.weforum.org/projects/future-of-construction
 https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/gallery/2014/dec/17/new-housing-
development-problems-pictures
 https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/uk-housing-fit-for-the-future/

Renzo