end of 4 walls
Homes must be adaptable to changing circumstances – functional areas instead of rooms
The design of practical flat layouts plays a major role in our planning work: whether a flat is suitable for long-term and therefore sustainable use depends not least on the quality of its layout. Rising life expectancy is increasing the demand for housing that enables people to live independently in their own homes well into old age – the flat should therefore be able to adapt flexibly to the residents’ individual stages of life. At the same time, different lifestyles and household structures require a variety of flat types that can be adapted quickly and easily to changing circumstances.
Fundamentally, offering a range of different apartment types ensures that a wide variety of target groups can find the right home for them. Our floor plans are also characterised by the fact that versatile spaces and ‘spare capacity’ are factored in from the outset; the need for this, particularly in smaller apartments, has been confirmed not least by the experiences of the pandemic.
A well-designed basic layout for the flat expands the range of possible uses: sliding walls ensure a high degree of flexibility and quick adaptability. This allows residents to actively shape the ‘dynamics of interaction’ within their home.
If accessibility (via two doors) and the electrical layout have already been planned for, simple modifications – such as fitting a cupboard – are all that is needed to create an additional fully functional area.
This allows residents to design their home to suit their individual needs and interpret the space as they wish. For example, a two-bedroom flat can easily be adapted and temporarily used as a four-bedroom home. In the short term, this creates space for a home office, a child visiting at the weekend, accommodation for a carer, or a pet. In the long term, it could be turned into a gym, a new hobby room, or additional bedrooms for a growing blended family. The flat thus adapts perfectly to the individual life cycle and can be divided into smaller functional areas or simply used as a spacious loft.
