essay future homes

Life in 2050: A Look at the Homes of the Future

Rapidly accelerating technology and the need for sustainable living will revolutionize how people live by 2050..

Matthew S. Williams

Stefano Boeri Architecture¨

Welcome back to the “Life in 2050” series! So far, we’ve looked at how ongoing developments in science, technology, and geopolitics will be reflected in terms of warfare and the economy . Today, we are shifting gears a little and looking at how the turbulence of this century will affect the way people live from day to day.

As noted in the previous two installments, changes in the 21 st century will be driven by two major factors. These include the disruption caused by rapidly accelerating technological progress, and the disruption caused by rising global temperatures, and the environmental impact this will have (aka. Climate Change).

These factors will be pulling the world in opposite directions, and simultaneously at that. Rising seas, hotter summers, wetter winters, increased flooding, drought, pandemics, desertification, and shrinking supplies of freshwater will likely lead to all kinds of scarcity, humanitarian crises, and increased levels of mortality.

Meanwhile, technological advances in terms of renewable energy, fusion power, materials science, blockchains, smart technology, additive manufacturing (3D printing), commercial space exploration, and biotechnology are set to lead to a new era of abundance in terms of energy, wealth, health, and new resources.

In an age where Climate Change and technological change will essentially be competing for control of our future, the challenge will be how to leverage one to address the other. All told, there are four areas where this will really come into play:

• Growth of Urban Centers
• Machine Learning and AI
• Decentralization of Everything
• Sustainable Cities
• Rising Seas and Sinking Coastlines

The growth of cities

As we addressed in the second installment , the global population is projected to grow considerably by 2050. In fact, according to the “ World Population Prospects 2019 ” report compiled by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the global census rolls will account for about 9.74 billion people by mid-century.

Furthermore, a 2020 report by the International Institute for Environment and Development estimates that by 2050, roughly 68% of the population will live in urban centers. That works out to 6.6 billion people, or an increase of 2.2 billion from today. You might say that almost all of the population growth between now and 2050 will happen in cities.

This will result in an increased demand for housing, electricity, water, food, basic services, education, transport, and medical services in these places. The infrastructure and resources needed to meet this demand will place added stress on the surrounding environments, which are already heavily stressed as it is.

Urban expansion means that more land needs to be cleared to build infrastructure, more water needs to be diverted for utilities, more electricity needs to be generated, and more agricultural land needs to be set aside for growing food.

Luckily, there’s an upside to all this growth. While more people means more in the way of need, it also means more in the way of production. And if there is one thing cities are very good at, it’s fostering innovation, the creation of new industries, and cultural expression – and all through the act of bringing people together.

As a result, cities in 2050 will be built (or rebuilt) to provide for the basic needs of their populations in ways that absolutely must be sustainable. This means finding ways to do more with less, not to mention eliminating waste as much as possible. All of this will be possible through the art of…

“Smart” living

The idea of “smart homes” is one that has really taken off in the past decade. The concept builds on the idea of “smartphones” and other such devices, which are accessible anywhere there is an internet connection. In the case of smart homes, a person will have access to everything in their home (appliances, devices, utilities, etc.) through Bluetooth and wireless internet.

In the future, this will extend to the point where the “ Internet of Things ” (IoT) becomes a reality. This concept refers to the way in which the digital world and real world will become intertwined like never before. On the one hand, this will be driven by the trillions of devices, sensors, and geotags that connect countless points in the real world to the internet.

On the other, people’s experience of the real world will be increasingly mediated through augmented reality , virtual reality (AR/VR), and the help of artificial intelligence. On top of that, the ability to connect with just about anyone and everything will revolutionize the way we live. And strangely enough, many of us have had a preview of this due to the recent pandemic.

For one thing, people in 2050 will be used to being able to have just about everything delivered to their doorstep. Door-to-door delivery services will likely become increasingly automated and involve smart cars, shuttle pods that drive around on their own tracks, and aerial drones .

Similarly, just about everything will be doable from the comfort of home, especially when it comes to working. Home offices with high-speed internet will become the norm, meetings will be virtual, and traveling for the sake of business or attending conferences will be largely unheard of.

Even education will take place in the home or within individual apartment blocks and tenements. Similar to distance education, children will log in to virtual classrooms where they are guided (with the help of a teacher or AI) through various lessons. Haptics will provide the sensation of “hands-on” education, eliminating the need to be physically in a classroom.

An explosion in the use of household robots is also projected to take place by 2050. These could take the form of mobile units or next-generation appliances that are integrated directly into a room. These robots will be able to handle everything from regular household maintenance , cleaning , preparing food , and other such tasks.

Moreover, the concept of the “smart home” will achieve literal proportions. Household AI ‘managers’ are sure to become a common feature of future homes, connected to all your devices, running your household robots and your appliances, and monitor your habits to ensure that you are remaining within your budget.

Distributed systems

Another interesting change is the way in which energy, money, goods and services, and even politics and administration will be distributed in the coming years. Whereas the industrial revolution brought about greater centralization of work and economics that is still in use to this day, the world of tomorrow will be almost entirely decentralized.

For example, in the previous installment , we looked at how increased reliance on renewable energy will affect the global economy. Given that the majority of demand for electricity will still be coming from urban centers, the shift will be visible in terms of how and where power is generated. In short, energy concerns of the future will be moving away from the centralized grids and become more localized.

Today, the infrastructure for providing electricity (aka. the electrical grid) consists of the following connected elements:

• power stations located away from heavily populated areas, which are connected
• electrical transmitters to carry power over long distances
• electrical substations that transform voltage from high transmission to low distribution
• distribution transformers to individual homes and buildings

The term “grid” is fitting because the electricity is generated in a central place, then routed through a gridlike network to where it is needed. In contrast, by 2050, cities will have distributed power stations that run on solar, wind, piezoelectric , geothermal, biomass, and other  “green” sources of energy .

These localized centers will provide power for a specific area, and large buildings are likely to provide their own power using built-in solar arrays, turbines, and biofuel generators. However, power grids will not disappear, as the development of fusion power and Tokamak reactors will still require distribution centers and nodes.

The proliferation of wireless internet, satellite internet, and blockchain technology will also mean people can connect anywhere at any time. As a result, politics could look more like “ town hall meetings ” that will be virtual events that far more people will be able to participate in. In the same way that video conferencing will mean that most business is conducted virtually, local politics will also be affected.

Green megacities

Due to the ongoing loss of arable land, cities will also become greener spaces, where architecture and ecology come together for the sake of healthy living. This concept, known as “ arcology ,” was coined in 1969 by architect Paolo Soleri , who proposed the concept as a means of addressing urban sprawl and the consequent destruction of green spaces.

In designs featuring arcology, agricultural operations and green spaces co-existed alongside residential and commercial centers, and space was to be used more creatively. Whereas most cities are two-dimensional, with individual highrises dotting the landscape (or clustered in the central business districts), arcologies are three-dimensional and built into the surrounding environment.

This thinking has become revitalized since the turn of the century, thanks to the escalating problem of climate change. Today, there are countless architectural firms and design studios that specialize in the creation of urban spaces that are reminiscent of the principles of arcology or similarly governed by the same principles of efficiency and sustainability.

Common features include urban farming, where local residents tend to community gardens, vertical farms , hydroponics, insect farms (high-protein!), and aquaponics (where plants and fish live symbiotically, and both are a source of nutrients). These operations will be helped along with the development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and microbial engineering .

To prevent stress on the existing water supply, most of what is needed for irrigation will come from rainwater capture, grey-water recycling, and water reclamation units. It’s also a safe bet that by 2050, many homes and domiciles will have a 3D food printer dedicated to manufacturing nutritious meals tailored to specific tastes and dietary requirements.

Another recent innovation is carbon capture , which city planners are incorporating into  modern urban development plans for the sake of combating climate change and urban pollution. While foliage has always been a means of cleaning city air, future cities may include large numbers of artificial trees , bioreactor facilities , and carbon-absorbing structures built right into their facades.

As an added bonus, carbon dioxide that is scrubbed from the air can be easily converted into biofuels using Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECSS) technology. Buildings equipped with a carbon capture apparatus will therefore be able to create biofuel, perhaps as a backup power source, but also as a local supply of fuel for vehicles that still run on biodiesel.

Powering it all will be a number of renewable energy sources, such as the aforementioned solar arrays, vertical wind turbines , piezoelectric surfaces, and heat-exchange technology (for the sake of climate control). Each building that contains multiple dwellings is likely to be its own grow-op, power plant, and fuel station, providing the basic necessities of life locally.

Crystal Island: This arcology was proposed by Norman Foster, founder of the architecture firm Foster and Partners . True to its name, Crystal Island would be a tall, spire-like compression structure that would appear crystalline. The entire structure would be wrapped in a breathable “second skin” that would be sealed in winter to prevent heat loss and opened in summer to cool the interior.

The planned arcology was to be integrated into Nagatinskaya Poyma Park in central Moscow. Standing 1,476 ft (450 m) high and containing 27 million ft² (2.5 million m²) of floor space, it would have been the largest structure on Earth. Construction was postponed in 2009 due to the global economic crisis and has remained in limbo since.

Masdar City: Named after the design firm building it, Masdar City is a planned project for the city of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Also designed by Foster and Partners, the city will be a hub for clean energy companies as well as the location of the International Renewable Energy Agency’s  (IRENA) headquarters.

Based on the goal of a carbon-neutrality, Masdar is powered by a combination of solar energy, wind power, and all lighting and water are controlled by movement sensors to reduce consumption. Much of the city’s water is rainwater or captured by condensers, and up to 80% of wastewater will be recycled and reused as many times as possible.

As of 2016, the city’s official website reported that 2,000 people are employed in the city and that only 300 students reside there. However, expansion is expected to continue until it reaches its planned capacity of 50,000 residents, 1,500 businesses, and 60,000 workers making the daily commute.

Cities at sea

In an age of climate change, many designers have incorporated rising sea levels and the loss of coastlines into their arcological concepts. A number of designs have been proposed already, examples of which include:

Boston Arcology: Also known as BOA , this concept for a sustainable megastructure in Boston Harbor was conceived by Kevin Schopfer. Designed in the shape of a rectangle with crisscrossing structures in its interior, this city would house 15,000 people and include hotels, offices, retail spaces, museums, and a city hall.

Consistent with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, it would draw its power from a combination of solar, wind, and other renewables and would serve as an expansion of the city without adding to the environmental impact of urban sprawl.

Harvest City: The Haiti earthquake of 2010 left 250,000 people dead, 300,000 people injured, and about 1.5 million people homeless. In response, Schopfer (in collaboration with Tangram 3DS ) conceived Harvest City , a floating complex made up of tethered floating modules – 2 mi (3.2 km) in diameter – off the coast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

The city would be capable of housing 30,000 residents within four communities – dedicated 2/3 to agriculture, 1/3 to light industry – all of which would be interconnected by a linear canal system. The entire city would float and be anchored to the ocean floor, reducing its vulnerability to plate tectonics and earthquakes considerably.

Lilypad City: Otherwise known as just Lilypad , this concept for a floating city was proposed by Vincent Callebaut. Essentially, Callebaut anticipated that rising sea levels and disappearing coastlines would give rise to a new phenomenon known as “climate refugees.” As coastal cities sink into the ocean in this century, people will need to be relocated to new facilities.

Hence the Lilypad concept, a completely self-sufficient floating city that could accommodate up to 50,000 people. Power would be provided through a combination of solar, wind, tidal, and biomass, while the entire structure is able to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through a titanium dioxide outer skin.

New Orleans Arcology Habitat: Located off the coast of New Orleans, where the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico, the NOAH concept was another design proposed by Kevin Schopfer (the same architect who thought up BOA). The design was largely inspired by Hurricane Katrina and the understanding that recurring storm activity in the region is only going to get more severe.

“The first challenge is to overcome both the physical and psychological damages of recurring severe weather patterns,” they wrote . “Though re-population has begun, the need to provide a stabilized and safe environment is paramount to a long-term recovery and economic well-being of New Orleans.”

This triangular city would be able to house as many as 50,000 New Orleans residents within its 20,000 residential units – each measuring 1100 ft² (100 m²). To ensure that it kept the tourism industry alive, it would also have up to three hotels (200 rooms each), 1500 time-share units, and three casinos.

Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid: This megastructure (aka. the TRY 2004 Pyramid ) was proposed by Shimizu Corporation in 2004 as a solution to Tokyo’s problem of overpopulation. Inspired by the Great Pyramid of Giza, the structure would be built in Tokyo Bay, measure 6,575 feet (over 2000 m) high, and house 1 million people.

However, the design relies entirely on the future availability of super-materials (such as carbon nanotubes). This is due to the weight of the pyramid, which would be the largest structure ever built and exceed the stress tolerances of existing building materials. While the original plan was to commence construction by 2030, Shimizu remained determined to complete it by 2110.

As the 21st century unfolds, the world will be forced to suffer through two major opposing phenomena. Technological development will continue to accelerate, with serious implications for the way we live, work, play, and even eat. At the same time, climate change will be ramping up, causing severe disruptions to the very natural systems humans are dependent on for their survival.

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Luckily, there’s an upside to this mess of contradictions. While rising tides and increased drought, storms, wildfires, etc., will be a humanitarian nightmare, they will also pressure us to find solutions. And while the rapid advance of technology will be a constant source of stress, it will also bring about innovation that addresses environmental problems.

It will be a strange time, where the entire world will be caught between surviving and thriving, scarcity and abundance, recession and growth. Nevertheless, the potential for positive change is there and could lead to a whole new era of better living and sustainability.

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ABOUT THE EDITOR

Matthew S. Williams Matthew S Williams is an author, a writer for Universe Today, and the curator of their Guide to Space section. His works include sci-fi/mystery The Cronian Incident and his articles have been featured in Phys.org, HeroX, Popular Mechanics, Business Insider, Gizmodo, and IO9, ScienceAlert, Knowridge Science Report, and Real Clear Science, with topics ranging from astronomy and Earth sciences to technological innovation and environmental issues. He is also a former educator and a 5th degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do instructor. He lives on Vancouver Island with his wife and family.  

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"The home of the future is looking a lot like the home of the past"

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many to rethink how they use their homes . Director of London's Museum of the Home Sonia Solicari outlines six ways that future homes could be informed by the past.

Lockdowns have challenged how we think and feel about our homes . At the heart of many conversations about the future is the issue of increased home working. How can design adapt to changing needs and behaviours? What will we gain and what will we leave behind?

How can we move beyond the home/work binary when our historic built environment reinforces the difference between public office space and private domestic experience, and how desirable is the constant digital accessibility of work?

Working from home is not a recent phenomenon. Throughout history, both paid and unpaid work has been carried out in the home – skilled crafts, food production, childcare, home-schooling, taking in sewing or ironing.

Working from home is not a recent phenomenon googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1538138464089-0'); });

Increasingly, these crucial transactions became unaccounted for in our understanding of what work means in all its gender division – suits and briefcases, buses and trains. However, offices and commuting are a recent invention. They are a product of the nineteenth century: the growth of the suburbs, the rise of white-collar work and the striving for greater administrative efficiencies.

Whole cities have grown up to support this norm and home life has become defined in contrast to our other lives. Now digital platforms are again blurring the boundaries and fuelling the home-based economy. When we think about home/work solutions we still think about office-based activity transported to the home, but what about a home designed for, say, an Etsy trader, with kitchen tables that become workbenches?

At the Museum of the Home , these are some of the issues we're revealing and rethinking. We are exploring everyday experiences of lockdown with our Stay Home collecting project , and looking at the history of the UK home with fresh eyes that examine the socio-economic changes that have shifted the ways we live.

Home/Work: A New Future, is also the challenge posed by the inaugural Davidson Prize , for which I have the pleasure of being part of the selection panel. It seeks "thought-provoking ideas that help inform debate about working from home".

What is striking is that many of the emerging themes are not new problems, but those that we have been grappling with for centuries: social networks and connectivity; modular, agile and flexible solutions to multi-use spaces; biophilia and reconnecting with the outside world; making the most of underused space in our cities.

I've seen enough of the history of the home not to be sentimental

In this respect, the home of the future is looking a lot like the past. We've been here before, but how can we overthrow ingrained historical ways of living to embrace something very different and do we even want to? Will we even have a choice?

I've seen enough of the history of the home not to be sentimental. Physically demanding and reliant on many socio-economic practices that we find abhorrent today, the historic UK home is an uncomfortable place to dwell. Within living memory were mind-blowing levels of daily grind just to keep and maintain a functioning space.

We're also now assessing the impact of Covid from increasingly unstable ground. The things we thought we knew about the history of the home – largely underpinned by a triumphant and linear Industrial Revolution narrative – are under scrutiny.

Many of the domestic game-changers that "liberated" the western home, such as clean running water and electricity, are now being weighed against their wider environmental impact and the recognition that not everyone has benefited equally from the supposed march of progress. Just looking at the UK, social injustice still underpins domestic life, with a growing gap between rich and poor, sub-standard housing practices and homes that struggle to support an ageing population.

The history of socially networked living living is an intriguing feature of both past and new spaces

But the past is also a story of human resilience in the face of seismic change, and of communities finding innovative solutions to problems. Many of these have been tried and tested – sometimes centuries ago.

Some of these ideas could be revisited, with new materials and fresh perspectives, to take the things that worked and turn them into something future-proof.

The Museum of the Home explores the history of the urban home from the 1600s to the present day and beyond. It's a lot of ground to cover, something which allows us to dip in and out of history, mining for inspiration and making connections, rather than attempting to provide an encyclopaedic account of what is often both an individual and a collective experience. The history of socially networked living is an intriguing feature of both past and new spaces, such as the House for Artists model , and some of the Davidson Prize entries that search for the answer in communal and shared spaces inside and outside the home.

The good and the bad news is that these are not new problems

The anxiety-inducing reality of many of our homes is that they are often cramped and inefficient spaces that seem wholly unsuited to a changing world, especially one in which the direction of travel seems uncertain.

The good and the bad news is that these are not new problems, and the solutions may not need to be completely original. The history of the home offers glimmers of ideas that might, just might, offer future solutions – rethought, reformed and regenerated for future living.

So, where might we find past inspiration?

The hybrid hall

Entering the home of a London merchant in the 1630s, the space known as "the hall" was a flexible and agile site of intergenerational, hybrid activity. The term was used to describe the main living space, where members of the family and household spent much of their time.

Inventories from the time show items of flexible furniture in a semi-public space, where business meetings took place, children were home-schooled, servants may have slept and parties would have happened. The hall needed to adapt quickly from bedroom to family hub and from day to evening.

The co-working coffee house

The urban coffee houses that grew in numbers from the early 1700s supported a working life that was not yet concentrated in offices. These spaces were designed for business, with many associated with particular trades.

Some of them had an entrance fee, mirroring the modern co-working model. The future home will rely on changes in the wider city – spaces that provide opportunities for work as well as leisure.

Communal living

The growth of charitable housing from the 1700s offers some interesting solutions to the networked living question. Our museum's almshouses would have housed up to 50 pensioners at one time in accommodation similar to the modern bedsit: space for sleeping, eating and limited cooking, with communal spaces for washing, laundry, gardening and recreation.

These weren't work/home environments, as the inhabitants were predominantly retired, but the model for living was based on a wider economy that supported more pared-down design and provision. Communal bakehouses allowed you to either bake your own or pay a small fee to the baker, and a lively street trade with itinerant food sellers meant the pensioners did not need to go far to find a meal.

Bay windows 

With opportunities for everyday interaction at risk from remote working, the Victorian bay window is also worth another look. Some of the Davidson Prize submissions explore the area that extends out from the building as space that is underused and easily segregated to create either privacy or connectivity, depending on need.

Bays were the perfect location for the nineteenth-century houseplant mania and terrarium-based biophilia. The Victorians knew the calming effects of birdsong in their urban homes – elaborate bird cages were often proudly mounted in the window. Bays brought the outside in but also projected domestic identity from the inside out.

Cosy corners

Contrasting and complementing the opening-up afforded by the bay window, the cosy corner was another fascinating Victorian craze – foretelling some modern-day rooms-within-rooms solutions.

Cosy corners were usually semi-permanent, built, padded and draped spaces designed to create privacy in shared homes. They typically were used for activities like reading or quiet conversation. The corners could be purchased pre-fabricated from catalogues, and are such an intriguing trend in the history of the home that we've recreated one in our new galleries.

All of this is not even to touch on the recurring retro-futurism of the pod: the perennial, modernist, modular solution to our home/work crisis. From 1960s bubble domes to the multitude of uses found for shipping containers , the pod promises us stripped-back flexibility, but, aside from the garden shed and the caravan, they always remained out of reach as a mainstream domestic option and almost more important as an idea than a reality.

A re-examination of the potential of pod living or working is surely due serious consideration, as an urban evolution towards something more mobile and miniaturised, aided by digital smart technologies and a cloud-based existence.

Photo is from the Museum of the Home's Stay Home collecting project.

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11 Thoughts on Designing Homes for 2040 and Beyond

by Thomas Frey | Jul 27, 2023 | Future Trends

Our homes are more than just buildings; they are places where we grow, build relationships, and find comfort. As we project forward into the future, the concept of ‘home’ is set to undergo transformative changes, responding to shifting demographics, technological advancements, and our growing awareness of environmental sustainability. In the next 10 to 20 years, the architectural design of our houses will significantly evolve, reflecting our deepening understanding of health, our desire for flexibility, and our need for integration with evolving technologies.

1. AI Smart Home Integration

Future homes will be seamlessly integrated with smart technology to create living spaces that are more comfortable, efficient, and secure. This goes beyond just connecting various appliances and systems to the internet.

In these future smart homes, AI will play a central role. It will not only be about controlling lights, temperature, or security remotely, but the AI will learn from residents’ habits and preferences to automate these controls. For instance, your home might learn that you start your day at 6 am, so it will automatically adjust the thermostat, open the blinds, and start brewing your coffee at that time.

Facial recognition technology will enhance security systems to identify residents and trusted visitors and alert homeowners to unknown individuals. Similarly, integrated sensors could detect unusual activity and potentially prevent accidents – for example, alerting you if the oven has been left on for too long.

Entertainment systems will also become more integrated and personalized. Imagine your home knowing your favorite TV shows and automatically recording them or creating a perfect lighting and sound ambiance for your movie night.

The rise of IoT will also see more appliances being controlled by voice commands or through mobile apps. Everything from refrigerators to washing machines could provide status updates, alerts for problems, and even automated maintenance reminders. Additionally, smart homes will become more interactive. Augmented Reality (AR) could play a part in this, for instance, overlaying a cooking tutorial on your smart stove or displaying your day’s schedule on your bathroom mirror.

With these advancements, future smart homes will not just be about gadgetry or automation but creating an environment that’s in tune with the occupants’ lifestyle, providing comfort, convenience, and an enhanced living experience.

2. Shared Coworking Spaces in Residential Design

As we move into a more flexible and remote work era, the boundary between our work and home lives is increasingly blurred. In response, the architectural design of our homes in the next 10 to 20 years will integrate shared coworking spaces, fundamentally altering how we perceive and design residential spaces.

In future home designs, shared coworking spaces will be a common feature, particularly in communal living arrangements or large residential complexes. These spaces will provide a conducive environment for remote work, fostering collaboration and promoting a sense of community among residents. They could be designed as designated rooms or areas within the building that are fully equipped with workstations, high-speed internet, meeting rooms, and even amenities like a coffee station or a relaxation zone.

The design of these spaces will prioritize both productivity and comfort. Ergonomics will be a key consideration, with furniture designed to support good posture and minimize strain during long work periods. Natural light will be maximized to boost mood and focus, and noise control measures will be implemented to ensure a quiet, distraction-free environment.

Beyond physical design aspects, technology will play a critical role in these shared coworking spaces. Advanced tech solutions such as smart screens for video conferencing, virtual reality headsets for immersive meetings, or AI-powered noise-cancellation systems could become standard features. These tech integrations will not only support seamless remote work but also enhance collaborative experiences among the residents.

However, it’s not all about work. These shared coworking spaces will also function as social spaces, promoting interaction and community-building among residents. They might host networking events, skill-sharing workshops, or communal activities, encouraging residents to connect with each other beyond their professional roles.

As the lines between home and office continue to blur, shared coworking spaces in residential areas will support the changing dynamics of work, offering flexibility, fostering community, and promoting a healthy work-life balance. This trend will not only reshape our homes but also redefine how we interact with our living spaces in the context of work and community.

3. Virtual/Augmented Reality Spaces

As virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies continue to evolve, they will significantly influence home design in the coming years . Beyond the realm of gaming, these technologies can provide immersive experiences for entertainment, education, work, and social interaction, changing how we interact with digital content and our living spaces.

Future homes may incorporate dedicated VR/AR spaces designed to provide enough room for movement while ensuring safety. These spaces could feature open floor plans, unobstructed by furniture, with padded or soft-finish floors and walls to prevent injury. Inbuilt tracking systems could be used to interact with the virtual environment and ensure users stay within the designated area.

In the realm of interior design, AR can transform how we decorate and arrange our homes. With AR, homeowners could visualize how different furniture pieces, color schemes, or lighting conditions would look in their actual space before making a purchase or change. This would allow for more confident design decisions and personalized aesthetics.

For work and learning, VR can create immersive, distraction-free environments that improve focus and engagement. A home office or study might include a VR setup for attending virtual meetings or classes, and transporting users to a simulated boardroom or lecture hall with the push of a button.

The integration of VR/AR in homes also has potential therapeutic applications. For example, VR could be used for guided meditation or stress relief, creating peaceful, immersive environments within one’s own home.

As the hardware for VR/AR becomes more compact and wireless, incorporating these technologies into residential design will become easier. In the future, VR/AR could become as much a part of our homes as our televisions or computers are today, reshaping our living spaces into adaptable, interactive environments.

4. Robot-Friendly Design

As advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence continue to accelerate, the integration of robotic companions into our households becomes increasingly plausible. Future homes may very well be designed with the intention to accommodate these mechanical helpers, fostering their interaction with the human occupants and the house itself.

Robot-friendly design involves considering the physical characteristics and functionalities of robots. Homes might incorporate designated pathways and clear floors to facilitate robot movement. This could include wider doorways and hallways, ramped transitions between different floor levels, and open floor plans that allow for easy navigation.

Charging stations will become a standard part of home design, similar to how many homes now have dedicated spots for charging mobile devices. These could be discreetly integrated into the home design, perhaps as a part of a utility room or a corner of the living area.

Homes could also incorporate digital interfaces and control panels at a height accessible to both robots and humans, allowing robots to manipulate various home systems. For instance, a domestic robot might be tasked with adjusting the home’s thermostat or controlling the lighting based on the homeowner’s preferences.

In houses with multi-story, design consideration would be given to how robots can move between different levels. Options could range from installing robot-friendly ramps or lifts to developing robots that can safely and efficiently climb stairs.

Additionally, as robots become more adept at performing complex tasks, kitchens and utility areas might be designed with robotic functionality in mind. Adjustable countertops or modular storage units could be utilized to allow robots to cook meals or clean up, contributing to household chores.

Incorporating robot-friendly design into our homes is about optimizing for a harmonious coexistence between humans and robots. The goal is to create a living environment where robotic companions can effectively augment our daily routines, making our lives more comfortable and efficient.

5. Drone Security and Drone Delivery Systems

The advent of drone technology has not only revolutionized several industries but is also poised to impact the design and function of future homes significantly. In the next 10 to 20 years, two key features that are expected to become integrated into home design are drone security systems and drone delivery systems.

Drone Security Systems: Safety and security are primary concerns for any homeowner, and as such, drone technology presents an advanced solution to meet these needs. Future homes could incorporate drone security systems, which operate as mobile CCTV units. These autonomous drones could be programmed to patrol the property at specified intervals , equipped with night vision and motion detection capabilities to identify any unusual activity.

Furthermore, the drone can be instantly deployed in the event of a security breach, providing real-time video feed to homeowners or a security firm. This rapid response capability not only deters potential intruders but also aids in the identification and subsequent apprehension of criminals. Given their aerial advantage, these drones can also monitor hard-to-reach areas, offering a comprehensive security solution.

Drone Delivery Systems: As online shopping and home delivery services become ever more dominant, future homes will need to adapt to this trend. One solution is the integration of drone delivery systems into the design of homes.

Houses could include drone landing pads or designated drone delivery docks, often located on rooftops or balconies. These docks would be equipped with security measures such as locking mechanisms to prevent theft and could also include protective elements to shield packages from weather conditions.

On the technological front, these docks might include systems to automatically receive delivery drones guided by GPS and autonomous navigation systems. Once a drone lands, the dock can secure the package and automatically recharge its battery before it departs for the next delivery.

As our reliance on drone technology increases, it’s clear that future home designs must consider the integration of these systems. By including drone security and drone delivery systems, future homes can offer enhanced safety and convenience, meeting future homeowners’ changing needs and expectations.

6. Biophilic Design

Biophilia, a term popularized by biologist Edward O. Wilson, describes the innate human attraction to nature and living things. Biophilic design is an approach to architecture that seeks to connect building occupants more closely to nature . As awareness of the importance of mental and physical well-being increases, biophilic design principles will play a more significant role in residential architecture in the next 10 to 20 years.

Biophilic design incorporates elements of nature into the built environment, both directly and indirectly. Direct applications may involve the integration of actual nature into architecture. This could take the form of indoor gardens, green walls, water features, or the use of natural materials such as wood and stone. The sounds, smells, and tactile experiences of nature can also be incorporated to provide a multi-sensory connection.

Indirect nature engagement might include biomimetic designs, which mimic natural forms and patterns, or biophilic spatial configurations that emulate environments where humans historically thrived. Large windows, glass walls, or skylights that let in plenty of natural light are a common feature, as well as designs that facilitate views of the outdoor environment.

Access to outdoor spaces will also be a critical part of future residential design. This could include private spaces like balconies and terraces or communal green spaces in multi-residential developments. The outdoor spaces would be designed to provide meaningful contact with nature, such as planting edible gardens or native species to attract local wildlife.

Biophilic design goes beyond simply adding plants to indoor spaces . It’s about creating a living environment that embodies the essence of nature, promoting a sense of peace and well-being. The benefits of biophilic design are numerous, including improved mental health, reduced stress levels, enhanced creativity, and increased overall satisfaction with one’s living environment.

As urbanization continues and the disconnect between humans and nature grows, the need for biophilic design in our homes will only become more essential.

7. Net-Zero Energy Homes

As the world grapples with climate change, energy efficiency in residential buildings is more crucial than ever. Net-Zero Energy Homes (NZEH) represent the future of sustainable living, designed to produce as much renewable energy as they consume over the course of a year. The concept will fundamentally shape the architecture and construction industry in the next 10 to 20 years.

Net-zero homes aim to minimize energy needs through effective insulation, high-performance windows, and smart design to take advantage of natural light and heat. They may feature orientation that captures or avoids the sun’s heat depending on the climate, as well as shade features or landscaping to control temperature.

The homes will generate their own energy through renewable sources , primarily solar panels and potentially wind or geothermal energy. The implementation of energy storage systems, like advanced battery technology, will allow homeowners to store excess energy produced during peak production times for use during periods of high energy demand.

Net-zero homes will also include energy-efficient appliances and systems, along with smart home technology that allows residents to monitor and manage their energy use. These homes can feed excess energy back to the grid, effectively turning residential buildings into mini power plants.

Water conservation will also be crucial to net-zero design, incorporating features like rainwater harvesting systems, greywater reuse, or water-efficient appliances and fixtures.

Building a net-zero home involves a synergistic approach to design and construction, considering the home as an integrated system rather than a collection of separate elements. This approach, combined with advancements in renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies, will make net-zero homes a practical and affordable option for many homeowners.

The push towards net-zero living isn’t just about reducing energy bills or even environmental impact. It represents a shift towards more sustainable, resilient communities, paving the way for a future where every home is a contributor to a cleaner and greener planet.

8. IoT Integration

As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand, our homes are becoming more connected and intelligent. Future homes will not merely be places to live but dynamic entities capable of learning from and adapting to their inhabitants. The design and structure of houses 10 to 20 years from now will heavily incorporate IoT technologies to increase efficiency, comfort, and security.

In a smart home, various systems and appliances connect to the internet and can communicate with each other. This allows for centralized control through a main hub or an app. From lighting and heating to entertainment and security systems, virtually every aspect of home life can be automated and customized to individual preferences.

Artificial intelligence will play a significant role in smart homes, with learning algorithms capable of understanding the habits and patterns of occupants to optimize energy usage and enhance comfort. Your home might learn your daily routines, automatically adjusting the temperature, lighting, or music based on the time of day or your activities.

Smart homes will also incorporate more sophisticated security systems. Facial recognition software could allow for keyless entry, and remote monitoring will enable homeowners to keep an eye on their property from anywhere in the world. Smart sensors could detect anything from break-ins to water leaks, offering peace of mind and potentially saving money on repairs.

Voice-activated virtual assistants will become a standard feature, capable of everything from answering questions to controlling other IoT devices. We also see the rise of touchless technology in homes, from motion-sensor lights to voice-activated appliances, fostering ease and convenience.

Integration with electric vehicles and charging infrastructure will also be a key aspect of future home design. Homeowners could manage their vehicle charging schedule based on their daily routine or when electricity rates are lowest, all integrated into their home’s smart system.

However, with the advent of smart homes, data security and privacy will become increasingly critical . Future home design will need to consider these aspects, ensuring that all data generated and collected within the home is secure.

In the future, homes will become proactive partners in managing our daily lives, improving our comfort, safety, and well-being while optimizing resource usage and contributing to a sustainable future.

9. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Design Process

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are set to revolutionize the design and construction of homes in the next 10 to 20 years. These technologies provide immersive, interactive experiences that allow architects, builders, and clients to visualize, modify, and interact with a home’s design before it’s built.

VR enables users to step inside a fully immersive 3D simulation of a planned house . Users can explore every room, inspect every detail, and even simulate different times of day to see how sunlight would interact with the space. This provides an unprecedented level of understanding and confidence in the design, ensuring that everyone involved is on the same page about what the finished home will look like.

With VR, design changes can be made on the fly, allowing architects and clients to experiment with different ideas and immediately see the results. This can greatly reduce the time and costs associated with changes during the actual construction process.

AR, on the other hand, overlays digital information onto the real world, allowing users to see how a design would fit into an existing environment. For example, clients could use an AR app to visualize how a proposed addition would look on their existing house or how a new home would fit onto a particular piece of land.

AR can also be used during the construction process to guide builders. For example, workers could use AR glasses to overlay construction plans onto their field of view, showing exactly where each component should go and reducing the risk of errors.

In addition, these technologies could change the way we think about space in our homes. With VR, a small room could be transformed into an expansive virtual environment, providing a sense of spaciousness without the need for a large physical footprint. This could become increasingly important as urbanization leads to smaller living spaces.

Both VR and AR offer incredible possibilities for the future of home design, providing a more collaborative, flexible, and efficient design process. The result will be homes that better meet the needs and desires of their inhabitants, leading to greater satisfaction and comfort.

10. Health-Focused Design

As health and wellness become ever more important facets of our daily lives, the architecture and design of our homes will follow suit. Future homes will be built with the intention of promoting physical and mental well-being, making health-focused design a significant trend in the next 10 to 20 years.

Indoor air quality will be a major focus. Features such as advanced air filtration systems, humidity control, and the use of non-toxic, hypoallergenic materials will become standard to combat pollutants and allergens. In addition, the use of plants and green spaces within homes will not only enhance aesthetic appeal but also improve air quality and create a calming atmosphere.

Lighting will also play a crucial role in health-focused design. Homes will be designed to maximize natural light, which has been shown to boost mood and productivity, regulate circadian rhythms, and even improve sleep. For times when natural light is limited, adjustable, human-centric artificial lighting that can mimic the color temperature and intensity of natural light will be used.

Home layouts will also be designed to promote physical activity. This could mean the incorporation of dedicated exercise spaces, or it could be as simple as designing homes that encourage movement, such as placing frequently used rooms far apart.

The acoustic environment of homes will also be considered. Soundproofing to reduce noise pollution, including calming natural sounds and using materials that minimize echo, can contribute to a more peaceful and stress-free living environment.

Technological advancements will also support health-focused design. Health monitoring devices will be integrated into the smart home systems, tracking parameters like heart rate, sleep quality, and physical activity and offering insights and recommendations to improve the inhabitants’ health.

Homes will also include spaces designed for mental wellness, such as quiet areas for meditation or relaxation, spaces with immersive nature views, or areas dedicated to hobbies or creative activities.

In the future, homes will serve not just as living spaces but as supportive environments that actively contribute to the health and well-being of their inhabitants. The result will be homes that are not just places to live but places that help us live better.

11. Multigenerational and Adaptable Living Spaces

As lifespans increase and family dynamics evolve, the need for homes to accommodate multiple generations under one roof is becoming increasingly important. Homes in the next 10 to 20 years will be designed with flexibility and adaptability at their core, allowing them to adjust to the changing needs of their inhabitants over time.

Multigenerational homes will include each generation’s private spaces and communal areas where the family can gather. These homes may feature separate living quarters for elderly parents or adult children, with features such as ground-level living for those who can’t navigate stairs or soundproofing to ensure privacy.

Adaptable design will be a key feature of these homes, allowing rooms to serve multiple purposes over time. For instance, a home office could be converted into a nursery, then later into a guest room. Wall partitions might be movable to change the layout of the house quickly or to create additional rooms when needed.

Technological advancements will also facilitate the creation of adaptable living spaces. Smart home systems could adjust lighting, temperature, and even furniture arrangements based on who is using a room. Homes might feature adjustable-height counters and sinks or walls embedded with tech that can transform a living room into a home theater at the touch of a button.

The design of these homes will also consider accessibility and safety features to accommodate older family members, such as wider doorways for wheelchair access, non-slip flooring, grab bars in bathrooms, and smart health monitoring systems.

Sustainability will also be a key consideration in multigenerational homes. As these homes will be designed to last and adapt for many years, they will need to be energy-efficient and built with durable, sustainable materials.

Multigenerational and adaptable homes offer a practical and flexible solution to the changing demographics and lifestyles of modern families. By allowing families to remain together, they can foster stronger familial bonds, use space better, and potentially provide economic benefits by sharing costs.

Final Thoughts

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Great article. I hope you create a youtube channel and bring these ideas to more people.

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The Future of the Home: Houses in 2030 Research Paper

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Luxury home 2030, family four bedroom house, basic one bedroom flat, reference list.

The achievements in the sphere of design and building show that within a short period of time, certain changes in house constructions may take place. One of the most spread thoughts is offered by Gerald Stryi-Hipp (2006): in 2030, the vast majority of homes will be heated by means of solar thermal only. Such choice will influence the use of energy and help society to save money reducing energy demands as well as improve the design of houses as there will be no need to use some electric tools.

In this paper, the evaluation of three types of homes will be offered to define how materials and requirements for building as well as ethical aspects and technological use may be changed: a luxury home should be provided with a number of electronic gadgetry to help the owner save time and enjoy the design, a family four bedroom detached home aims at improving the life of a family, and a basic one bedroom flat with a number of significant attributes for living.

Talking about the materials for a luxury home 2030, it is necessary to consider their nature. One of the most effective ways is to use special glass for luxury homes with the help of which the whole home is lightened and open for the sun, still, it is impossible to look through it.

With the help of special digital technologies, it may be possible to change the colour of wallpapers in accordance with the owners’ mood. There is a special program implemented into the house that allows a person to choose from 1 to 5 colours. The following in-house technologies are possible for the chosen building: FM radio, digital TV that may be placed anywhere in the house, and furniture transformation.

Due to the fact that the technologies are designed into the house before it is built, it is necessary to meet a number of requirements: solar thermal equipment that is located on the roof and provides the whole building with the necessary amount of solar energy, all walls are bearing and may be made of special pressured bricks and compressed earth blocks, and, finally, doors are made of strong wood that holds warm in the house.

The chosen material and design meet the environmental green considerations. It is necessary to support the use of natural material in the building process, this is why the idea of unbroken glass as the main material for the luxury home is justified. Though a number of technologies and mechanisms are implemented into the house, all of them are inside the walls which are made of glass; so, they do not have some harmful effects on people living there.

A family four bedroom house should be designed to provide a big family with all necessary services and quality: parents should be confident that their children are in safe, and children, in their turn, should have an access to the most important parts of the house. The material for this type home is wood or professional timber for the walls and roof, and metal rebar to create an appropriate floor.

As big families are not always able to spend much money on the technological aspects of their homes, it is possible to implement the most significant technologies: solar thermal at the roof (to support the green idea of building), heating technologies, and media improvements which are easy to use and hide in urgent cases.

Kitchen technologies are integral in such type of building some members of the family spend much time in there. In relation to building design, a number of ethical issues should be considered to choose building material properly and avoid harm for human health. Use of solar energy in heating is the most effective means that reduce the use of fossil fuels and other chemical substances.

A first time buyer should get a number of benefits from a new basic one bedroom flat: building materials are usually concrete constructions which are supported by iron details. As a rule, one bedroom flat is a part of a huge construction, this is why it is necessary to define the bearing walls and implement as many technologies as possible in it.

Solar energy is hardly available for such types of homes, still, it is possible to create one huge generator with the help of which heating and cooling of all flats in the building is controlled in one section.

Environmental ethics should remind the designers about the importance to reduce the amount of waste and damage to the environment. Still, the following technologies should be implemented into the design as they influence the quality of human life: security system due to which a person is sure of personal safe, media improvements with the help of which a person saves time and nerves, and entertaining aspects (bath equipment and kitchen accessibility).

In general, all above-mentioned buildings have one idea in common: people have to be protected from all outside damages and dangers: absence of chemical substances, attention to solar energy, and natural building materials are considered. In case the ethical perspective is pointed out while building and designing in 2030, there is a hope for all people to succeed in living and protect personal life to its full extent.

Stryi-Hipp, G 2006, In 2030, many homes will be heated using only solar thermal, SBZ, pp. 40-44.

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IvyPanda. (2018, July 19). The Future of the Home: Houses in 2030. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-future-of-the-home-houses-in-2030/

"The Future of the Home: Houses in 2030." IvyPanda , 19 July 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/the-future-of-the-home-houses-in-2030/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'The Future of the Home: Houses in 2030'. 19 July.

IvyPanda . 2018. "The Future of the Home: Houses in 2030." July 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-future-of-the-home-houses-in-2030/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Future of the Home: Houses in 2030." July 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-future-of-the-home-houses-in-2030/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Future of the Home: Houses in 2030." July 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-future-of-the-home-houses-in-2030/.

Futurology: A New Study Looks at the Design of the Home in 2050

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A new study has been released by the NHBC foundation in the UK, Futurology: The new home in 2050 that has a lot of interesting ideas. Prepared by Studio Partington, a design practice in London, it "provides an interesting insight into some of the trends we are likely to see 30 years or more into the future."

In the next 30 years we will witness substantial changes to home-life through technological advancement in response to societal, demographic and climate changes. The family home of the future will evolve to be more resilient and more adaptable to society’s ever-evolving needs. We will see a resurgence of the ‘multigenerational’ home, a flexible home where the young can live into adulthood and where the elderly members of the family can be cared for.

Urban Homes

© Futurology: the new home in 2050

For urban living, the designers foresee more of what has become known as "missing middle" housing in North America: "Homes will be arranged vertically on smaller footprints to increase density and make the best use of limited land." They see it being connected to district heating and cooling systems, and without parking because "car ownership will be lower with more journeys taken on public transport, by foot and bicycle, or through the use of on-demand and ride-sharing services."

Rural and Suburban Homes

For rural and suburban living, they suggest that "the traditional home arrangement will remain largely unchanged due to the greater availability of land, allowing homes to adapt and expand as families grow and working styles evolve."

Lower densities will allow for greater ‘solar access’. Roofs orientated to optimise solar access will become photovoltaic banks. Energy will be stored in the home itself, with batteries charged from solar panels and/or low-tariff electricity. Simple passive strategies for ventilation and cooling will be possible. The transition from petrol/diesel and hybrid to electric vehicles will have been made and each home will have induction or cabled vehicle charging.

Adaptations for Multi-generational Living

There are many things to love about their ideas for flexible townhomes that can adapt and change to accommodate multi-generational living. They suggest a doubling of traditional suburban densities (which is already happening as developers pack bigger houses onto smaller lots).

There are aspects to the designs that surprise me. Stairs are shown with winders, occasionally even double winders. These are far more dangerous than straight stairs and make it difficult to install chair lifts, which are a lot cheaper than elevator lifts.

They also show ground source heat pumps in the country and district heating in the city, even as they discuss how homes will be highly energy efficient. However I thought that there was pretty much a consensus that if you build a really well insulated house, (say, to Passive House standards, which by 2050 I would have thought would be code) then an expensive ground-source heat pump system becomes superfluous.

There are some interesting and sometimes counter-intuitive planning ideas, like putting all services on the exterior walls so that the interior non-load bearing walls can be changed as required. Do people do that very often? Don't electrical outlets have to be on every wall? Or will we need electric outlets at all in 2050? Perhaps not.

With services distributed around the perimeter walls of the home or through a floor void as in offices, the internal walls need only serve as acoustic and spatial separators that can be easily re-organised. Lighting will be controlled by movement detectors or voice activation, so the constraints of positioning switches and sockets are removed, creating more opportunities for homes to be adapted to a person’s life.

Because most British homes have hot water radiators, they plan an integrated system of thermal storage of hot water.

Despite the trend for miniaturisation in electronics, some of the technology in the home will increase in size as we use devices for storing excess electricity or heat generated from renewable energy. Specifically, thermal storage in the form of enlarged insulated hot water cylinders will require additional physical space in the home. The interaction of heating, heat recovery and ventilation systems will also be more complex, with increased servicing, maintenance and controls.

Again, I wonder if this is overcomplicating things, but then I keep thinking we should be building dumb homes that have lots of insulation instead of complex storage systems. However, there is little argument that we should be living in an all-electric future powered by renewables. There is also a consensus that there will be more off-site construction.

There is much to admire in this report: the stressing of flexibility, of multigenerational living, and the recognition of societal changes with a huge increase in the numbers of both older people and younger people who can't afford to leave home. They recognize the need for the increasing of density, the replacement of the private car with so many alternatives. The designing for adaptability is something we have been talking about a lot recently, the idea of Open Building, where all the building components are accessible and replaceable. The study authors write:

We need to future-proof homes, plan for longevity and changes, and build in the structural capacity to move walls, extend floors, build upwards or even downwards. This trend, together with the accepted social responsibility to make homes accessible, suggests that a good proportion of new homes should be built to be adaptable.

© Smithson House of the Future

As Yogi Berra noted, “It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” British architects like Alison Smithson tried it in 1956 and our houses don't look much like they predicted, and neither does the clothing. While reading "Futurology: the New Home in 2050," I thought that it didn't go far enough, that it was all too much like the housing of today, but 2050 is only 32 years away and if you think of how much housing has changed since 32 years ago, 1986, you realize that this is a very slow-moving industry. So perhaps it makes sense that they did not go all Smithson and get too wild and crazy.

Download your own copy from the NHBC Foundation.

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The Design of Homes in the Year 2039

We may look forward to going there, but as a state of mind and place, home isn’t always progressive—most homes are constitutionally driven by continuity and comfort. For many of us, home is memory. As home designers look forward to a not-so-distant future, residential bliss is in flux as the Internet of Things creeps into our most quotidian moments. The landscape itself may be stubborn (about one in three American houses were built in the 1970s and 1980s, according to the latest census), but our latest homes are becoming more dynamic.

We’re no longer at home alone; as the space-race era predicted, technology has transformed our daily lives, robotics have already begun tackling our daily chores, and eventually, Alexa and Siri may well dictate our day-to-day lives (and not the other way around). Increasingly digitized, home is where your data is.

And how will this look, feel, and operate in the year 2039? We spoke with leaders and visionaries in the home-design community to understand how the concept of home—a space of creature comfort—will change in an industry in which the lifespan of innovation is increasingly short-lived.

TECHNOLOGY WILL DISAPPEAR

At home, technology—with all of its bulbs, bulk, beeps, and boops—will be omnipresent, yet virtually undetectable. “Technology that is interruptive, distracting, and that is a visual scar on the home environment will disappear for experiences enabled by intelligent and invisible tech,” says Yves Béhar , the Swiss industrial designer and founder of Fuseproject. “For me, the home in 20 years is silent, focused on human interaction, sustainable, healthy, and uniquely shaped experientially for its occupant. I see the systems of the house are passive and efficient. When I walk through the spaces, an overwhelming feeling of peace is the main impression.”

MORE TECH EQUALS LESS

The current push is for less clutter by collapsing various technologies into universal systems; home-tech will command the room without crowding it. “It’s complicated, but I think that more technology will help us use less technology,” says Isabelle Olsson , director of design for Home products at Google. “The products we’re making now are a start to that—we’re creating one place for many of those physical items like calendars, shopping lists, and reminders.”

Mirroring Olsson’s logic, Elizabeth Mathes , director of Smart Home at The Home Depot, anticipates that “eventually, it is possible that smart technology embedded in the home will allow for homeowners to turn on or monitor lights, thermostats, and other items solely with their phones, relying less on the physical fixtures in the home.”

THESE WALLS CAN TALK (AND RESPOND)

In 2039, Béhar envisions entire walls covered in modular, digital screens that are camouflaged until activated. “Once enabled, those screens are windows into different world locations in real time that transport us to inspiring moments,” he says.

And he’s not alone, either. “The surfaces of the future homes will forever change to our needs,” says industrial designer Karim Rashid , as he paints a picture of future. “The patterned wallpapers are a series of 3D graphic abstract imagery of wireframes. Ideally these surfaces would be made of soft-touch polymers, such as synthetic rubbers, and silicones that are translucent, transparent, and digitally changeable—that all contribute to a new softness of our interior environment. By touching the pellucid surfaces, images text and sound can be surfed, scanned, changed, and morphed.”

A NEW EMPHASIS ON TOTAL BALANCE: WORK, LIFE, AND SLEEP

As lifestyles shift, layouts follow suit—a relevant hierarchy of space will take shape within the home. Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of Roman & Williams imagine that old-fashioned and mostly unused spaces like large media rooms and formal dining rooms are on their way out, making room for the home office. “The entire home is by then an open office—with sitting, lounging or standing as a work position available throughout the home and outside,” comment Standefer and Alesch in an email to AD . “Kitchens will never disappear—they are still the center—even for people who order take out.

Technology will begin to define new territory, too, including with furnishings. “We must enter the civilization of information also with furniture. Last year for Cassina we did an installation that reimagines the home of the future where the architectural historian Beatriz Colomina looks how the bedroom has become more central as people not only sleep but use technology in their beds,” says architect and designer Patricia Urquiola . “Furniture will need to adapt to this.”

SMALL MATTERS

The bulk of homes grew larger over the past three decades, but the latest American homes continue to grow smaller. While the effect is chiefly due to shortages in labor and land, designers will embrace the trend.

“In the next 20 years architects and designers will work on ‘small is beautiful,’” says Béhar, whose team is currently designing 250- to 500-square-foot “micro-unit” apartments optimized with robotic furniture by Ori Systems, an MIT start-up. The concept brings Murphy bed-logic to the max; modular furniture and layouts shift and reorder on command, like an apartment with multiple personalities.

Expect to see next-level iterations of tiny living, too. “I think in the far, far, far, future, the idea of home is sort of going to evaporate from bricks and mortar into more of an abstract notion of homes wherever you are,” says Jeff Wilson , the founder Kasita, which builds 352-square-foot homes that can be positioned anywhere (the sky is the limit, zoning permitted—even the rooftop). “In the future you’ll just pull up a map . . . and say, Hey, I need to move, and it will say, Hey, here’s a place five blocks down with no lease, no deposits, we’ll move all of your stuff—just swipe right and we’ll take care of all of that,” Wilson explains, noting that you can bring all of you settings with you.

SMALLER—BUT MORE CONNECTED

And what about the home in context—the neighborhood? “I think the future begins to network homes together to drive efficiencies and economies through which the homeowners and the neighborhoods can all benefit,” says Nirav Tolia , cofounder and CEO of Nextdoor, a hyperlocalized social networking service for neighborhoods. “Either through energy savings, security, building community, it is the creation of homes networked to other homes in their proximity that I believe holds tremendous value in ways that are hard to imagine today.”

As for how this might shape the physical home, Tolia anticipates change. “We may find that there will be a ‘public’ and ‘private’ area of the home that allows the owners the flexibility to integrate with the neighborhood, while also maintaining the privacy that is critical in a home.”

• Smart Homes

What Will Smart Homes Look Like 10 Years From Now?

I t’s 6 A.M., and the alarm clock is buzzing earlier than usual. It’s not a malfunction: the smart clock scanned your schedule and adjusted because you’ve got that big presentation first thing in the morning. Your shower automatically turns on and warms to your preferred 103°F. The electric car is ready to go, charged by the solar panels or wind turbine on your roof. When you get home later, there’s an unexpected package waiting, delivered by drone. You open it to find cold medicine. Turns out, health sensors embedded in your bathroom detected signs of an impending illness and placed an order automatically. Good thing you already knocked that presentation out of the park.

That, at least, is the utopian version of the smart home that exists 10 years out. Swedish research firm Berg Insight says 63 million American homes will qualify as “smart” by 2022, with everything from Internet-connected light bulbs to cameras that let us spy on our pets from the office (there were nearly 130 million homes in the U.S. in total in 2018). But a decade from now, experts say, we’ll move from turning the lights on and off with our voices to total immersion in the Internet of Things (IoT). Thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence, the smartest homes will be able to truly learn about their owners or occupants, eventually anticipating their needs. Developments in robotics will give us machines that offer a helping hand with cleaning, cooking and more. New sensors will keep tabs on our well-being. Central to all of this will be the data that smart homes collect, analyze and act upon, helping to turn the houses of the future from a mere collection of gadgets and accessories into truly “smart” homes.

All the automated attentiveness will come with a high price tag: consumers will spend $123 billion on IoT gear by 2021, according to advisory firm ABI Research, a number that’s likely to rise thereafter. Aside from Internet-connected televisions, manufacturers are putting their R&D and marketing budgets behind home-monitoring and security gadgets–they will have 22.6% of the smart-home market share by 2023, estimates research firm IDC, with smart speakers and lighting equipment not far behind, at 15.4% and 11.8% respectively. There are already at least 7 billion connected IoT devices, according to market-research company IoT Analytics. But as smart-home technology becomes easier to use and its benefits become more clear, the industry is poised to take off. “Sustained growth is expected to continue … as consumers adopt multiple devices within their homes and as global availability of products and services increases,” according to IDC.

Of course, as our homes learn more about us, keeping them secure will become all the more important. Every device that’s connected to the Internet is a potential target for hackers. When we’re talking about devices that can unlock our homes from afar, peer into our living rooms using cameras, and collect our most sensitive and personal data, cybersecurity will become all the more vital. Any kind of massive breach that turns off consumers, says Daniel Cooley, chief strategy officer at electronics-component manufacturer Silicon Labs, could be catastrophic for the industry. “I call it a mass-extinction event for the Internet of Things,” he says.

A range of technological developments will drive smart-home technology well beyond what’s available on store shelves today. Innovations in artificial intelligence, for example, stand to upend almost everything in our lives, including our homes. You might already be using some kind of AI-powered voice-assistant gadget to get the latest news or weather forecast every morning. But in the smart home of the future, those AI platforms could serve as the brain for entire homes, learning about residents and coordinating and automating all of their various smart gadgets. IoT company Crestron, for example, is working on software that tracks a person’s habits, like which music they want to hear in the morning or which lights they want to be on at a certain time of day. Then, once it gets the hang of a user’s preferences, it automatically plays just the right playlists or dims the lights before bedtime. “That’s really the next evolutionary step in true automation,” says John Clancy, head of Crestron’s residential business.

Robots, too, will have a role to play in the smart home of the future. Smart vacuum cleaners like iRobot’s Roomba are already picking up after us, while products like the Aibo, a robotic dog for children, show how they might help keep us company like a pet. As for the future? Robotic-furniture company Ori Living is working with Ikea on pieces that change based on your needs, getting the bed out of the way when you need a desk, or hiding your closet when it’s dinnertime. Design firm Design3 recently showed off a smart-home robot concept, CARL. The fabric-covered bot is meant to slowly roll around your home, activating its retractable cameras and sensors to detect intruders, notify you of any harmful emissions or keep an eye on your pet. And computer-graphics company Nvidia is working on a smart robotic arm that can act as its owner’s personal sous chef, doing everything from slicing and dicing veggies to helping with cleanup; it could be particularly useful for busy parents or disabled users. If such a device went into production, cameras and sensors could help prevent it from accidentally injuring an innocent bystander who’s just on the way to the fridge for a quick snack before dinnertime.

Health applications will drive at least some of the smart-home growth over the next decade. Cameras and sensors embedded in refrigerators will suggest more nutritious alternatives if people are reaching for the sugary sodas a little too frequently. Similar technology in medicine cabinets will check if residents have taken their prescriptions. And sensors will even show up in toilets to check for signs of any potential health conditions by scanning human waste before it’s flushed. Bathroom-fixture company Toto has experimented with urine-sampling toilets, while one company has filed patents for devices including a mirror that’s meant to monitor users’ health just by analyzing their skin. Homes will have health sensors of their own, too, that check for issues like water damage, pest infestation and so on, alerting owners to any potential problems before they become far costlier to manage.

All this learning and scanning that the smart home of the future will be doing may understandably raise privacy concerns. Indeed, some smart-home devices have already been targeted by hackers, whether to access the data they hold or to use them as tools in larger cybersecurity schemes. In 2016, hackers took over hundreds of thousands of insecure IoT devices, then used them to send bogus Internet traffic to target websites in hopes of crashing them; the incident temporarily crippled Internet connections throughout parts of North America and Europe. Government regulation is in the works too. A bill put forth by Virginia Senator Mark Warner in March would push the government to set up minimum security requirements for smart devices used by federal agencies; such requirements could eventually become standard for the industry at large.

You’re more likely than not to end up in a connected home one day, whether you mean to or not. Architect Michael Gardner, founder of construction firm Luxus Design Build, says homes are increasingly being built “smart” from the ground up. “It’s such an integral part of the home that we’re designing it from the beginning, where beforehand technology was always an afterthought,” he says. Ultimately, experts say, people will come to see smart-home technology as essential as electricity, refrigeration or air-conditioning. Smart-home tech, and the data it collects, will “be like plumbing,” says Cooley, from electronics-component manufacturer Silicon Labs. “You’ll rely on it.”

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7 Houses of the Future - According to the Past

• Written by Niall Patrick Walsh
• Published on April 19, 2019

It is often claimed that “there is nothing more outdated than science fiction.” Indeed, history is awash with speculation on future ways of living, as futurists imagine how advancements in technology, trends, and social norms could alter how we live, and what we live in. The period between 1958 and 1963 could be described as “The Golden Age of American Futurism” where technological milestones such as the founding of NASA coincided with cultural icons such as The Jetsons. Some of this era’s wildest ideas centered on how the houses of the future would look.

In this spirit, NeoMam Studios and Angie’s List have developed seven historic ideas of how houses of the future could look. From the Rolling Houses of the 1930s to the Underwater Houses of the 1960s, the ideas are at once astute, idealistic, and outlandish. These seven “houses of the future” range in building materials, construction techniques, and architectural styles, yet united by a common optimism on what the future of architecture could hold.

Below we have republished the seven ideas for your inspection. For a more detailed description of each idea, visit the Angie’s List publication here . The collaboration follows on from similar previous endeavors by NeoMam , who recently speculated on what New York’s Central Park could have looked like , and seven rejected proposals for Sydney Opera House .

Rolling Houses (1930s)

Angie’s List : The September 1934 issue of Everyday Science and Mechanics assured readers that spherical houses would soon become highly fashionable, even if the appeal of living in a giant hamster ball isn’t immediately obvious. The innovation was intended to make the remote construction and delivery of new homes more straightforward, as traveling in the ball would be a bad idea if you valued your crockery and ornaments.

Space Houses (1960s)

Angie’s List : Just four years prior to the Dome House, the cover of the December 1953 Science Fiction Adventures magazine proposed a glass dome – but in outer space. Puerto Rican cover artist Alex Schomburg’s free-floating snow globes come complete with rooftop chutes for launching space hatchbacks out into the great unknown.

Glass Houses (1920s)

Angie’s List : Utilizing a special new kind of glass designed to admit the ultraviolet, ahem, “health rays” of the sun, the Vitaglass house would offer a year-round summer thanks to the addition of mercury arc lamps for gloomy days. Like all the best new architectural innovations, Vitaglass was first tested in the monkey house of a city zoo. But even plain glass was controversial during the interwar years, with worries that its new popularity would discourage people from ever going outside.

Moving Houses (1920s)

Angie’s List : Equal parts Mad Max: Fury Road and Wacky Races, this utopian vision posits a very social mobile home version of architectural tendencies that we’re actually seeing today. Its rooftop garden, for example, might offset the carbon footprint of the vehicle, easing the conscience of the steam-powered digital nomads onboard.

Underwater Houses (1960s)

Angie’s List : General Motors created the Futurama II Pavilion to blow the minds of visitors to the New York World's Fair in 1964. While the rest of the world was staring at the stars, GM noted that we still have whole oceans that remain unconquered. “Our new knowledge and skills — new power and mobility — have given us a new and wondrous underwater world,” guide Ray Dashner told visitors on the tour. “A miracle of gifts from the limitless treasury of the sea.”

Lightweight Houses (1940s)

Angie’s List : The January 1942 authors of “This Unfinished World” offered a vision that gets closer every day: using super-light “aerogel” to create buildings that are earthquake-resistant and require less resources to build. Today, the lightest material in the world is graphene aerogel, which can be 3D printed, and boffins are hard at work figuring how to use the material to lighten the environmental toll of conventional construction techniques.

Dome Houses (1950s)

Angie’s List : The dome house’s ecopunk utopianism took sustainability as its driving factor. The rotating dome would allow homeowners to make efficient use of the sun’s energy. And while hydroponic vegetable patches like those outside the dome house do not yet feature in the average 21st-century garden, the hydroponics industry, in general, is set to triple in value to $725m between now and 2023.

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• Sustainability

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What Will a Typical 2050s Home be Like?

The home of the future is unlikely to be the curvy white pod of science fiction. On the outside, most houses in the UK will still look 19th century – partly because the public are profoundly conservative in their architectural tastes, but largely because the vast majority of houses that will be standing by 2050 have already been built.

It's on the inside that they will be different – with everything from floor to ceiling retrofitted to inject some intelligence, efficiency and adaptability into the old shell.

Intelligence will come from an array of sensors which automatically switch lights and taps on and off, order your groceries and even monitor your health. A central control system will manage the home for maximum efficiency, and show when the fridge needs defrosting, or if the micro-generator isn't running at full efficiency. Houses will be interactive and fully wireless, allowing us to access data from any point.

A drive for extensive resource efficiency could see water harvested and recycled within each home. Integrated solar panels and microgen combined with ultra-thin insulation films will allow some houses to come off the grid. Food will be grown in gardens, roofs and balconies, tended by the increasing number of home workers, and fed by composted domestic waste.

The interior of houses will be more modular, changing to suit needs during the course of the day and over your lifetime. Walls on rollers will allow you to reconfigure your space from office, to lounge, to bedroom. And instead of paint we'll have floor-to-ceiling screens, where you can join a work conference or watch a movie, change the colour to suit your moods, or just switch to the latest fashion in wallpaper.

There are trends pushing us towards these outcomes. Demand for housing is rising due to both population growth and more one person households. But new homes are not being built at anything like a matching rate. So we will have to make smarter use of what we have, and rethink the space and resources we need day-to-day. We should look, too, at where the innovation is coming from: much of the housebuilding industry – with some notable exceptions – is stuck in traditional bricks and mortar. The IT and consumer goods companies, on the other hand, see the home of the future as a commercial battleground, where they are investing huge resources to win.

And we can already pick up weak signals as to what tomorrow's homes will be like: solar PV is booming, smart meters are being rolled out, and everyone from Sony to Panasonic to GE to Microsoft has a showcase house of the future.

This will probably be a good thing for sustainability. Although there are limits to how efficient we can make old houses, they do contain a lot of embedded carbon, and making better use of what we have should be a key sustainability principle. Indeed, the way we think about our housing – the fact we are happy to buy second hand and that we repair, make do and mend – should be a model for our wider consumption habits. And because these designs will not come from massive centrally planned schemes, but from consumer facing companies engaging millions of people in small changes to their daily lives, they should make sustainable living more popular and desirable.

By Peter Madden, Chief Executive of Forum for the Future .

This article originally appeared in Green Futures , the magazine of independent sustainability experts Forum for the Future .

Homes of the Future

Table of Contents

When we think about the next innovations we always go exclusively to the technological and consumer field. What things will our mobile do, how we will move or how we will interact with robots. However, this is not the only issue at stake. And one of the other things is housing. What will the houses of the future be like?  If we analyze the trends that are coming and that will be implemented in a few years, we can glimpse what your home will be like in two decades. We at Sky Marketing are here to give you all of the necessary information, so keep on reading!

Technology: your house of the future dominated by robotics

Today smart devices have a certain presence in homes, but it is more anecdotal than widespread. However, the trend is on. According to Gartner, 67% of the devices that will be connected in 2020 will be for home use. And, according to data from the same consulting firm collected by the Pakistan Institute for Strategic Studies (IEEE), in 2050 there will be about 150,000 million devices of this type. What will we find? To begin with, the total and absolute consolidation of existing systems: virtual assistants who can order you food, manage a flight or book your next vacation.

But this is not all. In the coming decades, we will find new innovations such as awnings that open or close depending on the sun coming through the window. Smart plugs that stop supplying power when the device that we have connected has already been charged. Or kitchen robots that not only will make your dinner autonomously but will also do it by searching, reading and applying the kitchen recipes they find on the Internet.

Homes of the future: a home for every situation

If 2D and 3D modeling when designing a house already seems innovative to you, get ready for the advances of Building Information Modeling (BIM) systems. As we have already discussed in previous articles, when preparing the design and construction of a house, you will also be able to add additional information, such as construction time or costs. We will also see an emerging trend consolidate, that of 3D printers, which will make current models obsolete.

But the thing does not end there. According to various studies, in 2050 80% of the world’s population will live in cities. If we add to that the change in the forms of housing and the intergenerational evolutions, it seems evident that the habits of use of houses will also change. And so that many people do not have to be changing homes, it will be the home itself that can be transformed thanks to modular walls.

So that they can move around to create new spaces or redesign existing ones. There will also be robotic furniture that will change its position automatically. In this way, these spaces will be rehabilitated, as predicted by Space10, the IKEA research laboratory. Who is also committed to installing smart sensors in our plants to know, at all times, the water and oxygenation needs they may have.

Resource management: the most sustainable houses

Since we are talking about emissions, we have to talk about sustainability. And here the architecture will also have a lot to do with it. One of the new trends is for buildings to have ventilated facades and heat-reflective insulation. These will make the outside temperature drop by up to 70%, as some companies are already testing.

The  Stella Institute  of Russia is also in search of sustainability, whose Phi project proposes the construction of renewable energy management platforms for homes. In which it will be the neighbors themselves who manage their own energy in a decentralized way thanks to the  Block chain .

The panorama, as we see, is as innovative as it is exciting. And we can be clear about one thing: the houses of the future will not only look very similar to those of now. But they will also be more technological, better designed and more sustainable.

What will the houses of the future be like?

The technology is increasingly present in our daily lives and more integrated in everything that surrounds us, creating a huge impact on our lifestyle and our homes.

The artificial intelligence, the sustainability and green living. The architecture responsive   or co -living  will inscrutable future trends in housing 3.0.

Little by little we are introducing intelligent technology in our lives, which is shaping a totally different lifestyle. Digital air conditioning, video surveillance, functions controllable from smartphones, integrated  Bluetooth  technology. We can also see elevators with intelligent management, electric blinds and curtains with remote control or even electric charging points for vehicles in garages.

New schemes for new ways of living

There is a growing number of experts who suggest that the place to live will follow the trend that we have already begun to see in cowering   in the workplace. The colliding, buildings where residents share common facilities and areas of work and leisure with the other occupants, is here to stay.

Also, the aging of the population is on the minds of those who are concerned with conceiving the houses of the future. Assistance needs, accessibility and added services mark the new trends in the residential field. Smart city lahore is the first ever smart city of Pakistan and is using all of these new schemes to provide the best form of living.

Technology to build: industrialization and robotization

The industrialization is one of the buzzwords in the field of property development. In the new real estate cycle, which began after the crisis, the advantages of technology are being valued to make possible a construction process that controls times and minimizes errors.

Large developers are already working with these processes and the challenge is to be able to implement them in large-scale housing construction. Ten years from now, the industrialization of processes and robotization will mark the line in the sector.

Sustainability and smart housing

The robotización not only will change the design and construction of the houses of the future. It will also change the way a home works and its characteristics. Connected systems, the Internet of things and also smart facilities are part of the equation.

Environmental concern and interest in reducing housing operating expenses (including energy) are behind the promotion of a sustainable housing concept. A saving that, in addition, will end up being transferred to the value of the homes: energy efficient properties will end up being more valuable than those that are not.

In fact, the most exclusive housing range is already committed to sustainability and energy saving as a differential value for its customers.

The changes that happen until then will be progressive, so society will not immediately notice. In these homes of the future there will be no absolute privacy; yes colliding. There will be no individual electricity bill; yes bills with a high percentage of energy efficiency. There will be an aging population that will live alone. And there will be houses shared with young people.

What else can you expect about the houses of the future?

One of the challenges is to configure urban spaces, in order to solve the overcrowding of cities, the lack of natural resources or climate change. “This vertical correlation between the two levels is also transferred to the physical space through differentiated resources. For example, below we do without natural light in the facilities to favor a reflective environment, while above the light bathes the spaces so that they invite interaction with the future and the elements that await us there, “said Ursula, an artist from Islamabad.

The lack of space in cities means that homes are conceived with solutions divided by spaces that can be shared with robotic furniture. There are modular proposals in which two families can live in 80 meters. Sustainability is another of the great concerns of the planet. Increasingly, households must consider their own solar energy supply, as well as the way of feeding and leading more sustainable lifestyles to combat climate change.

Goodbye to individualism

Demographic projections estimate significant population growth in large cities in the coming years. In addition to aging, lack of natural resources and unpredictable house prices. On the other hand, people who live in urban environments, although they are more connected than ever, increasingly feel lonely, anxious and stressed. But at kingdom valley with all these technological advancements there is the concept of a combined society.

For this reason, experts praise the benefits of living in communities that provide citizens with a sense of belonging. At the same time they give them access to services such as nurseries, urban gardens, gym, transportation or retail.

• Craft Essays
• Teaching Resources

House as Home: Writing the Places That Raised Us

Childhood was rooms and doors, gaping lace in open windows, potted parsley in yellow kitchens, splintered floorboards, buckled carpets, the bug-zapper sound that the basement light made when your father pulled the string, and then that tube of violet light abuzz over his box of tools. Childhood was place as much as it was people, geometry as much as conversation, material as much as mood.

There’s the evidence of it in photographs. There are the neighborhoods to which we return, then circle. And, sometimes, there are the houses themselves—still standing. If we knock, and the door opens, we are rushed with a confusion of past and present. I think of George Hodgman, in his memoir Bettyville , returning to Missouri as the adult child of a mother in need of care and company:

On the spare bed, there is a quilt with stars and crescent moons, figures of girls and boys joining hands along the borders, and the embroidered signatures of long-gone farm women, including my great-aunt Mabel’s. I am installed here, along with the Christmas wrappings, the desk of Betty’s uncle Oscar, and the bed I slept in with my grandmother as a boy, listening to Mammy’s snores and the sound of the furnace settled into service.

Installed in the moment. Awash with history.

We have been shaped by the houses and the land of our past. We remember, through them, what we have gained and what we have lost, what we were offered and what we were denied, what we have decided about transience, permanence, and most things in between. As memoir writers we must ultimately wrestle with our beliefs about home. We need to answer questions: Is home an act of creation? Is home where we know and are known? Is home where we find ease? Is home where we tell the truth or keep our secrets? Is home what we must finally leave?

What, in the end, is home ? And how do we write it?

Simply quantifying the architectural facts of our childhood houses—stone, brick, siding; color of doors and arrangement of windows; tones and hues; furnishings; the arrangement of mail slots or mailboxes; monthly rent or purchase price—will not, alone, advance our plots. We must find within those facts our stories, our metaphors, our truths, our most elemental memories. What follows is a handful of starting places, illustrated by the words of some extraordinary writers.

Proportions

It’s one thing to take a measuring tape to a set of architectural blueprints and announce a series of dimensions. It’s quite another to think and write of a house proportionately. What was small and what was large, and in relationship to what, precisely?

Think of the work Sandra Cisneros does in The House on Mango Street , a house that is, she tells us, “small and red with tight steps in front and windows so small you’d think they were holding their breath.” The language is simple. The effect is enormous. The windows are holding their breath and so are we. We feel the impact of this claustrophobic place on a girl with expansive dreams.

If we were to think of our childhood houses in terms of proportions—how the sizes of things shaped our relationship to them and to ourselves—what would happen to our stories? How might we understand, and write them, better?

Color and Shine

In Jacqueline Woodson’s memoir-in-verse, Brown Girl Dreaming , a family’s existence is gracefully summoned by measures of color and shine. We don’t just see this world of the author’s youth. We understand how a family lives—what has been deemed important (that healthy plant, those polished shoes) and what has not (that neglected swing):

A front porch swing thirsty for oil. A pot of azaleas blooming. A pine tree. Red dirt wafting up around my mother’s newly polished shoes.

Inspired by Woodson, we might make a list of the colors associated with our childhood home—and what those colors suggested. We might name the things that shined, and why it mattered that they did. We might write the story that emerges.

Function or Dysfunction

“The house was by now functional only in one room, the living room,” writes Bruce Springsteen in his memoir, Born to Run . “The rest of the house, abandoned and draped off, was falling down, with one wintry and windblown bathroom, the only place to relieve yourself, and no functioning bath.”

This is no note to would-be repairmen. Nor is it a retrospectively lodged complaint. Springsteen remembers his childhood circumstance with compassion for those who raised him as well as compassion for himself, this boy who navigated a physically broken place with a unifying sense of family.

What happens when we reckon with all the broken things in our childhood houses, then work to remember that one time—those many times?—when what was physically broken was overcome by a gesture or insistent love? How would such story making deepen our own understanding of the self that was shaped by the house, the house that became an actual home?

Many of us look back on our childhood homes with our eyes. Photographs orient us, after all. Those blueprints, if we have them.

But story lives equally within the province of sound—the way the roof whistled when the wind blew, the inherent creak of the fifth stair, the front-door squeal, the hush-swirl of the water draining from the tub. “My aunt’s bedroom was large, industrial, and cold…,” Mary Gordon writes in “My Grandmother’s House.” And then she gives that house a new dimension: “Each footfall, even your own, sounded ominous in your ears.”

That word ominous is signaling a story. A story set into motion by a sound.

What echoed, literally, in our childhood homes? What echoes now, as we write our way back to the children we were, eyes closed in the dark, listening? How might the echoes become metaphors, or meaning?

Our childhood houses offered, at their most basic, shelter. But they also served as round-the-clock stage sets, as a kind of theater in which we were both actor and audience. In All the Lives We Ever Lived: Seeking Solace in Virginia Woolf, Katharine Smyth provides a perfect illustration of what can happen when we establish (with poetics) the physical facts of a home, and then set a story into motion:

We devoted our weekends that winter to supervising the renovation. A beastly wind leapt off the basin, slipping through cracks and ripping at the plastic sheets that now stood in for windows altogether. The house then was a skeleton; from the water, it looked like an architectural cross section. We wore winter coats indoors. I spent my time collecting the sawdust that drifted like snow into the corners of rooms—I liked how light and downy and dry it was—and when, come spring, the house was finally finished, I mixed this sawdust with glue, molded it in the shape of a heart, and baked it in the oven.

This might be our ambition, then: To write the physical places that shaped us with such evocative specificity that those who read our pages will feel not just the wind blowing through but the lives themselves—the gathering, the yearning, the inevitably inadequate but elementally human attempts at shaping and keeping.

Our childhood houses were where we learned proportion and relationship, color and shine, function and dysfunction, echo. Our childhood houses were our theaters in the round. Our privilege, and our challenge, is to write them, to convert the house into a home. ___

Beth Kephart is the award-winning writer of more than thirty books in multiple genres, an award-winning teacher of memoir at the University of Pennsylvania, co-founder of Juncture Workshops, and a widely published essayist. Her memoir in essays, Wife | Daughter | Self was published by Forest Avenue Press in March 2021.

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• HISTORY & CULTURE

What does the future look like in Indigenous hands?

National Geographic Explorer Keolu Fox says the key to harnessing the technology of tomorrow is centering traditions of the past.

Water and wealth are constructed from the same word in Hawaiian. These terms— wai and waiwai, respectively—are an indelible part of who I am, and who Native Hawaiians are. They’re reminders that we’ve always valued the abundant natural beauty and life-giving resources of our homelands. There is perhaps no better example of this than ahupua‘a land divisions, a socio-economic and geological system that Hawaiian communities designed more than a thousand years ago to apportion the islands into seasonally responsive slices that ran from the mountains to the sea. These land divisions fed snowmelt along irrigation routes to terraced taro patches. They provided valuable bacteria and phytonutrients to fishponds. Those fish then populated the inner reefs and, once mature, the Pacific Ocean. The system itself was highly organized and politically complex. It supported a huge labor force and provided a sustainable supply of food for the entire population.

( Discover the ahupua‘a system in our interactive story. )

Across the world, Indigenous communities have long been incubators of sustainable systems. Pueblo and other Native architects developed ingenious multistory housing uniquely crafted for the deserts of North America. Aboriginal communities in Australia perfected the ecologically enriching land management practice known as cultural burning . These systems, like our land divisions, reflect a union of the local culture and environment, one that keeps the needs of a community and the planet in balance.

( Aboriginal women are reclaiming their relationship with cultural fire. )

As we all strive to imagine the future, the inevitability of extractive capitalism should not be assumed. Rather, it’s important to think deeply about how to build an alternative reality—one where Indigenous perspectives on relationships to land, sea, sky, and cosmos are the guiding force. We should all ask, What would our planet look like in Indigenous hands?

Charting an Indigenous future will require a shift in our consciousness. We can optimize landscapes for exponential growth, profit, and, eventually, failure, or we can optimize for harmony and balance. To quote an ancient Hawaiian chief, “He ali‘i ka ‘āina, the land is a chief; he kauwā ke kanaka, humans are its servants.”

Rather than focus on short-term gains, we must prioritize future generations.

I once stumbled upon an elder balancing the books of a casino in the Pacific Northwest. I was surprised to find that this gentleman was not using a model based on quarterly, or even annual, returns; his spreadsheet’s financial plan extended 10 generations into the future.

Over the past several decades, Indigenous communities have seen various economic drivers come and go, from natural resource extraction—oil, gas, and coal—to gaming and casinos. It’s clear that data is next. Is there a more valuable resource today on the planet?

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To be in control of their assets, Indigenous peoples should build their own data centers—but in such a way that they would be not only sovereign but also sustainable, in harmony and balance with nature. Rather than follow the example of titan chipmaker TSMC, which chose the sweltering expanses of Phoenix for two planned factories, we could situate these critical infrastructures in cool climates abundant in natural water resources and reduce the energy consumption needed to keep them from overheating. Companies and countries too should think beyond tax incentives and weak labor markets when deciding where data centers should be built. Indigenous communities might offer their own examples for the design and implementation of these centers, powered by renewable energy sources that respect the Earth’s rhythms and acknowledge that resources aren’t just resources—they’re ancestors.

( Deb Haaland: A new era of partnership between tribal nations and the federal government )

To realize a world that revolves around these shared values, all of us must think further into the future.

Imagine Indigenous scientists using the tools of synthetic biology to heal the Earth by genome-editing bacteria to metabolize plastic in the ocean into biofuel . Gaping holes left festering from the violent pursuit of critical minerals, such as lithium , cobalt , and tantalum , are remediated and transformed into pristine freshwater aquifers—poison sucked out like a snakebite. Imagine storing data in the genomes of indigenous photosynthesizing plants , an idea that already is more science than fiction: In 2017 researchers announced that they had used the gene-editing system Crispr to encode a digital movie into the DNA of a population of E. coli bacteria. Imagine the roots of these carbon-negative “data centers” simultaneously encouraging biodiversity, treating soil that has been polluted for centuries, and providing fruits and vegetables for local farmers to sell.

Rather than cities all converging on the same look of Ikea-brochure apartments and placeless, copy-and-paste office towers, our built environment might reflect local innovation, heritage, and culture. Imagine that homes are once again living ancestors: Ancient, local soil is repurposed into bio-concrete infused with genome-editing bacteria that seal cracks by calcifying into new limestone. Imagine building materials with photosynthetic properties that draw energy from the sun, or bioluminescence that might dim our harsh, urban glare and restore the view of the night sky our people once knew. Imagine 3D-printing urban structures into ancient shapes, like the tangled, twisting, living bridges that the Khasi and Jaintia people in India wove from the roots of trees.

One vision of Indigenous futurism is alternative history. A time line where Captain Cook never makes it to Hawai‘i, Cortés never arrives at Tenochtitlan in search of gold, and the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María are still trees planted in the earth. Where would Indigenous peoples be? What would they have become? But there’s another time line we should consider—one that doesn’t require us to change the past, just the future: Land and ancestors returned. Cities and rural landscapes where technology and nature coexist. Community networks thriving on decentralized digital platforms that empower local decision-making and facilitate a barter-based economy rooted in shared resources and knowledge. Matriarchy restored . Education systems that immerse students in Indigenous histories and cultures, fostering a global citizenship that respects and celebrates both the ancient and the futuristic.

Charting this Indigenous future—shifting our consciousness—will mean adopting a shared vision where the wisdom of the past guides us for generations to come. One where technology serves humanity’s deepest values and aspirations. Where the guardianship of the Earth and the equitable distribution of its resources define progress.

( This Hawaiian geneticist works to empower Indigenous peoples. )

Related Topics

• MODERN HISTORY
• ANCIENT HISTORY
• ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION
• INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

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Best AI Essay Writing Tools for Students (2024)

In 2024, AI writing tools have become very helpful, especially for students with lots of writing assignments. These tools can help with everything from coming up with ideas and creating content to editing and polishing your work. 

While AI won’t replace your creativity, it can help with the boring and repetitive parts of writing. But with so many AI writing tools available, it can be hard to know which ones are the best. 

In this article, we’ll look at the top AI writing tools in 2024. We’ll talk about what they can do, how they can help you, and which tasks they’re best for. Whether you need help brainstorming, drafting, or editing, these tools can make your writing easier and better. 

Let’s get right in!

Criteria for Good AI Essay Writing Tools

When choosing an AI essay writing tool, it’s important to consider the following criteria:

• Ease of Use: Easy interface for smooth navigation.
• Quality Output: Generates well-written and clear essays.
• Customization: Allows adjusting writing style and complexity.
• Plagiarism Detection: Checks for copied content reliably.
• Research Capabilities: Assists in finding accurate and relevant information.
• Affordability: Cost-effective for students’ budgets.
• Support: Offers reliable customer assistance and additional resources.

We have made sure that all the tools mentioned in this post meet the criteria for a good AI writing tool. 

Overview of Best AI Writing Tools & Their Winning Features

Here is an overview of the AI writing tools with their best features and pricing:

MyEssayWriter.ai – Easy to Use With Free Features

This essay writer simplifies the writing process, so you can focus on your ideas instead of worrying about the technical stuff. Moreover, MyEssayWriter.ai offers free features you can use to make writing easier.

• User-Friendly Website: It’s easy to find what you need and use the tools.
• Free Features Available: You can use some of the tools for free, which is great for students on a budget.
• Different Academic Levels: Whether you need content for high school or Doctoral level, you can adjust the writing according to your needs.

The free trial does not provide access to premium features. 

Additional Tools:

• Humanizer Tool: Makes your writing sound more like a person wrote it, which is helpful for making your essays sound natural.
• Paraphrasing Tool: This helps you rewrite sentences in a new way, which can make your writing more original and interesting.

You can sign up for a free trial, but their basic plan starts at just $9.99/month. 

PerfectEssayWriter.ai – Plagiarism-Free Content in Multiple Languages

Whether you’re writing a research paper or analyzing literature, PerfectEssayWriter.ai gives you the tools to write, improve, and get ideas for your paper. 

• Multiple Languages: It can generate content in up to 20 different languages.
• Plagiarism-Free Content: It never repeats the same content and always provides unique content even on the same prompt.
• Customized Content: You can add extra details or any specific requirements you may have about the content you want.

The speed might be compromised if your internet connection is slow. 

• Citation Machine: Helps in generating citations in different formats.
• Sentence Rewriter: Rewrites sentences for clarity and originality.

It allows you to sign up for a free trial. The paid basic plan starts at just $9.99/month. 

CollegeEssay.org AI’s Essay Writer: Fast & Efficient Essay Generator

CollegeEssay.org AI generates essays quickly and accurately, helping students with their academic needs. Whether you’re short on time or need help with the content, this essay generator delivers well-researched essays quickly. 

From informative essays to argumentative writing, CollegeEssay.org AI provides reliable information and structured writing help. 

• Fast Generator: Generates an essay in seconds which saves time in essay creation.
• Accurate Information: Provides reliable and accurate content for essays.
• Learns and Adapts: This tool learns and adapts to your writing style and refines the content accordingly. 

There are limited customization tools for students to use. 

Additional Feature:

Essay Writing Service: If you feel that you need human help in addition to AI, then they have 250+ experienced writers who are ready to provide professional essay writing services.

The price for a premium plan starts at $7.99/month. 

Quillbot – Paraphrasing and Improving Content

Whether you’re writing an essay or polishing a report, Quillbot’s simple interface makes writing easier. From basic sentence improvements to detailed grammar checks, Quillbot meets various writing needs.

• Free to Use: Basic features are available at no cost.
• User-friendly: Simple interface for easy navigation.
• No-Limit to Use: You can use the paraphraser as many times as you wish. 

The paraphraser has a limit of 125 words only. 

Additional Tool:

• Grammar Checker: Helps in improving grammar and sentence structure.

You can sign up for a free plan, but if you want access to all features, Quillbot offers a monthly plan for $9.95. 

Jasper.ai – Best for Marketers and Bloggers

• Creative Writing: It provides creative content and maintains writing quality for marketers.
• Target Audience: It provides content suitable for the target audience for the business.
• Knowledge-based Content: It generates marketing campaigns according to your brand’s pre-design.

Their higher pricing is not feasible for individuals on budgets.

• Provides Product Descriptions: Provides product descriptions formatted according to Amazon or your website. 
• Generates Marketing Ideas: Offers ideas and insights to inspire marketing campaigns and strategies.

Their pricing starts at $49/month for one seat with a 7-day free trial. 

Wrapping Up!

In this article, we’ve looked at some of the best AI writing tools available today. Each tool was tested to make sure it’s easy to use, writes well, and fits a student’s budget. 

From MyEssayWriter.ai to PerfectEssayWriter.ai and others like CollegeEssay.org AI, Quillbot, and Jasper, these tools offer different features to help with essays and research papers.

Whether you need help brainstorming, drafting, or editing, these AI tools can make writing easier and your work better. They’re designed to support students throughout their academic writing journey, providing tools for faster, more accurate writing.

Each tool has its pros and cons, and you can select the one that best meets your needs. 

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'It's a mess': Biden turns to family on his path forward after his disastrous debate

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is expected to discuss the future of his re-election campaign with family at Camp David, Maryland, on Sunday, following a nationally televised debate Thursday that left many fellow Democrats worried about his ability to beat former President Donald Trump in November, according to five people familiar with the matter.

Biden’s trip was planned before Thursday’s debate. He and first lady Jill Biden are scheduled to join their children and grandchildren there late Saturday.

So far, the party’s top leaders have offered public support for Biden, including in tweets posted by former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton . Senior congressional Democrats , including Reps. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina and Nancy Pelosi of California, have privately expressed concerns about his viability, said two sources apprised of those discussions, even as they all publicly back the president.

One Democratic House member who believes Biden should drop out of the race — but has yet to call for that publicly — told NBC News that three colleagues expressed the same sentiment to him during votes on the House floor Friday.

House leaders have not wavered publicly, and their aides denied that they are expressing doubts behind closed doors.

“Speaker Pelosi has full confidence in President Biden and looks forward to attending his inauguration on January 20, 2025,” Ian Krager, a spokesman for the former House speaker, said in a statement. “Any suggestion that she has engaged in a different course of action is simply not true.”

Christie Stephenson, a spokeswoman for Jeffries, the House minority leader, said her boss has “repeatedly made clear publicly and privately that he supports President Joe Biden and the Democratic ticket from top to bottom.”

Brianna Frias said Clyburn, who is traveling to Wisconsin this weekend to campaign for the president, "has total confidence in President Joe Biden and the Biden-Harris ticket.

"Any reports alleging that the Congressman has expressed anything other than firm support of President Biden are completely untrue," Frias said.

At the same time, there is an understanding among top Democrats that Biden should be given space to determine next steps. They believe only the president, in consultation with his family, can decide whether to move forward or to end his campaign early — and that he won’t respond well to being pushed.

“The decision-makers are two people — it’s the president and his wife,” one of the sources familiar with the discussions said, adding: “Anyone who doesn’t understand how deeply personal and familial this decision will be isn’t knowledgeable about the situation.”

This account of a president and his party in crisis just a little more than four months before an election they say will determine the fate of democracy is drawn from interviews with more than a dozen Democratic officials, operatives, aides and donors. All of them spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to describe matters as sensitive as whether a sitting president might give up his re-election bid and how he could be replaced on the ballot.

Despite delivering a rousing speech at a rally in North Carolina on Friday that calmed some of his allies, Biden was described by one person familiar with his mood as humiliated, devoid of confidence and painfully aware that the physical images of him at the debate — eyes staring into the distance, mouth agape — will live beyond his presidency, along with a performance that at times was meandering, incoherent and difficult to hear.

“It’s a mess,” this person said.

Another person familiar with the dynamics said Biden will ultimately listen to only one adviser.

“The only person who has ultimate influence with him is the first lady,” this person said. “If she decides there should be a change of course, there will be a change of course.”

After article was published, a source familiar with the situation reached out to stress that the Camp David gathering was not a formal family meeting.

“Any discussion about the campaign is expected to be informal or an afterthought,” the source said. “No one is sitting down for a formal or determinative discussion.”

Anita Dunn, one of Biden’s handful of closest advisers, said Saturday on MSNBC’s “The Weekend” that Biden has not discussed dropping out of the race with aides and that internal talks have focused on moving forward.

“We had a bad debate,” Dunn said. “What do we do next? You know, the president, above all, is focused on what do we do next? What do I need to go do?”

These private discussions among Biden, his family members and his top advisers are being held against the backdrop of a reckoning for Democrats who were shocked both by Biden’s appearance and the frequency with which his train of thought appeared to veer off track.

His campaign held a conference call Saturday with members of the Democratic National Committee, which a Biden campaign official described as an effort to reassure party officials and demonstrate that his team is communicating with its allies.

“We’re driving this,” the official said.

Biden’s top aides and advisers have told his staff to stay the course in meetings and discussions. Their message, according to one senior administration official: “We’ll weather the storm, just like we always have.”

Sources have described three buckets of Democrats: those who will defend Biden under any circumstances, those who are ready to dump him, and those who are waiting to see what he does — and what his poll numbers look like in the coming days and weeks — before passing judgment. It’s the third bucket that Democratic insiders are monitoring closely.

“Democrats need to take a big breath and look at that polling, look at swing voters,” said one state Democratic Party chair. “Until I see something differently, he’s the person that’s put this coalition together, he’s the person that has the record, he’s the person that beat Donald Trump. Until I see something differently, he’s still the best person to beat Donald Trump.”

The Biden campaign declined to comment for this piece, instead pointing to a memo Saturday from campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon that made the case that Biden can still win, pointing to the more than $27 million they raised between debate day and Friday evening.

Notably, however, O’Malley Dillon nodded to the possibility that there might be some tough polling ahead — but said the blame will rest with the media: “If we do see changes in polling in the coming weeks, it will not be the first time that overblown media narratives have driven temporary dips in the polls.”

The discussions among some Democrats include weighing what the party’s best path to defeating Trump might be — sticking with an 81-year-old incumbent who could have another moment like Thursday night at any time between now and Election Day, or going with a different candidate whose path to nomination at the party’s convention next month could be a messy process.

Biden insisted Friday that he will remain the party’s standard-bearer in November, telling a crowd at his rally in North Carolina: “I would not be running again if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job.”

The president has spent much of the past 48 hours attending fundraising events with some of the very Democrats most concerned about the impact of his debate performance.

He addressed it head-on at one event Saturday.

“I understand the concern about the debate — I get it,” he added. “I didn’t have a great night.”

Party elites will urge him to exit the race only if they determine that he is “not viable and negatively impacting the House and Senate races,” said one big-time donor who is close to both Obama and Biden.

Inherent in the wait-and-see approach is an acknowledgment that there is no clear replacement for Biden and that his departure could touch off a bloody eleventh-hour intraparty battle that might allow Trump to cruise to victory.

There’s also no feasible way to force him from his perch. All but a handful of the delegates to the Democratic convention were elected on their pledge to nominate him at the party’s convention in August. If he chooses to stand for that nomination, party insiders say, he will get it.

Moreover, according to a senior Democratic official, the party leadership would have much more control over choosing a replacement if Biden were to drop out after receiving the nomination than if he did so beforehand. Once a candidate is officially nominated, there is a process for the Democratic National Committee members to choose a successor. Biden is the dominant force at the DNC, and his preference for a successor would surely carry sway.

If Biden were to exit before that, his delegates might do what he asked of them — but they wouldn’t be bound in the same way they are now. In that scenario, the delegates could nominate anyone, and there could be a political brawl at the convention.

“We need to have as much discipline as emotion,” the senior Democratic official said. “It’s not politically smart for Biden to step down.”

Carol E. Lee is the Washington managing editor.

Kristen Welker is the moderator of "Meet the Press."

Jonathan Allen is a senior national politics reporter for NBC News, based in Washington.

Mike Memoli is an NBC News correspondent. 

Monica Alba is a White House correspondent for NBC News.

40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 01 Jun 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy , materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes , offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development .

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy , with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

Elektrostal's fascinating history, vibrant culture, and promising future make it a city worth exploring. For more captivating facts about cities around the world, discover the unique characteristics that define each city . Uncover the hidden gems of Moscow Oblast through our in-depth look at Kolomna. Lastly, dive into the rich industrial heritage of Teesside, a thriving industrial center with its own story to tell.

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Guest Essay

When It Comes to Women’s Rights, Do Not Appease the Taliban

By Richard Bennett

Mr. Bennett is the U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan.

In May 2022, nine months after the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan, I visited a girls’ secondary school that was still open in the north in spite of a ban on education for girls above sixth grade. Communities in the area, which has a long history of valuing education, had refused to comply. I met with a group of 11th-grade math students who told me about their hopes for the future. “I don’t want to end up trapped at home and condemned to a domestic life,” one female student told me. “I want to finish school and become a teacher so that I can help my family and others.”

I ended that visit to Afghanistan with hope that perhaps the situation would not become as dire as I — and many Afghans — feared. But when I returned a year later, everything had changed. The school was closed. Instead of attending lessons, the student and her classmates were forced to stay at home, their teachers transferred to a primary school. Now, among the many other challenges facing girls and women under the Taliban’s rule, a mental health crisis has gripped the country. Girls report anxiety, depression and hopelessness, and there have been reports showing an alarming surge in suicides.

It is against this backdrop that the United Nations will convene a third meeting of international special envoys in Doha, Qatar, next week to discuss a political path forward for Afghanistan. The Taliban have accepted the U.N.’s invitation to join. (They declined to attend February’s meeting.) After discussions with the Taliban, the meeting’s agenda will focus on fighting narcotics and helping the private sector — and does not include human rights or women’s issues, and neither women nor Afghan civil society representatives will be included.

If these exclusions are the price of the Taliban’s presence in Doha, the cost is too high.

When the Taliban retook power in August 2021, their leaders initially said that education for girls above the sixth grade would be suspended until conditions were suitable under Islamic rules. Now, more than 1,000 days later, school remains off limits for girls older than 12, and restrictions on education have expanded to universities. The Taliban now say education is “an internal matter,” and it remains unclear when — or if — schools will reopen to girls.

Denial of education is just one of many Taliban decrees against women. Female civil servants were instructed not to report to work when the Taliban retook power. Women are now barred from working at nongovernmental organizations and humanitarian agencies, including the United Nations. Some female-owned businesses, like beauty salons, have been shuttered. Women and girls need to be accompanied by a male relative to travel.

The net result is that today, women and girls have been virtually erased from public life, deprived of their most basic rights. Afghan women began describing the Taliban’s policies as gender apartheid in the 1990s, and they and many others, including me, want such policies to be criminalized under international law.

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Elektrostal

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Elektrostal , city, Moscow oblast (province), western Russia . It lies 36 miles (58 km) east of Moscow city. The name, meaning “electric steel,” derives from the high-quality-steel industry established there soon after the October Revolution in 1917. During World War II , parts of the heavy-machine-building industry were relocated there from Ukraine, and Elektrostal is now a centre for the production of metallurgical equipment. Pop. (2006 est.) 146,189.

This decades-long trend in home prices has been ‘flipped on its head’ amid a big shift in the housing market

The historically unaffordable housing market has been forcing builders to start making smaller homes , and that has now triggered a major milestone in prices.

Since the mid-1980s, new homes typically commanded a price premium over existing homes, Howard Hughes Holdings CEO David O’Reilly told CNBC on Wednesday , adding that it has been shrinking over the past several months. Now it’s gone.

“Today’s result said that that’s actually flipped on its head,” he said.

For the month of May, the median sales for a new home price fell 0.9% from a year earlier to $417,400, the Commerce Department said on Wednesday.

By contrast, the median sales price for an existing home jumped 5.8% from a year ago to a fresh record-high of $419,300 in May, the National Association of Realtors said earlier this month. The NAR said that reflected more sales of high-priced properties as well as multiple offers.

And since the start of the year, the price of existing homes has been even steeper, jumping 10.8% from $378,600 in January. For new homes, it was $430,400 in January.

That’s as the housing market’s lock-in effect has kept the supply of existing homes tight because homeowners with low mortgage rates are reluctant to give them up and are not selling. But demand has stayed elevated, adding upward pressure on prices.

Meanwhile, the latest quarterly reports from homebuilders showed that average selling prices are coming down, O’Reilly said, citing a shift in the product mix.

“That shows the consumer adjusting to a smaller home, taking less space, and trying to get back into that range of affordability,” he said.

O’Reilly, who heads a real estate development and management company, also works with builders, and has been bullish on the sector, declaring in April that this is the “ golden age of homebuilding .”

The reversal in home prices for new homes versus existing homes also comes as the $200,000 starter home is going extinct , making it tougher for first-time buyers to get into the housing market.

“Over the past several years, the number of homes under $200,000 has gone from around half of all sales to less than a quarter of sales in 2023,” Realtor.com  said in a report  earlier this month, calling the statistic, “stark proof of shrinking affordability across the country.” 

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Murray pulls out of singles in Wimbledon farewell, to play doubles

Twice Wimbledon champion Andy Murray pulled out of the singles competition but will play doubles alongside his brother Jamie in his farewell appearance at the Grand Slam, the 37-year-old's management team said on Tuesday.