Obviously, the last five years have seen some pretty big changes globally, not only to the ways people work and live, but in our communities as well. We’re seeing some of those changes reflected in what we’re designing in new-build apartments as well as other multifamily and mixed-use developments. Here are the top four trends we’re seeing and how they are impacting design.

1. Working from home has transformed apartment floorplans.

One of the biggest changes in the last five years is how many more people are now working from home. Many workers forced to work remotely during the pandemic lockdowns have opted to stay that way, citing increased productivity, less time spent commuting, and better work-life balance. Because of this drastic shift in where people are working, we are seeing demand for more flexible space or dedicated offices – even one-bedroom units with a den or workspace nook ­– within apartments and dwelling units. People are seeking extra space where they can work within their homes and keep it somewhat separate from their daily living spaces.

One thing we’re seeing less of because of this shift is dining rooms in the floorplans. If a dining room exists in the floorplan, residents are more often using the space as an office or multipurpose room. Developers of new multifamily projects are more often requesting that traditional dining rooms be omitted from floorplans in favor of dens, offices or multifunctional rooms.

Five years ago, we started to see more wine bars installed in apartment units, as residents used the space for social activities, but now those have turned into built-in desks. Residents are changing how they want to utilize their living spaces, and developers are responding and differentiating their properties by utilizing smaller space to provide maximum function.

The work-from-home shift has even changed the layout of amenities spaces available in communities. The clubhouse now includes coworking-type spaces, virtual-meeting pods, libraries or micro-offices for residents to use as alternate work and meeting areas. Designing multifunctional amenities spaces that can be used for both work and recreation are making apartment communities more attractive to residents.

2. Amenities spaces and common areas are more flexible and multipurpose.

Beyond the work-from-home trend as a driver for more flexible and multipurpose amenity space, multifamily properties have become more than residential – they are communities where people live, work, and play. There is a greater emphasis on amenities, and common areas that are available for residents are reflecting this need for spaces that work for many people and for a variety of uses.

In addition to the co-working areas, business centers and meeting rooms in clubhouses, leasing offices are now transforming into activity spaces for the community, where residents can take a yoga class or gather for taco night.

In urban areas especially, where the building sites can be smaller, it’s important to develop more outdoor or indoor-outdoor transitional spaces for wellness and recreation. Most apartments have a pool area, but we are seeing increasingly more requests for outdoor game areas, shaded lounge and recreational areas, and even dog parks.

Clubhouses with garage doors that can open up to nature and fresh air are very popular for creating indoor-outdoor spaces as the weather allows. Providing more connection between the pool courtyard and the other amenities spaces, even small turf areas just outside create an extension of the interior space when the overhead doors are opened evoke the feeling of a much larger amenity space.

The emphasis on amenities is driving demand for more walkable developments as well. Master planning consideration for ground-level retail and food and beverage options for residents, and designing neighborhoods with a cross-pollination of residential and business go a step further in creating communities where people want to live.

3. More studio apartments are included in the mix of unit types than ever before.

People are looking for more flexibility in their living spaces and are eschewing the rigid apartment floorplans of five years ago. In particular, young people seeking their first apartment are requesting studio-type units because of the flexibility the open space provides.

Typically around the same size in square feet as a one-bedroom unit, the studios of today are giving entry-level tenants more freedom and creativity in arranging their space. And designers can be creative with differentiating the units as well, by creating built-in desks, storage or shelving, and playing with the open kitchen layout for a more functional space.

The demand for more studio apartments is driving a very different – and in many instances more balanced – mix of unit types in new multifamily development projects.

4. There is a greater emphasis on affordability.

A recent study by the National Multifamily Housing Council reported that roughly 4.3 million new apartments will be necessary by 2035 to meet rising demand – some 266,000 new units annually. Complicating the issue, the number of affordable units (rent less than $1,000 per month) declined by 4.7 million from 2015 to 2020. Meeting this high demand is spurring new development approaches and more incentives for developers.

One approach is to create mixed-market rate apartment developments, or mixed-income, where a percentage of the units are set aside as rent-restricted affordable housing. These mixed-market multifamily developments are often highly incentivized by cities and states, because they enable middle-income residents to be able to live in urban areas or near where they work. Additionally, cities like Dallas will often allow some zoning incentives as well, enabling developers to increase density and reduce parking on a site if the property is designated mixed-income. It’s a great way for developers to provide additional space within their building and a great way for the city to earmark units for affordable housing – a win-win for everyone.

In addition to mixed-rate multifamily developments, there is also increased demand for single-family build-to-rent properties, often based on the surrounding neighborhood and the size of the parcel of land intended for the development. These vary from duplexes to townhomes and even rowhouses, and they provide an option for people who may be looking for something more than an apartment but aren’t yet ready to buy a home.

Overall, the differences in multifamily development in the last five years are impacting design in new and exciting ways, and more importantly enabling developers to create more housing that is affordable for everyone. If you envision developing a multifamily or mixed-market project, the development advisers at Vision+Architecture Studio can guide you through each phase of the process to see your project realized.