In light of geopolitical shifts and emerging lifestyles, the demand for flexible residential architecture is intensifying. In this era of increased mobility, is it enough for people to simply move around, or will the buildings of tomorrow need to adapt?
The number of digital nomads has increased in recent years, driven by a desire for flexibility, a better work-life balance, and the ability to travel while working. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically accelerated this shift, with 88% of employees working from home regularly during the crisis, compared to just 31% before. This transformation has catalyzed new housing models, particularly “subscription housing,” where occupants pay a monthly fee to rent furnished apartments, utilities, and services.
The appeal of subscription living goes beyond mere convenience, fostering a sense of community through shared spaces and organized events that facilitate networking and socializing. By providing move-in ready spaces with all necessities included, this approach not only saves time but also offers cost-effectiveness by eliminating the recurring expenses associated with furnishing and setting up utilities in multiple locations.
The architectural response to this mobility trend has taken many forms, with modular designs leading the way. These structures can adapt to changing needs, allowing for easy expansion or contraction of living and working spaces.
In Slovenia, ekokoncept's prefabricated buildings exemplify this approach with their Mini For-2, a compact wooden house that embodies a combination of functionality, portability, and ecological awareness. What sets the Mini For-2 apart is its adaptability: its external dimensions have been carefully calculated to allow for the seamless transport of the entire unit in one piece, simplifying logistics while enabling users to relocate their home with minimal disruption. For those requiring additional space, the basic module can be extended up to 8 meters or connected with other modules, offering endless combinations to suit evolving needs.
In the hospitality sector, Moliving has emerged as the first nomadic hospitality group, revolutionizing the industry with its modular technology for "product-driven" hotel rooms . This startup offers a unique, sustainable, end-to-end, scalable solution that allows landowners to monetize underutilized assets. Its innovative process enables hotels to be built in months instead of years, at a fraction of the traditional cost, allowing a hotel to be "in the right place at the right time."
Architecture on wheels, or "mobitecture," is another typology that has emerged from the desire to venture off the grid. These habitable structures can be driven or towed from one place to another. Some of the most notable examples include the increasingly popular "tiny homes," which fit the program of a regular house into a compact area. Many of these homes are less than 40 square meters and provide minimal storage, meaning that occupants can only bring a fraction of their personal belongings.
Designed to fit standard flatbed trucks or be placed directly on the ground, the Cocoon Freelancer measures 185 by 320 centimeters internally and features high-tech vacuum-formed glass and thick, solid wood walls with special stabilizing chambers. Inspired by alpine houses and Japanese temples, the log cabin is constructed using "moonwood," a uniquely harvested timber that offers superior durability and sustainability. Built to fit standard 3.5-ton flatbed trucks, the structure represents a step toward sustainable and flexible living spaces that can adapt to nomadic lifestyles.
The convergence of digital nomadism and subscription-based living is leading architecture professionals to fundamentally rethink building design. Tomorrow's buildings may need to be more adaptable, modular, and even mobile to accommodate these evolving lifestyles. Architects are exploring various solutions, including textile structures and inflatable architecture, which are gaining attention for their portability and rapid installation times. These modern designs resonate with the principles of traditional nomadic dwellings, adapted to contemporary needs.
The concept of floating settlements has emerged as a response to rising sea levels and climate change, supporting the idea of a nomadic architecture that is not tied to a specific location. This aligns with the broader concept of "neo-nomadic urbanism ," which extends beyond mere mobility to encompass adaptive responses to increasingly dynamic living situations. These developments raise important questions about how urban planning and architecture can evolve to better serve these changing patterns of habitation and movement within our cities.
Challenges
However, mobile architecture faces significant challenges. Building codes, zoning laws, and infrastructure systems are designed around the assumption of architectural permanence. Access to water, electricity, and the internet in remote locations can be problematic. There are also concerns about how the transient nature of mobile communities could affect local economies and social structures, as well as ensuring that mobile architecture remains environmentally sustainable.
However, as climate change and remote work continue to reshape our relationship with place, the pressure for architectural innovation is growing. The most challenging aspect of nomadic living isn't the travel or remote work itself, but finding spaces that truly support this lifestyle. Mobile architecture isn't just about moving buildings, but about creating spaces that understand and facilitate mobility. As we move away from sedentary lifestyles, the very nature of our cities must evolve to accommodate this transformation.
Source: https://www.archdaily
