As the coronavirus pandemic swept through nations and battered major U.S. hubs, the way people live has likely changed for the foreseeable future.  

Apartment building amenities once viewed as luxury must-haves, such as gyms and indoor congregate spaces, are now a thing of the past. In this brand new world of remote work, social distancing and outdoor living, tenants have other essential luxury amenities in mind when choosing a place to settle in.

Throughout the last two years, the idea of luxury living has become less of an aesthetic component and more of a design that predicts our lifestyle needs. Here are six ways the pandemic is changing luxury amenities.

1. Practical Layout

A recent survey conducted by HR consulting firm Mercer found that 70% of companies intend to implement a hybrid working model in a post-pandemic world. In another study released by Future Workforce Report, 36.2 million Americans will work remotely by 2025, double the pre-pandemic number.

With at-home careers growing in popularity and necessity, apartment building owners must explore ways to improve unit layouts and account for their remote working tenants. 

For example, architects must consider whether units provide functional space for one or more renters to spread themselves out. They may also look at making room for a desk or if the kitchen setup functions well as a multipurpose cooking, eating and working area.

Building renovations in the past couple of years point to the growing importance of functional spaces. Last year’s conversion of 212 West 72nd St, for example, focused on extending practical storage space and using floor plans that could adapt easily to owners’ individual needs. Beauty and practicality go hand in hand as more New Yorkers shift to fully remote work and need their homes to shift with them.

2. Workspace Rental

In addition to reworking the layout of apartments and condominium units to accommodate remote work, some developers may also convert rentable space into workspace rentals. 

Shared workspaces through companies like WeWork and Impact Hub have grown exponentially, with an estimated 158% increase in coworking spaces by 2024 worldwide. As the pandemic persists and more people find themselves working from home, excess rentable space could become micro-offices.

Some people prefer the feeling of leaving home to go to their jobs, and the solution to this may be providing in-building leases for a self-contained workspace. 

3. Outdoor Space

Rooftop terraces, decks, balconies and other outdoor amenities have become a luxury most tenants are unwilling to compromise. As more people confined themselves to solitary living during the pandemic, time spent in the fresh air suddenly became something to be cherished. 

Developers and building directors will have to cater to this demand, improving their outdoor living spaces into safe oases for their tenants to enjoy. 

Elements of luxury amenities we may see more of soon will likely include comfortable seating, fire pit tables, outdoor kitchens, picnic tables, rooftop gardens and internet access for working outside.

4. Bringing Nature Indoors

For as popular as outdoor living space is during the current and post-pandemic worlds, more tenants are looking for ways to bring nature indoors, as well. 

Paint can easily create a nature-inspired interior. When mental health has become increasingly fragile in these times, apartment buildings can use earthy color palettes that invoke a sense of peace and well-being in their residents. 

A more drastic design element in the changing luxury amenities is incorporating living walls. Living walls — or "vertical gardens" — are most likely to appear in building lobbies. Although living walls are an attractive, sustainable feature, their presence following the pandemic will be more practical than anything else.

Living walls that include herbs and vegetables could help prevent frequent trips to the grocery store. This will be convenient for tenants who go to great lengths to avoid infection and have found themselves cooking at home more often.

5. Pet-Friendly Properties

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), one in five households adopted a dog or cat since the pandemic began. That equates to approximately 23 million Americans based on the 2019 U.S. Census Bureau. 

While many apartment buildings have maintained "no pets" clauses in the past, there are many reasons why landlords could allow animals in apartments following the pandemic. Due to the increase in pet ownership since the coronavirus crisis, there is the potential for an expanded pool of renters who can afford higher rents. Generally, pet owners are responsible tenants, as well, and more likely to renew their leases.

It's highly improbable that pet owners would be willing to give up their pets to move to a new place. Instead, they'll probably focus their search for dog- and cat-friendly apartment buildings.

6. Germ-Fighting Surfaces

The coronavirus has shed light on hygiene and health, which could very well carry over to the types of materials used during construction.

Antibacterial and antimicrobial building materials could become a luxury amenity that's rather appealing to tenants. This could include Silestone countertops and even cork flooring. 

Copper fixtures, like faucets, knobs and drawer pulls, also have antimicrobial properties that reduce the spread of disease. Copper is aesthetically-pleasing, as well, and could enhance the luxury design of apartment buildings.

Health-Minded Changes for Luxury Living

The pandemic has drastically changed our lifestyles very quickly. When stay-at-home orders and social distancing became the norm, it challenged people to face how they were living and find new ways to make life simpler and healthier. Luxury amenities are sure to follow the cultural shift towards cleanliness, an escape to nature and interior comfort.

Author

Evelyn Long is the editor-in-chief of Renovated. Her real estate work has been published by the National Association of REALTORS®, Rental Housing Journal, and other online publications.

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