Health and well-being have been issues of concern since last century – and especially now amid climate change and a pandemic.

The search for quality of life is intense in real estate. Buyers focus on the location and surroundings, with impacts for the sector. Here are some of the new must-haves for multipurpose buildings. 

The first is circulating clean air amid air pollution’s rising threat to human health and well-being. On days when the air outside is toxic, indoors can be a refuge not just for tenants but for users too. This demand can bring revenue to tenants and drive the sector’s sustainable long-term growth. 

The second is vertical farming. Supporting eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyles, this form of agriculture lets crops be harvested and consumed immediately without transport. This approach supports a circular economy, reduces carbon footprint, eliminates plastic packaging, and cuts water use by 95%. It can also help create healthy indoor green spaces while meeting consumer demand. 

In the post-COVID era, we need a comprehensive and integrated care system. People will stop living day to day and thinking only of themselves. Health, the environment, and social issues that affect everyone in the short, medium, and long term will become our priorities. Buildings that address these issues will enable real estate operators to retain and expand their customer base. 

Implications for the future: 

- Owners of multipurpose buildings may need to adjust their strategies to cover more dimensions according to the needs of the new generation of customers and the rapidly changing environment. 

- Interiors that suit us better than the actual environment will drive the trend toward indoor living. 

- Successful businesses will focuses on developing areas both for living and the environment. 

Credit: https://www.mckinsey.com/.../commercial-real-estate-must...