4/13/2015 Building design meets the sharing economy

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4/13/2015 Building design meets the sharing economy

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Building design meets the sharing economy

by David Tweedie

09 Oct 2014

Interior Design & Architecture

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From sharing and swapping to renting and trading – collective minimalism is a global trend

representative of our transition away from private ownership towards an economy of

sharing. 

It’s about having access to things, rather than owning them, and it’s impacting our buildings

and built environment.

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Communal property isn’t new

This sharing of resources and communality are not new concepts. Among our oldest

instincts as humans are cooperation, sharing, generosity, individual choice and flexibility.

If we look back to the 1930s and 40s we see libraries, launderettes and the communal

kitchens of Howard Lawson’s South Yarra apartments. More recent examples include gyms,

pools, saunas and rooftops.

The renaissance of these trends is cyclical and affected by urban connectivity – a

combination of the following factors:

Technology

Technology, specifically the growth in online networking and the sophistication of mobile

devices, has given us easy access to the world of collective minimalism.

Web powered sharing platforms offer a more convenient means for us to get what we want

at a cheaper price.

Consider car share schemes like GoGet and Flexicar that give you self-service access to cars

across Australia, all available to book and access 24/7.

Onsite pods, like those planned for the Hayball designed Studio Nine apartments, will provide

tenants with communal cars that they can use like their own. This means residents can still

enjoy the benefits of car ownership, while investors can expect the same return on their

property without the added cost of purchasing a car space.

Residents can enjoy the benefits of car ownership, while investors can expect the

same return on their property without the added cost of purchasing a car space.

We are sharing more of our lives with more people than ever before and collective

minimalism is merely an extension of this. It makes sense that we leverage our networks to

get what we need, when we need it without additional expense.

Music-streaming websites and apps can be seen as the pooling of tracks and sharing of

audio content, which negates the need to purchase CDs. The dramatic effect of these

platforms on the music industry shows us just how powerful collective minimalism can be in

shaping not only an industry, but a generation.

Read more: The sharing economy is a renters best friend

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Airbnb

Founded in 2008, Airbnb describes itself as “a community marketplace where guests can

book spaces from hosts, connecting people who have space to spare with those who are

looking for a place to stay”. It has shot to popularity for a number of reasons, the potential

revenue stream in a spare room being one of them.

Another is that many of us have tired of overpriced cookie-cutter hotels and have sought

alternatives that offer an authentic experience of living in another city.

It is these bespoke experiences and the fact that you can get them at a competitive price

with a little social interaction thrown in for good measure that add to Airbnb’s appeal.

Read more: Your personal bed & breakfast – the rise of Airbnb

Housing affordability & changing demographics

The costs of real estate has prompted some to reassess their consumption patterns and

priorities. Perhaps a by-product of this is the rise in popularity of apartment living, where we

see people favouring well designed smaller dwellings, close to amenities, over stand-alone

houses.

Couple this with urban densification and we have found that while people still crave a

property of their own, they also desire a village lifestyle. As architects, we’re seeing evidence

of this in the growing demand for apartments with communal facilities.

While people still crave a property of their own, they also desire a village lifestyle.

Collective minimalism can be understood as impacting on the design of apartment buildings.

Mixed-use integration is becoming more prevalent, with designs increasingly configured to

encourage a journey through social spaces and promoting opportunities for social

interaction.

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From car share spaces, bike share schemes, business centres with rentable meeting spaces

and communal apartments available for residents’ guests to rent at Yorkshire Brewery to a

communal rooftop oasis at Bravo, we are actively incorporating social infrastructure for

sharing into our projects.

Read more: Introducing – the shared guest apartment

Shared spaces – the way forward

Sharing is a great way to gain without having to acquire, and it can also create real personal

income if you already own something and are prepared to share.

If you’re a homeowner you can leverage what you have to generate immediate profit, or opt

to improve the value of your property by increasing its productivity (think bike and car share

schemes).

If you’re looking to rent or buy, consider sharing potential – there’s a lot of flexibility and a lot

of opportunity.

Start your search for a new apartment

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and explore our Pinterest boards.

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Interior Design & Architecture

About

David Tweedie

David is a director at Hayball, one of Australia’s largest architecture practices, with particular

expertise in residential projects and urban design. Chief among his design interests is the

integration of environmentally sustainable principles. At a time when the construction

industry is increasingly calling for environmental innovation, David leads Hayball’s

4/13/2015 Building design meets the sharing economy

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