High Rise Pods – The Future of studio apartments By Ar. Hardik Pandit, Director – APICES Studio Pvt. Ltd.

No discussion on the future of housing and design of spaces can be complete without its architecture and design. Several design-driven concepts are being put to test as the world becomes more urban, and a larger number of people live and work in high-rises. Once a revolutionary architectural style that changed the urban construction landscape over a century ago, skyscrapers are now being built in virtually every metropolis on the planet.

The lack of space, demand for housing, affordable price-point and homes that offer a view have led to construction going vertical. Several futuristic concepts being discussed today take this into consideration. Vending Machine Skyscraper, is one such concept. Credited to young Malaysian architect Haseef Rafiei, these studio style homes are meant to provide a strategy that deals with global economic uncertainty, real estate speculation, and housing-demand in urban areas. Vending Machine Skyscraper is a response to the growing housing demands in the cities. The futuristic building concept has been designed to adapt to the needs of its inhabitants over time, rather than remaining a static structure. Modules stored within the building could be flexible spaces designed with form following function megastructure in robotics concept. The structure could be used for both residential and business use, housing start-ups and commercial spaces as well as homes.

A pod lifestyle

Imagine studio apartments taking the shape of these high-rise pods in the future. In addition to being cost effective, these small homes have the advantage of requiring less upkeep. The money saved by choosing a smart studio apartment can be used for clever, well-designed furniture that will enhance the comfort, convenience, and enjoyment of living in these spaces. In addition, individuals now realise that investing in a small apartment in a desirable location has its advantages to being in a larger unit in a distant suburb.

High-rise pods are a concept that promotes a more economically sustainable idea of construction, real-estate value, and housing. Instead of being a static structure, it is a futuristic apartment design which remains compact while it takes into account the changing requirements of its occupants. The concept of pods may be a fairly new invention, but is one that has been vastly explored and designed to evolve into serving many purposes. Hotels, co-working spaces and so on have been successful examples.

As an architectural design, the theme of pods has worked brilliantly depending on city to city, and situation to situation. Looking forward, the future holds many brighter possibilities that pods can bring up. Japan and Hongkong are already leading with such concepts involving pods.

Rising housing needs

These High Rise Pods are a self-sustaining design that helps reduce waste and maximise efficiency. Modules that are a part of the structure’s design can help relocate, reorganise, modify, or recycle the homes at any point in time. Studio apartments are most common in upbeat urban neighbourhoods, where space is at a premium. Therefore, studio apartments are the way to be in an extremely prime position at an affordable price, especially if being in the centre of the action city.

As the title suggests, pods in high rises could be the future of studio apartments, known as ‘pre-fab,’ ‘modular’ or ‘factory built’ these profited, modular pods signify both compactness and can be fitted with the luxury one seeks. The growing trend suggests a need for multifunctional buildings that can accommodate a variety of needs without sacrificing aesthetics. This is, at least in principle, the future of studio apartments in a global metropolis like Mumbai. The challenges for the modern architect in accommodating the growing population with available space in urban habitats is driving towards life in a compact, futuristic pod in a city skyscraper.

Futuristic design using robotics

There’s limited room for extraneous belongings in an apartment, so architectural design implicitly encourages the occupants to streamline and declutter their spaces. The objective of this cutting-edge structural design is to use robotics-related ideas to the process of building a skyscraper. Using automation, this plan will relieve the strain on the construction industry in terms of labour, cost, and time with speed and flexibility in order to meet the rising demands of the urban housing market.

In order to entice buyers, architects are providing high-tech solutions and making sure they efficiently utilise every square inch of space. With a folding bed, sliding doors, larger ceilings, and mirrors on the wall that give the impression of more space, these pod designs can be incredibly practical. Technology that automates or remotely controls various household functions, from lighting to security, will only go mainstream with the future of these studio homes. There is little doubt that the high-rise pods are going to be smart homes as these architectural designs end up being a showcase of luxury living made possible through energy saving, improved security, and added convenience.