Life-long housing, more than a trend
Real estate experts are predicting a massive shift in housing trends in 2018. Flemish Architect Leo Van Broeck talks about a hybrid future with compact homes or – better still – apartments. Apartments will become roughly 10% smaller and will no longer be fitted with a traditional boiler. Geothermal networks will emerge. Technologies are changing rapidly and this means that many project developers choose to design and build apartments so they can be adapted throughout your lifetime.
Smart Assisted Living
Life-long housing immediately makes you think of wider door frames, eliminating steps and a number of often stigmatising features, such as braces and handlebars. But nothing could be further from the truth, as a combination of smart technology and modern wiring enables project developers to offer smart living apartments whose technology can adapt to its residents’ needs and requirements. This is not a first for Belgian hardware and software manufacturer IPBuilding as it has completed over 1,300 construction projects in the meantime.
Kris Pensaert (IPBuilding): “Most people who buy apartments are over 50 and this generation is very much aware of the life-long nature of their new home. That is why more and more project developers increasingly opt for the concept of Smart (Assisted) Living.”
“Today, IPBuilding is creating Smart Living residential environments that combine all technologies into a single digital platform. Residents can control the lighting, multimedia, sun blinds, security, access, and more from a touch screen in their home, but also remotely via a tablet or smartphone. This provides more comfort, greater security and reduced energy consumption,” says Michael Van Buggenhout of IPBuilding. We find that a person’s needs and requirements change as they age. Ease of use, safety and increased monitoring become of greater concern. “When the need arises, we can add assistive technology to the already present IPBuilding Smart Living system, without the need for demolition or construction works. One example of this involves adding an intelligent emergency call system. Elderly residents can use a wireless alarm button, a button on the touchscreen or a neck/wrist strap to easily contact a person of their choice. This can be a family member, but also a professional healthcare provider such as a home nurse.”
In other words, after years of enjoying the benefits of Smart Living, residents can seamlessly transition to Smart Assisted Living. IPBuilding also developed a custom layout for and together with elderly people, which is now successfully used in various Smart Assisted Living projects and in different residences consisting of assisted living housing.
Tailored to the target group
Many property developers who build and sell apartments have already incorporated the concept of ‘life-long housing’ into the design of their projects. “Property developers realise that Flemish people want to continue to live at home for as long as they can. Most people who buy apartments in Flanders are over 50. Providing assistive technology in apartments is no longer optional, it has really become a necessity to make projects successful.”
More info via www.ipbuilding.com, info@ipbuilding.com, +32 (0)9 279 89 69
IPBuilding is a Belgian company that is internationally active and specialises in the development of applications for Smart Homes, Smart Buildings and Smart Care. IPBuilding has over 10 years’ experience in research, development and production of the hardware and associated software for fitting homes and buildings with intelligent systems. User-friendliness and flexibility for end users are the core of our philosophy. IPBuilding has already installed over 1,300 intelligent systems in private homes and apartments as well as in assisted living housing, residential care homes, offices and shops.
