The coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the trend away from open-plan living as people seek greater privacy at home, according to Albert Hill, co-founder of design-led estate agent The Modern House.
Hill said that buyers were increasingly looking for homes with a variety of different rooms for different activities rather than large, open multipurpose spaces.
"People are moving away from open-plan spaces now," Hill told Dezeen. "People like a little bit more variety."
Hill made the comments in a live discussion about the future of housing organised in conjunction with House by Urban Splash.
The talk, broadcast yesterday on Dezeen, was held to mark the launch of the development company's Live Well by Design manifesto.
People want "the best of both worlds" Suzy Jones, director of Future Lab at House by Urban Splash, said the trend away from open-plan spaces started in commercial offices and has now spread to homes.
"Everybody wanted huge open-plan offices, which in some ways are great," she said. "But in other ways, it's very, very difficult to actually get any work done."
"And it's the same in homes," she added. "I think we want the best of both worlds: we want parts of our homes where we can all get together and then places where we can retreat and have privacy."
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Albert Hill made the comment in a live talk about the future of housing
Architects have been predicting the demise of multi-functional living...