Apartment living used to be flat. You had your space, and perhaps you knew the neighbors in your hallway, but nothing more. The apartment buildings themselves didn’t have communal spaces or even green spaces. Many didn’t even have balconies. The focus was on privacy, and space, and it’s hurt a lot of people unintentionally in the process.
The good news is we’re now shifting away from that old apartment mentality. Today apartments offer many amenities to help residents know each other and build a community. Similarly, you’re also more likely to find third spaces in modern new builds.
Just how are these amenities redefining apartment living? Let’s get into it:
Social Support
Previously flats worked on the supposition that the tenants were the ones responsible for making friends if they wanted to, and leading the charge. This is still very much so true, with one big change – support. One of the leading differences between a standard apartment building and winning new builds like Tranquility Manchester is the on-site community manager.
Having a manager on-site to help organize events, clubs, and more is a game changer. People today are so busy, and unless their neighbors are in their spaces, they likely won’t make an effort to meet and befriend those living in the same building as them. Having a community manager actually gives people more opportunity to choose for themselves, since it takes a lot of the labor off their hands. Instead, they often just need to show up.
Communal Spaces
More new builds are being built with communal spaces. This could be a coworking space, a lobby with furniture or even games, or even an on-site garden. These communal spaces are third spaces, meaning they’re spaces where residents can freely visit and hang out. Third spaces are great for those who work from home, or those who need to change environments for whatever reason.
Health and Wellness
On-site gyms have been amenities in top luxury properties for awhile, but they’re becoming increasingly popular again as a way to help stay fit, active, and healthy. While these spaces are certainly less about socializing, offering residents a way to save on an expensive gym membership can help encourage more tenants to live well, and be well.
Sustainable Design
Many new builds are being built with sustainability in mind. This is great for the overall environment but also comes with several key benefits for residents themselves. The first and foremost is, of course, that sustainably built buildings are more energy efficient. This means that the ongoing cost of utilities in a new build is significantly less, while offering more. Residents can comfortably heat or even cool their homes with less effort, allowing them a more comfortable experience year-round.
Air quality is another factor that will make a big difference in a person’s health and wellbeing. Improved air filters and ventilation systems work to continually circulate the air and help keep it fresh. As a bonus, this method also minimizes moisture build-up, keeping the risk of damp or mould at all-time lows.
New builds have been under fire recently for using lower-quality materials, or having higher prices than older homes. This is because the cost of materials themselves has increased significantly in the past few years. When taking into account the social, environmental, and health benefits of these new designs, however, new builds are certainly a no brainer for any investor, buyer, or renter to consider for themselves.