Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2019 | Page 40

technologically advanced platform may not
be the one to win the day:
“The platforms that allow the creation
of networks in the most effective ways are
likely to be the forerunners in the race”, he
predicts.
Urban Power
Teppo Voutilainen, Director of New Ser-
vices and Solutions Business Unit at KONE,
points out that smarter buildings are needed
since the megatrend of urbanization isn’t
going anywhere. By 2050, more than two
in every three people on the planet will live
in urban areas – and smarter real estate has
a role to play in making sure that the cities
remain livable.
“Only by understanding urbanization
and by focusing on improvements for people
can we create better buildings, better cities,
and a better world,” he points out.
In addition to the rapid growth in urban
populations, the fast-paced technological
advancements in connectivity, mobility,
and computing power are changing many
aspects of our lives. “The technological dis-
ruption which transforms markets and ser-
vices also means a faster pace for business
and new expectations for both living and
working,” Voutilainen observes.
“New technologies provide us with a
great opportunity to ensure that buildings
can serve the people who live and work in
them in smarter and more exciting ways.”
Voutilainen believes that in the res-
idential building sector, for instance, we
will see further pressure to embrace change,
driven by two further trends: shifting demo-
graphics, and an increasing focus on social
experiences.
“The former refers to the increasing
number of single and small households.
They have different needs, in terms of ser-
vices, as well as the need to take into account
an aging population and the accessibility
needs of elderly residents.”
Maximize Your Building
In the future, home environments will ful-
fill multiple purposes, with residential apart-
ment buildings functioning like “mini cit-
ies” with dedicated floors for living, work-
ing, and leisurely activities such as exercise.
“The rise in the demand for serviced
housing means that residential living will
have more and more in common with the
hospitality sector, with people consuming
more and more services – such as cleaning,
home deliveries, and pet care – at home,”
Voutilainen says.
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