INTERIORS 69


BATHROOM TECHNOLOGY: A SMART CHOICE


Today’s consumers have lived through some of the biggest technological changes in the home since the industrial revolution. Sophie Weston of Geberit looks at the untapped potential in bathroom spaces that housebuilders can off er.


T


he ‘hotelisation’ of the home has had an enormous impact on the residential property market in recent times. The pandemic has, of course, played its part, with homes transformed into multi-functional spaces that are part gym, offi ce and sanctuary. Indeed, we looked at the impact of this in our new report ‘Why Bathroom Technology is a Smart Choice for Housebuilders’ and what this means for the expectations of today’s homebuyers. Grant Bates, realtor at Hamptons International and contributor to our report, sums it up neatly thus: “Leaving home is a choice, not a necessity for occupants.”


The end result is a buyer whose main consideration is prioritising day-to-day enjoyment of life and one willing to pay a ‘convenience premium’. As Grant points out, “…the practicality and convenience of the home are as important as the interior design.”


SMART EXPECTATIONS Developers are, naturally, responding to these growing expectations and ensuring that homes are “… using the latest technology to accommodate a new world with a focus on self care, hygiene and  eible space.


There is no doubt that some spaces do lend themselves to smart innovations more obviously than others. Think Bluetooth enabled white goods, smart fridges and touchless taps in the kitchen, for instance. Likewise, as Grant points out, many home offi ce spaces are increasingly “akin to a professional YouTuber or in uencers. ighting, backdrops and high performance web cams are all a necessary part of any work from home set up as remote meetings replace the commute to the board room.”


In fact, when we commissioned a


YouGov poll of 1,200 UK homeowners to seek their views on technology and smart devices in the home, the most popular spaces to see such innovations featured were the living room (70%), followed


IF A SPA IS THE BRIEF FROM YOUR BUYERS, COULD TECHNOLOGY HOLD THE KEY TO UNLOCKING THIS?


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