At CES 2020, the world’s most significant customer electronics show held in Las Vegas, US, artificial intelligence (AI) was a prominent presence. At the show, Samsung introduced Ballie, a tiny ball-shaped robot, which can help in everyday chores. Consumer electronics giant GE Appliances, also, revealed a personalised kitchen style named ‘Shift’ (which makes use of face and voice recognition, and comes with height adjustment for wheelchair customers) and ‘Home Grown’, a new-age gardening method for developing meals in properties.
Clearly, house automation is on the rise. In the future, wise, multifunctional, interactive, sustainable and versatile spaces are anticipated to rule properties, focusing on the balance of work, life and sleep. “The rising demand for smart home products in the country—owing to factors such as upgrading of wireless internet, emergence of cloud-based services and convergence-based technologies such as IoT—has brought a new era in smart home automation. This segment is expected to see an overall growth of 7.2% by 2022. As the government focuses on development of smart cities, more companies will strive to be leaders and push the boundaries of possibility,” says Gurumukh Uttamchandani, executive director, Syska Group, which caters to revolutionary item options and Wi-Fi-enabled devices, each app and voice-controlled.
Take, for instance, Miraie, an IoT- and AI-enabled connected living option by Panasonic. It empowers every day lives of buyers with comfort, comfort and seamless connectivity across all Panasonic devices. The initial variety of connected goods contains AC, wise doorbell, plugs and switches, with plans of adding refrigerator, washing machine, Television, fans and geysers in the future. Miraie can get doorbell alerts on smartphone with a video feed or handle switches with in-constructed voice help, and so on. “With the advent of 5G, IoT will be driving the next round of transformation in the digital world and is the future of smart, connected India. Consumers are looking to enhance quality of life through connected ecosystems. Our research reveals over 75% consumers look for specific requirements related to ease of use, safety, monitoring misuse, service reminders, personalised usage pattern. Miraie addresses all these,” says Manish Sharma, president and CEO, Panasonic India and south-east Asia.
Next-generation house
The house automation method in India has witnessed unprecedented demand in current years, specially in urban regions. As per Allied Market Research, the India house automation marketplace size was valued at $1,790.9 million in 2018 and is anticipated to attain $13,574.1 million by 2026, developing at a CAGR of 29.8% through the forecast period of 2019-2026. “Though in a nascent stage in India, the growth of the discerning class of consumers with high disposable incomes and improved lifestyle has boosted growth of smart homes. There’s a growing awareness about energy and water conservation… smart energy and water meters to monitor consumption are the next big automation solutions. Without touching the phone or a smart switch panel, one can turn on/off light and energy devices with just a wave of a hand,” says US-based Ashwanth Anadasu, co-founder and COO, Hogar Controls, a creating and house automation brand.
The wise house category has a wide variety of goods to give. Samsung’s Curd Maestro can address the discomfort point of everyday curd-generating or the calculative Pantelligent wise pan can adjust the way you cook, fry or sauté. Smart house app Syska can manage, schedule, organise lights, set mood, and so on. An integrated option, ‘Wonder Life-Box’ by Panasonic has Akari, an AI method, which manages the house with face recognition to validate entry/exit. Sensors wipe out possible bacteria or detect polluted air, chores that a human cannot carry out. Then Philips’ wise Television Ultra Slim 4K UHD LED, with 3-sided ambilight in 65-inch screen size, converts the living space into a virtual sound and light show.
Silicon Valley-based AI house robot brand Trifo launched the initial house surveillance robot cleaner with a water tank and 10 mopping pads, enabling customers to mop the floor although sweeping. To aid people today savour the practical experience of immersive 3D sound in house cinema, German label Sennheiser launched Ambeo soundbar, which automatically adjusts sound to the space. Goldmedal Electricals, a major house-grown rapidly-moving electrical goods organization, introduced Goldmedal i-Sense Senso Switch to manage light sources, fans and other appliances by a wave of the hand. “We are likely to see improved versions of voice assistants to understand voice commands and gauge the context and tone of the inquiry,” says Kishan Jain, director, Goldmedal Electricals.
The pandemic, also, has considerably changed Indian properties. With several forgoing domestic assists, dishwashers, cleaning robots and sanitiser dispensers have been in demand. The G 7000 autonomous dishwasher from Miele (a Germany-based manufacturer of premium domestic appliances) dispenses detergent automatically, controlled by an app on the mobile. Kitchen appliances manufacturer Faber has introduced a completely-automatic, touchless, wall-mounted sanitiser dispenser.
Security surveillance, also, is a strong addition to the house automation method. French audio brand Zoook’s Eagle Cam one hundred is a Wi-Fi CCTV camera for surveillance through smartphone for customers to remain updated on the whereabouts of their pets, elderly parents, children, and so on. Hogar Controls’ Home Controller Pro V2 can get alerts, monitor house and fits into any energy socket. It can manage up to 232 wise house devices.
Lighting it up
Bespoke lighting systems are also gaining traction amongst buyers specially these that are IoT-enabled, wireless and Bluetooth-operated. Noida-based Vishal Singh, founder and MD, Vizion Lighting, an architectural lighting brand, has in current years witnessed an overarching concentrate on the effects of all-natural light indoors. “For a sustainable environment, conventional lighting is replaced with bespoke solutions,” says Singh, whose organization also provides wise lighting possibilities.
Lighting controls, motorised shades, iPad-controlled residences and Lutron lighting controls (motorised shading) are trending in luxury pads, as per Delhi-based light manage gear options provider Anusha Technovision. Similarly, CoeLux is an revolutionary lighting option to reproduce the impact of all-natural sunlight by higher-finish furnishings brand Sources Unlimited. It can be installed in diverse compositions and styles of frame, dimmed from 40% to maximum energy and controlled through Bluetooth. Jaquar lighting goods, also, give many functions—switches on upon detection of motion, switches off/dims following 3 minutes when no movement is sensed, and a streetlight LED pole with a number of applications (Wi-Fi, electric automobile charger and HD safety camera).
Minimality & aesthetics
In the future, interior designers and décor brands perceive a shift towards minimalism and aesthetics. Designer Ritu Kumar says, “Interior design for any space should be visually pleasing and curated to make the surrounding comfortable and easy to stay in. Indoor plants make the space lively. Avoid gimmicky bits or accessories.”
An vital aspect is to bring nature inside the premises, says Jahan Tahiliani, CEO, Tahiliani Homes, a boutique interior and architecture firm. “The indoor-outdoor feel has become central to residences and the urban cityscape. With lack of greenery and clean air in urban sprawls, building a home around these guiding principles is now important,” he says.
Less is fashionable, believes Delhi-based interior designer Aparna Kaushik. “A lot of the design will have exteriors towards organic elements like verdant vertical gardens, large windows, flat painted walls in earthy tones. A good use of grazer lighting (that casts a gradual and magical wash-over effect on the walls), balconies in wrought iron will allow light and ventilation… more use of terracotta tile roofs, rustic pergolas help merge with the surrounding. With houses growing vertically, windows dress up the facades to protect homes from rain, wind and sunlight. The exteriors evolve into lighter, intelligent features with nature-friendly facades,” she provides.
Space style really should transcend a specificity of time in each organizing and material, feels Manhattan-based multidisciplinary interior designer Ghiora Aharoni. “The space design and material converge into a marriage of function and aesthetics. Whether I’m designing a home or a piece of furniture, both function and aesthetics are important. Integrating these elements with furnishings and art objects creates harmonious environments that embrace an evolving use of a space,” says Aharoni.
Take, for instance, Momenti, an Italian custom style organization brought to India by Ottimo, an Indo-Italian retail space for furnishings and interiors. It has an acoustic décor panel, which serves the dual goal of aesthetics and functionality—a wall décor that absorbs sound. A layer of one hundred% polyester acoustic fibre protects the layer inside the canvas panels, enabling a higher level of sound absorption.
Multifunctional spaces will develop as more millennials take up spaces, as per Amit Syngle, MD and CEO, Asian Paints. “Smart homes are contributing to comfort living and the sense of permanency will reduce. People will live in the décor of the moment rather than décor of permanence. Another important aspect is the sense of well-being. We introduced an anti-bacterial paint, which uses activated carbon technology to help one breathe purified air by reducing indoor air pollutants,” he says.
Sustainability is huge
Designer Ritu Kumar feels that in the future sustainability through mending and repairing of accessories will see a massive comeback. “An organic sense of aesthetic is appreciated. Rustic décor brings a touch of nature, incorporating earthy colours and textures, and giving it a more vintage look,” she says. Repair, upcycling and mending also aid in renovation. “The market for products like locally-sourced crafts, stones, recycled wood with minimal carbon footprint is increasing and so is the awareness to use them,” says Bindu Vadera, head of interiors, Tahiliani Homes.
In terms of flooring, vinyl has a low influence on the atmosphere. Easy to sustain and waterproof, vinyl flooring tiles also emit zero VOCs (volatile organic compounds), contributing to clean indoor air. As per a current analysis report by IMARC, a major marketplace analysis organization, the worldwide vinyl flooring marketplace is projected to attain $66.8 billion by 2024, developing at a CAGR of 10.1% through 2019-2024. In India, it is anticipated to attain a volume of 52 million sq m by 2024, anticipated to attain $1,361.4 million by 2024, developing at a CAGR of 8.9% through 2019-2024. “Premium vinyl tiles are a replacement for wooden flooring and vitrified tiles at a 50% cheaper cost and are easy to install in houses and offices,” says Rishabh Agarwal, chairman, Responsive Industries, a worldwide vinyl flooring player.
Construction creating material also impacts the atmosphere. As per findings by Washington-based US Green Building Council, buildings alone account for about 41% of worldwide power use. To repair this, concrete can be replaced with alternate building material like hempcrete or hemplime, a mixture of hemp hurds and lime, a lightweight insulating material best for most climates as it combines insulation and thermal mass. Recycled scrap steel can be utilised for beams, girders and other structural elements. It reduces the power influence by 75%. Solar tiles aid create energy for the building’s inhabitants and guard the rooftop from the sun. “Adaptive reuse of doors and recycled wood help in eliminating toxic construction waste. Rainwater harvesting and percolation pits help in regulating water consumption,” says Mumbai-based Arbaysis Ashley, co-founder and architect, Ashleys, a boutique firm.
There is a will need for urgent awareness amongst buyers, says Sonali Rastogi, founder-companion of architecture firm Morphogenesis. “Materials like locally-sourced clay, agricultural waste, etc, are already being used for constructing 3D-printed houses. But the adoption of such materials could take time to implement in an established environment due to lack of awareness and the scalability of machines,” she says, adding that breathable walls have turn into crucial as tech options such as titanium dioxide coating, biodynamic cement, bentonite clay, and so on, aid filter out air pollutants in the micro climate. “Such materials are not prohibitively expensive and add as little as 4-5% to construction costs,” says Rastogi.
WFH dynamics
With most specialists working from house, there is a massive demand for makeshift workspaces. Furniture rental subscriptions are also getting noticed as a safe and hassle-free way to set up short-term offices at properties. “WFH is expected to continue till the foreseeable future, making it stressful for working professionals as most are not equipped with comfortable office furniture,” says Sidhant Lamba, founder, Fabrento, a rental furnishings startup. “Since Unlock 1.0 in June 2020, we saw a huge rise in the demand for customised desks, recliners that people prefer to relax on during breaks and dining tables, which can also double up as WFH counters. Some opted for rentals for home appliances,” adds Lamba.
Meanwhile, Neerav Jain, founder and CEO of economical rental startup Cityfurnish, says the organization witnessed 40% improve in demand for WFH options like study tables and chairs, each of which have been in massive demand.
Nonetheless, standard components cannot be ruled out. Design innovators emphasise on the balance of work, life and sleep for décor in addition to vaastu and feng shui. Ease of know-how sharing has produced today’s purchaser conscious of well being and well-being, says Mani Rangarajan, group COO, Housing.com, Makaan.com and Proptiger.com. “This is the prime reason for buyers to demand housing projects that promote green living using the principles of vaastu. Such concepts help in making the projects popular and the developers use it as the USP to promote them. While buyers want premium luxuries, they choose a green living option especially created using the best building principles laid down by vaastu or Leed-certified building projects that promote zero waste,” he says.
Despite developing tech usage, India is primarily a society steeped in traditions and so vaastu and feng shui stay widespread in properties. “Recognising this trend, most developers ensure that the homes they build comply with these guidelines as both are considered branches of science that help in maintaining positive energies in homes,” says Abhinav Joshi, head of analysis, CBRE India, a worldwide industrial actual estate services organization. “Indians are likely to continue to leverage both these practices in the long term also,” Joshi adds.
Smart properties are contributing to comfort living… People will live in the décor of the moment rather than décor of permanence — Amit Syngle, MD & CEO, Asian Paints
With lack of greenery and clean air in urban sprawls, creating a house about these guiding principles is now vital — Jahan Tahiliani, CEO, Tahiliani Homes, a boutique interior and architecture firm
Ease of know-how sharing has produced today’s purchaser conscious of well being and well-being — Mani Rangarajan, group COO, Housing.com, Makaan.com & Proptiger.com