What makes a Successful Residential Complex?
The last few years have witnessed great changes in the way people live, especially in urban life. Residential complexes are increasing more as we progress, especially since they consist of different types of building blocks and apartment buildings. Residential complexes are becoming very important today, as they bring new housing units for the residents in urban places and can create an interconnected community with a healthy social life. They also create a better sense of belonging, while achieving good social cohesion and providing spaces for play and social gatherings.
Here are a few key design elements for a successful residential complex project:
1- High-performance buildings: Today, one of the most important elements in a residential complex is to create a sustainable and high-performance green building, or group of buildings, that can help save money and meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. A high-performance complex includes, for example, the conservation of water through minimizing leaks by conducting proper inspections during construction. On the other hand, using renewable energy systems, such as photovoltaics and solar water heating, and environmentally friendly products consisting of reconditioned materials, such as repurposed furniture, can be resource- and cost-efficient and can reduce the negative impact non-green buildings have on the environment.
2- Access and flux management: Accessibility is an important factor in all successful buildings, and residential complexes are no exception. This is why it is important to create an accessible complex for people of all capabilities. Creating parking spaces for all the residents of the complex can, for example, help with the management of the people flow into the buildings, as they can help reduce traffic. On the other hand, inside the complex buildings, adding ramps and using wide doors and bright lighting can help make the buildings safer and more accessible to people with disabilities. It is also important here to remove any kind of obstacles in the way.
3- Landscape: A well-designed landscape around the residential complex and strategically placed sidewalks can bring quality and soften the aesthetics of the complex while contributing to energy efficiency. In fact, landscaping also adds value to the overall look of the complex and increases sustainability to neighborhoods. Landscaping can include green lawns, trees for shading, sitting areas, and water features. These landscape design elements can ensure a better and healthier life for all residents, in addition to increasing the value of the property. Because landscaping creates an attractive visual outlook for the residential units within the complex, providing site landscaping, such as trees and bushes, along the edge of driveways, between the building and parking spaces, and behind the buildings can soften the harsh look of the built structures and enhance the whole view.
4- Communal areas and public spaces: Communal areas are a type of places where people can sit together and have a healthy social life. Communal areas also help people get around the residential complex with ease, and include corridors, stairways, door entrances, and elevators, among many others. Outside the residential complex, communal areas that could be shared include pathways, but most importantly, parks, squares, and gardens. The green spaces provide a fundamental sensory experience and connect people with nature while providing spaces for relaxation and play, all of which are considered important elements for a healthy life. Social gatherings and events can be planned in these places, which also increases social cohesion and the residents’ sense of belonging. Adding water fountains and visual components also enhances the overall look of the green spaces, which attracts more people and encourages them to spend more time in open spaces to connect with nature.
5- Design flexibility: Design flexibility allows a building to evolve and develop over time as the user needs change without the need for new construction. A flexible design for the complex means that the partitions of the building can be movable. It also means that it includes different features that are generally flexible, such as open plan spaces. Today, architects and designers working on residential complexes projects are creating buildings that support multiple functions, including bedrooms with sitting areas, or kitchens with living room areas. Other examples include the ability to reposition furniture and accessories around. Open plan spaces, for example, can make the rooms look more spacious, and allow the sunlight to travel more, which helps brighten up all the adjoining rooms and creates focal points in the apartments.
6- Building Aesthetics: The aesthetics of a building is one of the main aspects considered in architecture. In building aesthetics, it is often important to consider the architecture of the building with the design of its façades, the materials used in the building, among many others. For example, considering the height and shape of the buildings in a residential complex is vital because when creating buildings, they should not overwhelm smaller buildings and should not block the light. On the other hand, it is important to use durable and high-quality building materials that impact the overall look of the buildings in the complex. Colors are also another element that can add value to the building aesthetics, as they can make the buildings and the neighborhood look attractive and more enjoyable. Incorporating variable roof forms, such as roof slopes and parapets, can also help architects and designers avoid creating boxy appearances in residential complexes.
Residential complexes are becoming more common today. They, in fact, are helping accommodate more people amid the rising number of the population. This is why architects are being asked now more than ever to build more residential complexes, as they offer more living spaces for the population and facilitate social interaction and activities. And while landscaping and public spaces are important elements that are now being incorporated more in modern residential complexes, there are other elements that need to be included in the designing of successful residential complexes, such as new building materials that are more environment friendly.
