The rise of flexible co-living for today’s urban tribes
In the 1950s, a nuclear family unit was the golden standard – but fast-forward 70 years and the social landscape has changed dramatically.
We now live in an age of freedom and self-expression, where more people are questioning marriage as a legitimate life choice. In America and around the world, solo living is at an all-time high, but this isn’t solely about being single. Rather, we’re seeing a subtle tectonic shift that recognises the flexibility of living how you want.
Slowly but surely, developers are beginning to meet the demands of a new generation of solo dwellers. Sociologist Eric Klinenberg, who charts the rising appeal of living alone in his book Going Solo, says it’s about striking a balance. “People don’t necessarily want to be alone; they’re willing to live alone if they can stay connected in a convenient, easy way,” he tells architectural website Urban Omnibus. “You can live in a relatively small apartment and turn the city into your living room.”