The future of housing: Where we want to live

Twenty years ago, household size in Germany was distributed almost evenly: 32 percent families, 33 percent couples, and 35 percent single-person households. Today, this ratio looks significantly different: While the proportion of two-person households has remained almost the same (34%), the proportion of single-person households has increased to 42 percent. In contrast, the proportion of multi-person households has fallen to 24 percent. The reasons for this shift are primarily the increasing number of children (birth rate 1.51), the high divorce rate (35%), and a simultaneous increase in life expectancy (81 years).

Despite, or perhaps because of, this trend, the majority of citizens do not want to live alone in the future. Only three percent of all Germans prefer living in a one-person household; even those currently living alone show little enthusiasm for this type of housing (8%).

The most common housing preference, however, is to live near children, parents, or relatives. One in three people under 40 and one in four people over 60 wish to live in the immediate vicinity of their family.

Furthermore, an increasing number of older people can imagine living in a retirement community (2011: 9%, 2020: 12%). Similar to a student shared apartment, each senior citizen has their own room and also shares common areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, and possibly a garden or balcony.

Two key hopes are particularly emphasized here: First, the existing sense of community through meals, cooking, shopping, or leisure activities. Second, the opportunity to continue living independently. Additional benefits include cost savings (from sharing housing costs and car sharing to reducing the need for caregivers), a feeling of being needed and of mutual support, as well as intellectual exchange.

Almost as many older citizens are also enthusiastic about a model of serviced living with services such as a caretaker service, food delivery service or a care service directly on site.

In contrast, singles are more likely than average to prefer a future life in a residential complex with people in the neighborhood who have the same or similar interests.

Outlook

The social aspect of housing is becoming increasingly important. In an aging, childless, and increasingly anonymous society, the need for interaction, community, and closeness is growing. In the future, not only will senior citizen shared apartments and assisted living facilities become more popular, but multigenerational housing will also experience a renaissance. Living together under one roof, mutual support, and being there for one another are gaining increasing significance and acceptance.

The desired model is one where everyone has their own private space, but can also come together in communal areas. Life in a multigenerational house here refers not only to biological families, but also to chosen families. Ultimately, young and old, as well as singles and couples, essentially want to live according to the motto: above all, together and not alone.