In the next three-quarters of a century our homes could have changed out of all recognition thanks to energy and environmental concerns claims a new report from Zurich Insurance and Arup Associates.

House of the Future lists a series of changes the architects identified would occur in new homes by 2080 to enable the insurance company to stay abreast of changes which could affect its customers.

“History shows that we can’t predict the future with absolute certainty, but we can prepare for it,” says Martin Horsler of Zurich. “Through this study we have tried to imagine how changes in our environment and working and social lives may impact the types of homes we’ll live in.”

The new features predicted include:-

·        adaptable modular housing;

·        more home working and greater importance for local communities;

·        houses on stilts in flood risk areas;

·        self-heating technologies;

·        self-cooling technologies to cope with temperatures up to 35°C;

·        national energy self-sufficiency via renewables;

·        water reuse;

·        electric vehicle parking and recharging from home-made energy;

·        the end of home DIY thanks to technical complexity;

·        roof gardens and rain water harvesting;

·        new garden vegetation adapted to a different climate.

“Our houses may not be built on stilts and, sadly, commuting may still be part of daily life, but one thing we can be sure of is that change happens and the world of 2080 will look quite different from today,” said Mr Horsler. “As insurers our role is to make sure our customers have the protection they need. We plan ahead to ensure we offer products that are all the more relevant and secure today.”