January 27, 2023
Emily Schildt with Pop-Up Grocer in Appear Here space in LA.
Let’s talk about Space as a Service (SPaaS).
While we’ve all been highly aware of this trend and vaguely aware of the term over the past few years, SPaaS as a bonafide movement is starting to make its way into big conversations about future real estate planning.
The idea is the shifting notion of real estate as something you buy, to something you use temporarily, on-demand. It’s the monetization of access to space as opposed to ownership.
Mark Smukler, founder of Flow, summarizes the potential groundbreaking impacts of this change. While we’re all used to this idea in co-working (Convene) and vacation rentals (Airbnb), it is now quickly bleeding into assets known for mandatory longer-term commitments, like manufacturing and multifamily buildings. Saltbox is tackling this in warehousing. Appear Here is continuing to dominate short-term retail. SkyHarbour is providing flex space for airplane parking.
What will be the next stagnant asset class pushed into SPaaS?
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MUST-READS
Crafting Spatial Experiences: Service Design in Architecture // ArchDaily
Ancient Romans inspired the recipe for this self-healing concrete // FastCompany
How the Design of Cities has been Shaped by Commuting // Bloomberg CityLab
Could this inflatable factory reinvent construction? // FastCompany
Design for Equity Primer: 20+ Resources to Help You Design Inclusively and Fairly // Metropolis
Empathetic Design: a place to give downtime between childhood cancer treatments // FastCompany
How LinkedIn’s HQ Office Was Redesigned for Hybrid Work // Propmodo
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IDEA SPOTLIGHT
Sancal Furniture
Link & Loop by Raw Color for Sancal. Image courtesy of Sancal
These incredibly whimsical furniture pieces, designed by Raw Color for Spanish furniture designer Sancal prove that the chunky, blob seating trend is here to stay. Besides being pure fun, this trend also makes spaces feel warmer, surprising, and more approachable.
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