Software Will Eat the World and How to Fix Housing

Bruce Thompson, founder of Urbaneer, argues that software and digitization will reshape housing. The article was published Mar 24, 2021 and updated Oct 11, 2022.

Main thesis

The built environment changes in major waves about once every 100 years. Thompson says the current wave is driven by digital technology, connected devices, and embedded intelligence. He links this shift to the housing crisis.

Housing crisis

• There is a shortage of housing units across the country.
• Many people pay more for housing than their income supports.
• Thompson believes innovation has not been evenly adopted, leaving housing stuck in transition.

Four features of future housing

• Compact design
• Configurability
• Connectedness
• Community

Examples and claims

• Housing sizes in the U.S. continue to decline because of urbanization, demographics, technology, and economics.
• Higher density can create more housing options, but it requires configurable space.
• Urbaneer uses a room-on-demand solution with a movable wall, wall table, and wall bed.
• The company says this can make 500 square feet live like 700 square feet.
• Thompson says software will be the biggest enabler of the next wave of housing innovation.
• He expects the home to become a node on the Internet and an interface for services like food, wellness, and mobility.
• He describes a return to community through co-living and related housing types.

New model for housing

Thompson proposes a model he calls “Life Per Square Foot.” He says housing should be designed from the inside out around human experience and individual needs. He also describes future housing as more of a lifestyle subscription than a single transaction.

Case studies mentioned

• Chicago Bungalow: presented as an early example of homes integrating appliances, automobiles, and broadcast media enabled by electricity.
• Senior living in France: a development designed for an Alzheimer’s community and built from the inside out for safety and purpose.
• Agri-hood in Arizona: a former family farm turned into compact homes, an elementary school, senior living, co-working, restaurants, and a community garden.
• URBANEER and a modular manufacturer: a collaboration to design homes from the inside out, including wireless power, offsite production, and delivery to job sites across the country.

Design and construction goals

• Homes will be produced offsite.
• Homes will be delivered as an integrated solution across the country.
• The homes are said to live 45% larger than a conventional home because of space optimization and good design.
• Thompson hopes this becomes the first digitally native home for the 21st century.

Conclusion

Thompson calls on the housing industry to remove regulatory barriers, expand housing options, and innovate. He ends with the phrase: “Yes, in my backyard.”