Why was "one ladder and two households" once popular?
Once upon a time, "one ladder and two households" was like a shining star in the real estate market, with its unique design and noble privacy, it became the dream living choice of countless families.
This design model, with the setting of an elevator to serve two families, not only ensures the convenience of residents, but also greatly improves the privacy of living, and has become a popular product in the market for a while.
Developers have also lost no time in using it as a representative of high-end properties, selling them at a high price point and making good profits.
However, as the residential market continues to develop and consumer needs diversify, this once-glamorous residential design begins to reveal many unknown drawbacks.
From the initial darling of the market to the gradual marginalization of the market, the hidden costs and inconveniences behind it have gradually been recognized and discussed.
What was once seen as an advantage of privacy and convenience has translated into high maintenance costs and inconvenient living experience in real life. The brutality of the market is vividly reflected in this shift, consumer disappointment begins to build, and market demand changes dramatically.
Next, we'll dive into one of the key factors, the "hidden cost": the issue of shared area. This part is not only confusing for many first-time buyers, but has gradually become one of the core criticisms of the "one ladder, two households" design.
The increase in the shared area has undoubtedly increased the financial burden of the households, how does this affect the living cost of each family? Let's continue to uncover the economic truth behind this design.
Hidden costs: Why is the shared area of "one ladder and two households" prohibitive?
At the beginning, as soon as they heard the phrase "one ladder and two households", many buyers involuntarily appeared in their hearts a picture of noble and private residence.
However, when this beautiful picture gradually faded, the cleverly hidden costs of reality began to surface one by one, the first of which was the prohibitive shared area.
Shared area, a concept that is often downplayed in property sales, actually has a significant impact on the financial burden of residents.
Especially in the "one ladder and two households" design, due to its structural characteristics, the shared area is often much larger than that of other apartment types. Although this part of the area is shared by residents, it does not belong to the private space of any family.
In other words, although the buyer pays for this part of the area, he cannot use it for personal residence or other purposes. It's like buying an all-inclusive pass, only to stand in the corner and watch, and the total gain outweighs the loss.
What's even more staggering is that this part of the "visible, intangible" area not only affects the comfort of actual living, but also indirectly pushes up the actual purchase cost per square meter.
Imagine if a family buys a 100-square-meter house and may only have 80 square meters of usable space, the remaining 20 square meters of space becomes a luxury that can never be used but has to be paid for day in and day out.
In the long run, this is not only a financial burden, but also a source of psychological dissatisfaction and frustration.
As the market becomes more transparent and buyers become more sensible, people are starting to re-examine this over-packaged "luxury" setting.
The former top-level products of the pyramid are now gradually marginalized by the market, and the "secrets" that have been discovered have made the halo of "one ladder and two households" no longer exist.
So, how will developers and designers respond to such market feedback?
In what follows, we'll explore the dilemmas of the "one ladder, two households" design in terms of daily mobility, and see if this design is really as convenient and comfortable as it appears on the surface.
Travel dilemma: the travel disadvantages of the one-ladder two-household design
In the brochures of the real estate market, the design of one staircase and two units is always portrayed as an elegant and comfortable lifestyle.
However, in real life, this design often brings a lot of travel difficulties and inconveniences, and these problems have gradually become the daily worries of many residents.
First, while "one elevator, two households" means fewer shared elevators for households, which should increase convenience and privacy, this is not always the case.
For example, during peak hours, such as the morning rush hour and evening home time, even if only two households use the same elevator, the waiting time for the elevator can still be quite long.
This waiting, especially in an emergency, can cause serious inconvenience. Moreover, if the elevator fails, the uncertainty of the repair time adds to the anxiety of residents.
This design that relies on a single elevator, once the elevator stops working, is not only an inconvenience for families living in high-rises, but also a safety hazard.
Secondly, although the exclusivity of the elevator improves privacy, it also means that all maintenance and troubleshooting costs need to be shared by the two families.
Compared to the situation of multi-family shared elevators, this undoubtedly increases the financial burden of individual families.
In addition, the frequent use and maintenance of elevators may also cause disputes between neighbors, especially in the distribution of elevator use authority and maintenance responsibilities, there may be differences of opinion, which further affects the harmonious relationship between residents.
Due to these inconveniences and potential financial burdens, some of the originally promising "one-ladder, two-family" homes are beginning to face a cold shoulder in the market.
The gap between the actual experience of residents and the initial expectations has gradually become a key consideration for developers and designers. Balancing privacy, convenience and cost-effectiveness will be key to enhancing the attractiveness of homes in future designs.
With the continuous improvement of people's requirements for living quality, the market demand for residential design is also constantly changing.
Whether developers and designers can perceive these needs and adjust accordingly will directly affect whether the "one ladder, two households" design can be revitalized in the future market.
Next, we will explore the new demand for this design in the market and how developers are adapting their strategies to re-engage homebuyers.
Future outlook: market positioning and improvement direction of one-ladder two-family housing
As residents demand more functionality and comfort, the market's acceptance of "one ladder, two family" housing design is undergoing a subtle shift.
This change not only presents new challenges for developers and designers, but also provides them with an opportunity to rethink and improve this housing model.
In the past, one-staircase, two-unit designs were favored by high-end buyers due to their unique privacy. However, this market segment is experiencing repositioning pains in the face of the exposure of practical issues such as inconvenient travel.
Future improvements are likely to focus on enhancing the practicality and economy of living.
For example, by introducing smart home technology to improve the efficiency and reliability of elevators, reduce maintenance costs, or add more flexibility to the design, allowing residents to share certain facilities when needed, thereby reducing the additional costs associated with exclusive facilities.
In addition, developers may need to be more innovative in architectural design and community planning.
For example, consider combining a one-ladder, two-family model with other types of residential design to create a variety of living options to meet the needs of different families.
This mixed-use design not only improves the efficiency of the building's use, but also appeals to a wider customer base, thereby increasing the project's market competitiveness.
With the further development of design thinking and the continuous evolution of market demand, the one-ladder two-family housing model is expected to find new vitality in the coming years.
Developers and designers who can seize this opportunity can not only solve existing problems, but also potentially lead new trends in residential design.
Let's wait and see if this once-popular residential model can find a second life in a new market environment.