Our top 5 predictions
for 2022

Of course, as an interior design studio, we revere the restorative virtues of a judiciously arranged room. That perfect blend of colours, patterns, shapes and textures is as elusive as it is visceral – capable of arousing our senses and soothing our soul in one hit.

But what about design that aims to solve social problems? Will 2022 see Tomorrow’s World-level innovations capable of protecting our countryside, safeguarding our poor and looking after our elderly?

SPOILER ALERT: Yes.

Creativity soars during times of adversity. And as the housing shortage is one of the biggest crises we face today, we’re bound to see more inventive and visionary solutions to the problem.

This will include building on existing structures where space is hard to come by and Green Belt policy prohibits development. In London alone, up to 41,000 new homes could be built using space available on rooftops.

Elsewhere in the country, advances in engineering will unlock redundant flood plains and waterways to build floating homes. We know it works. IJBurg, near Amsterdam’s Central Station, accommodates 18,000 homes on the water, replete with floating jetties and terraces instead of paved footpaths and squares.

30% of this hydro-hybrid town is dedicated to low-income residents. The accommodation is large, light-filled and modern. It’s surrounded by nature. And it’s spared thousands of locals having to travel far and wide in search of property. It’s a big and splashy community-driven success.

Hong Kong’s poorest live in the most alarming conditions: 16sq ft wire cages, which rent for around £100 a month. Despite being almost seven times smaller than the recommended size of a double prison cell – as stipulated by the Association for the Prevention of Torture – these cages are more expensive per square foot than the city’s luxury towers.

In response to this chronic housing problem, architectural practice, James Law Cybertecture, has created a prototype nano-home out of a giant concrete waterpipe. This sturdy 100sq ft structure has been kitted out with a desk, fold down bed, sink, fridge, microwave and wet room.

Before the pandemic, Centre for London Research found that 22,000 commercial units in the Capital had been sitting empty for 18 months – and half of those for more than two years. Even fully leased offices were only at 11.5% capacity at the start of August this year, according to Remit Consulting.

Imagine what the UK’s bright and aspiring creative minds could do with millions of square feet of unoccupied, discounted space. Especially now that there’s greater flexibility to convert redundant offices into more viable commercial uses, thanks to recent changes to Permitted Development (Use Class E).

Such a favourable amendment to planning legislation will give flatlining high streets and town centres across the country a chance to diversify and prosper. Boutique gyms, microschools, indoor farms, craft shops,

The UK’s senior housing has emerged as a hotbed of disease-transmission. Poor ventilation. Small, inoperable windows. Zero access to green space. Limited room for social distancing…the list of inadequacies is long and grim.

Designers and developers need to do more to create safe and enriching environments for older people. On the practical side, homes will need dedicated sanitation areas and separate entry points for residents, visitors and staff. Hands-free devices will be essential in helping to prevent cross-contamination. And technology that helps residents stay connected to each other and the outside world will be vital, too.

There’s also the matter of aesthetics. Just because one or two seniors wish to dye their mop a fetching shade of lavender doesn’t mean that all good taste shrivels up past a certain age.

Our love of greenery looks set to keep on growing. According to money.co.uk, searches for air-purifying plants are up by 37%. Popular species include the Catheter and Crouton…sorry, the Calathea and Croton. Also, the fabulously named Scarlet Star Bromeliad, a raunchy-looking flower destined to win Ru Paul’s Drag Race.

Our burgeoning obsession is backed by science. NASA’s Clean Air Study drew up a list of detoxifying foliage. Admittedly, it also pointed out you’d need 100 of these plants to significantly improve your indoor air quality, but hey, that’s not stopping anyone.

Oh, don’t be like that, no trends piece is complete without a roundup of colour predictions, especially when they’re mostly food based.

Glidden (paints) serves us ‘Guacamole’ as its colour de choix for 2022. While wholly unholy it beats Bertolli, aioli, cannoli and ravioli.

Even light switches aren’t spared the ignominy of far-fetched foodie names. Anyone fancy a Caramel Latte single chunky dimmer switch? Or perhaps a Whipped Cream double plug socket is more to your liking. Thanks to Dowsing & Reynolds, you can order the lot without piling on a single calorie.