Survey data from 3D visualisation technology leader, Chaos, uncovers the experiences of city dwellers from Italy, Germany, the UK and US — as they look to architecture to help them face a range of economic and environmental challenges
- 63% of city dwellers report economic shocks undermine quality of life
- 47% of those who have considered moving home have done so because of rocketing housing and rental costs
- 57% report that city temperature extremes have adversely impacted well-being over the past year
Global cities must change to address a range of urban issues, according to the new survey of over 4,000 city dwellers from Europe and the US. The results are presented in the “Architects of change” report.
Challenging city environments
Results suggest that cities can be hostile environments, with traffic (42%), air quality (38%), noise (29%), access to parking (29%) and overcrowding (27%) claiming the top five places on the list of city challenges.
Alongside these daily pressures, city dwellers now face rapid climate change, which places unique demands on city living. City dwellers report that the homes of the future will need to be better insulated (38%), feature low-carbon heating solutions (35%) and include more efficient lighting systems (34%).
As weather becomes more extreme, city dwellers also look for solutions that help them to manage urban temperatures, calling for aircon (23%), better ventilation (21%) and operable windows (18%).
The survey shows that the majority of city dwellers are open to investing in sustainable improvements - willing to pay more for the installation of solar panels (60%), the use of sustainable building materials (47%), heat pumps (37%) and EV chargers (35%).
Challenging city economics
Results also make it clear that city dwellers aren’t immune to global economic shocks. House affordability, including mortgage and rent levels, is the primary concern for many, cited by close to half (47%) of those who have considered moving out. Energy cost was the second most cited reason here at 28%. Overall, close to three-quarters (73%) of city dwellers worry about the cost of energy.
The survey also reveals that environment and economics combine to see a quarter of respondents (25%) report that their city home has a negative impact on their mental well-being, and nearly a quarter (23%) report adverse impact on their physical well-being (23%).
Roderick Bates, Director of Corporate Development at Chaos:
“We know cities are in a constant state of flux, and now we have the survey data showing not only what changes are happening, but also that they are happening faster than ever. The challenges faced by city dwellers are incredibly multi-faceted, leading with economic pressures and a rapidly changing climate. Fast-forward 10 years, and it’s clear our urban environments will look very different — and architecture is uniquely placed to bring structure and intention to this transformation. The Chaos survey presents a picture of the reality of cities today, empowering architects to design, visualize, and build the cities of tomorrow.”
Professor John Cays, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Hillier College of Architecture and Design:
“The Chaos ‘Architects of Change’ report reveals mounting problems for the modern city dweller. With powerful economic and environmental forces coming to bear, cities can be hostile to those who live in them.
“As issues including housing affordability and climate extremes become ever more pressing, architects have a unique opportunity to re-imagine the city landscape. Today, technologies allow us to consider many alternatives and visualize truly innovative ways of living — such as micro-homes, multiple occupancy and sleeping hubs — to balance how tomorrow’s city-dwellers need to live, and how they want to live.”
Petr Mitev, VP Product, solutions for designers at Chaos:
"Architectural designers today are facing more challenges than ever when it comes to delivering buildings that meet both the needs of their clients and of the communities they serve. At Chaos, we've always been committed to empowering designers to create better environments for the people that inhabit them today, and we'll continue to build the best tools that also help them answer the biggest questions of tomorrow."
Read and download the full report here.
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Methodology
The research was commissioned by Chaos and conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 4024 Consumers aged 16+ in the UK, US, Germany, and Italy. The data was collected between 03.01.2024 - 08.01.2024. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct which is based on the ESOMAR principles.
About Chaos
Founded in 1997, Chaos is a leading global visualization technology company.
Chaos is defining visualization by offering accessible tools, simplifying and accelerating workflows, and empowering visual storytelling for artists, architects, designers, and other creative professionals.
Chaos’ portfolio of visualization technologies for architecture and design, media and entertainment, and product e-commerce includes:
- V-Ray, a physically based renderer that has been honored with an Academy Award and an Engineering Emmy;
- Enscape, a high-quality real-time rendering and virtual reality plugin;
- Corona, a high-performance photorealistic rendering engine;
- Cylindo, a 3D furniture product visualization platform for e-commerce; and
- anima, a 3D/4D animation software to add realistic people and crowds to visualizations.
Headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, Chaos has nearly 800 employees and offices in 11 cities worldwide. For more information, visit chaos.com, chaos-enscape.com, chaos-corona.com, chaos-cylindo.com and axyz-design.com.
Press Contacts:
Chaos
Yara Ryabova, press@chaos.com
