# Adaptable Urban Co-Living Units Michelle Ho's Proposal Involves a Retrofitting Housing Solution By Kalin Ned | Published 2019-04-10 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coliving-units References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2019/04/05/michelle-ho-retrofitting-housing-estates-architecture-movie/) & [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/miniliving/) Michelle Ho from the Barlett School of Architecture reveals an ambitious concept that involves a range of adaptable co-living units. The proposal is geared toward the densification of cities. The designer expects her idea to build on the aesthetic and functionality of pre-existing structures. Her concept engulfs the possible future for the Central Hill Estate which was erected sometime in the 1960s in south London. Michelle Ho envisions the co-living units to be perched upon "the remaining [social housing structure](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/85-social-dwellings-in-cornell)." Dubbed 'Retrofitting the Community Estate,' the goal of the project is to maximize the use of space, enhance housing density and even providing the opportunity for flat customization. The co-living units will also be mostly [assembled off-site](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drop-pod). Later, they will be installed and secured via tension cables. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.0/10 - Popularity: 61% | Activity: 22% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Adaptable Co-living Units:** This trend presents an opportunity for companies in the construction industry to develop innovative housing solutions that can maximize space and enhance housing density. - **Retrofitting Housing Solutions:** This trend opens up possibilities for architectural firms to retrofit existing structures and transform them into adaptable co-living units, providing a sustainable and cost-effective solution for urban densification. - **Off-site Assembly:** This trend offers a disruptive innovation opportunity for manufacturers to optimize efficiency and reduce costs by assembling co-living units off-site and installing them later using tension cables. ### Who This Affects Most - **Construction Industry:** The construction industry can capitalize on this trend by exploring innovative ways to design and build adaptable co-living units that address the increasing housing needs in densely populated urban areas. - **Architectural Firms:** Architectural firms can benefit from this trend by offering retrofitting services to transform existing structures into adaptable co-living units, meeting the demand for flexible and sustainable housing solutions. - **Manufacturing Industry:** Manufacturers have the opportunity to disrupt the housing market by adopting off-site assembly techniques, allowing for faster and more efficient production of co-living units that can be easily installed using tension cables. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Reinvented Compact Living](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/affordable-housing-prototype.md) - [Layered Community Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barrington1503.md) - [Urban Infill Housing Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cuozzo-company.md) - [Compact Living Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ambra.md) - [Office-Transformed Co-Living Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cornerstone-project.md) - [Alternative Housing Co-Living Buildings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bay-state-cohousing.md) - [Triangular Social Housing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lady-raval.md) - [Smartly Designed Compact Apartments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/compact-apartments2.md) - [Compact Urban Dwellings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miami-tiny-house.md)