Need to Know
10 : 09 : 20

Bangkok – The Commons’ new mall in Saladaeng is a hyper-local lifestyle hub that invites city dwellers to decelerate.

For this latest venue, the studio behind the space, Department of Architecture, has focused on the wellbeing of the local community. Split into three areas – The Ground, The Market and The Platform – more than 30% is open-air public space for Saladaeng residents to enjoy. The downstairs Ground area features industrial fans, plants and seating that are modular, allowing visitors to enjoy activities, music performances and relax away from the bustle of Bangkok.

Upstairs, The Platform offers space for a range of enriching activities to help the community unwind. Divided up by time slots, the community can apply to use The Platform to practise yoga, listen to jazz, participate in art and dance workshops, and more. 'The Platform is a new concept space adopting the sharing economy approach as a driving force for the space,’ says a statement from Department of Architecture.

People living in densely populated cities are seeking spaces that allow them to take a breather and connect with others. Our Urban Wellness Market explores how city planners and urban developers are responding to this need.

Italy – Lighting brand Artemide's ultraviolet technology is transforming interior lighting into a whole-space sanitiser.

Its Integralis system can be fitted into new light fixtures and is controllable via an app. This functionality enables the light to emit regular, natural light frequencies when a room is occupied, and a germ-fighting invisible UV spectrum when the room is vacant.

‘In the presence of people, emission frequencies and doses of energy that are not harmful to the eyes and skin can be used, which nonetheless act to inhibit the growth of bacteria, mould and fungi,’ explains Carlotta de Bevilacqua, CEO at Artemide. ‘The light acts mainly on surfaces but, in reality, it acts on everything it encounters in its path such as particles suspended in the air.’

Such innovations have the opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing in both the home, and public workspaces. As we identify in Pandemic–proof Properties, future buildings will increasingly integrate technologies that bring hygiene to the fore.

Research by YouGov reveals that more that half of Britons (55%) prefer texting to speaking on the phone.

Among study participants, fewer than a third (31%) savour the sound of someone’s voice over the written word. The age of study respondents is a key factor; 72% of Britons aged 18–39 prefer texts, compared with 61% of Generation X and 35% of Baby Boomers. Considering the reasons for this, participants stated weaknesses in social skills, verbal communication and concentration span, and a dislike of confrontation.

While the global pandemic and lockdown periods have enforced greater reliance on video technology for people to connect with friends and family, the medium of text-based communication remains convenient and appealing to many. For more on how technology is being relied on to maintain personal connections, explore our Neo-kinship macrotrend, in which we identify what and how brands can learn from families’ interpersonal, tech-driven relationships.