Looking for feedback on real estate project - Under Garden apartments built by Robots

[mira.markova]

Hello everyone, I am currently on an internship for a company that is looking to help solve a number of problems related to housing in London, many of which have been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic:

(1) The availability and affordability of property for those looking to relocate closer to loved ones - made all the more pressing where they may have lost a partner as a result of the pandemic.

(2) New ways in which people can release value to their homes without having to sell up.

(3) Solutions which might work for those living in one of the many conservation areas in Dulwich and other parts of London.

(4) Something that will appreciate in value - as opposed to that of garden buildings that will depreciate over time

The company has come up with a way (excavation robots and a sinking concrete shell) to create living/working space underground allowing the vast majority of the garden to remain in use. They are starting off by building a self-contained under garden apartment with a sunken courtyard garden that should work as a home for elderly parents or grown up kids that would be closer to loved ones and significantly less expensive than trying to buy a property off the open market.

What do you think of this idea?

What problems do you see or concerns do you have?

Is it something that you or someone you know might be interested in?

Thank you in advance.

[alice]

You are joking. 6 feet under.

[KidKruger]

Garden buildings ?depreciate over time? - if not properly maintained, same as for the house/dwelling they are associated with.

[Guest]

Rubbish idea from which it transpires in my view lack of health literacy, ignorance of planning rules and processes, absence of cultural and social awareness and also a not at all sustainable idea of family connections and what we value in property and family. Sorry but I do find the idea even disgusting.

I would recommend the company if they want to go ahead with this technology to change business sector, looking at markets such as funerals directors, cemeteries, car parks, depots, warehouses and the like.

Nobody wants to bury him or herself to stay close to "loved ones", the age of big families all living together at all costs is one of the past, it has been resuscitated in recent years first because of necessity due to the financial crisis of 2008 and now because of the pandemic that of course caused so many to lose relatives and friends and to appreciate proximity as a way to provide emergency care, but that does not change the overall trend that goes in opposite direction.

More healthy lightly bright and small flats are needed to accommodate an increasingly ageing population made of healthy independent individuals that are often single, use technology to improve their quality of life as well as enjoying nature and exercise offered by a garden facility. Very unlikely that people want to be buried together alive to realise "value" from their family houses (although dementia can play a role in appreciating such value proposition I guess).