The living trends that will guide the coming years

The new ways of living are transforming the relationship of Brazilians with their homes and their city. The convergence between cost of living, mobility, sustainability, and changing priorities creates a new urban cartography, more flexible and connected to contemporary lifestyle. A new survey from the Quinto Andar Group shows that living has ceased to be just occupying a space and has begun to reflect affective, financial, and projects choices.

According to the study "Portraits of Living - How the Generations of Brazilians Live and Dream", the openness to alternative living experiences is growing among the younger generations, especially X and Z, while part of the population still shows resistance. In this plural scenario, four formats gain relevance: tiny houses, flex living, cohousing, and coliving. Each model reveals different nuances of the new ways of living, pointing to trends for the coming years. We explore each of them below!

Tiny House: less space, more purpose

Tiny houses represent one of the most discussed new ways of living in recent years. With up to 37 square meters, they prioritize a simple, sustainable, and efficient lifestyle. The use of multifunctional furniture, vertical storage solutions, and a compact design enhances the feeling of functionality without requiring large square footage.

According to the survey, 31% of respondents envision themselves living in a tiny house, driven by the desire to reduce costs and adopt a simpler, more sustainable, or minimalistic lifestyle. For another 17%, however, the lack of space is a non-negotiable impediment.

Flex Living: mobility as a lifestyle

Flex living emerges as a format that synthesizes the fluidity of new ways of living. Based on subscription housing, with units ready for use and flexible contracts, it meets those who wish to move between cities, shorten bureaucratic processes, or experience different neighborhoods without major commitments.

The survey shows that 25% of Brazilians imagine themselves living in this model, drawn by simplicity and cost reduction. The 21% who reject the idea cite discomfort with internal rules or shared responsibilities. Nonetheless, the expansion of this type of housing follows global movements of digital nomadism and hybrid work, bringing the home closer to more temporary and dynamic experiences.

Cohousing: community as architecture

Among all the new ways of living, cohousing is the one that is most anchored in community life. Residents maintain private houses but share areas such as gardens, vegetable plots, shared kitchens, or common spaces. Additionally, they participate in joint decisions, creating a collaborative dynamic that transforms architecture into a community extension.

Still, 38% of respondents completely reject this form of housing, while only 17% envision themselves in it. The main attractions highlighted are support among neighbors and the possibility of splitting costs. On the other hand, loss of privacy and collective rules still generate discomfort. Despite this, cohousing resurfaces in contemporary urbanism as an alternative to age with quality, live more sustainably, and strengthen care networks.

Coliving: shared experiences in big cities

The coliving also integrates the set of new ways of living, especially among young adults seeking autonomy with controlled costs. In this format, the resident has a private room — with or without a private bathroom — while kitchen, laundry, and living spaces are shared.

According to the research, only 12% of respondents consider the possibility, while 55% reject it. The model echoes similar challenges to cohousing, such as internal rules and division of routines, but offers important advantages in large centers: strategic location, complete infrastructure, and more affordable fees. Its growth follows the global trend of "urban communities", where coexistence becomes part of architectural design.

CASACOR Publisher is a creator of exclusive content, developed by the CASACOR Technology team based on the knowledge base of casacor.com.br. This text was edited by Yeska Coelho.