Say “open the door” to Siri on your iPhone, and the door lock will automatically unlock. Once inside, saying “home” to Siri will illuminate the entire living room and open the curtains, activating a mode preset by the homeowner. Each room’s lighting brightness and curtains can also be adjusted via an iPhone or iPad, or users can directly select previously saved settings.
This smart home showroom was recently established by Apple and R&F Group in Beijing’s Guomao area. Three years after launching Apple’s smart home platform, the company is now exploring the Chinese smart home market through this collaboration. R&F Group plans to integrate Apple’s smart home solutions into its own high-end properties.
Besides R&F Group and Apple, companies such as Zhengrong Real Estate and Xiaomi, Huayuan Real Estate and 360, Haier, and Huawei have also made strides in the smart home sector. Huawei, in particular, has gained industry recognition for its development in this field. In December 2015, it introduced the HiLink smart home ecosystem, aiming to create an intelligent lifestyle with voice control, automated actions, and cognitive capabilities.
Li Bo, Deputy Secretary General of the Residential Technology Committee of the China Real Estate Industry Association, believes that future residential design will be deeply integrated into smart cities and include many interconnected systems like the Internet of Things. Intelligence will require a seamless 24-hour indoor and outdoor activity cycle closely linked to living spaces.
According to an online survey by 36Kr on the “Future Residential Value,” the top three areas of interest in residential technology are smart homes, smart security, and intelligent property services such as parking and elevator management, accounting for 26%, 25%, and 23% respectively.
Results of the Online Survey on the Value of Future Housing
Cutting-edge residential technology has become a key selling point for some properties. Many mature foreign technologies have been introduced in areas such as planning, architecture, environmental landscaping, and supporting facilities. Examples include exterior wall insulation, sun shading, heating and cooling systems, soundproofing, waste disposal, intelligent garage management, e-channel lifestyle services, and O2O e-commerce.
Among 36 industry experts interviewed by 36Kr, one-third believe that simply replacing mechanical switches with touch-sensitive ones or adding Wi-Fi to appliances without functional upgrades is an awkward phase in smart home development. Such superficial changes often fail to bring substantial improvements and are mainly driven by design trends rather than user needs.
Many smart home users have expressed frustration, saying, “Installing it doesn’t help, and there are always problems when using it. It’s better not to install at all!” This highlights the common criticism of smart homes: their complexity and lack of truly intelligent operation.
Therefore, true intelligence requires understanding user behavior and habits, but more importantly, it must effectively address residents’ real needs and offer a convenient, user-friendly experience. As Wang Xionghui, CEO of Oribo, explains, intelligent technology is not just about functionality, apps, or remote controls. It’s about a multi-dimensional experience: the product’s own capabilities, interconnectivity between devices, intelligent interaction between people and devices, and the service-oriented nature behind the devices.
The trend toward smart homes in future residential developments has become a consensus within and beyond the industry. However, smart homes are just one aspect of the overall quality of life these properties offer. As one expert put it, buying a high-end property is not just about acquiring a home, but about choosing a lifestyle.
The concept of “home” is evolving, and residential development must adapt to consumers’ pursuit of happiness. Thoughtful, human-centered design aims to provide customers with a comfortable, timeless living experience, while lifestyle upgrades nurture the living atmosphere of the community.
Additionally, some interviewees note that future residential buildings are more than standalone structures. Although intelligent living combining real estate and technology is the future direction for enhancing residential quality, the value of these buildings cannot be assessed purely on technology alone, especially since property value depreciates significantly over time.
Traditional Chinese architecture, often constructed with wooden structures, is difficult to preserve. Yet its exquisite design and craftsmanship rival modern technology. Ancient sewage systems, like the dragon-shaped water spouts, streets and alleys designed since the Yuan and Ming dynasties, and still-functioning sewers, exemplify this. Only by combining modern human settlement technologies with traditional architectural principles—and studying them responsibly for future generations—can we preserve these valuable resources.
Insights from Industry Leaders
Wu Sheng, Executive Secretary General of China E-commerce Committee
The old order dissolves while a new one emerges, birthing new species. In the blend of emerging technologies and enhanced human cognition, the future lies in discovering new scenarios and insights. These “gaps” in the market are where opportunities shine. Future residential buildings will prioritize connectivity as their core value, embrace mixed content for survival, and use emotional engagement to fulfill life’s meaning.
Li Bo, Deputy Secretary General of the Residential Technology Committee of China Real Estate Industry Association and President of the Design Institute of China Construction Design Group Co., Ltd.
In about thirty years, residential systems in major cities might evolve into vertical, aerial housing concepts reminiscent of science fiction. Parking garages, green spaces, and recreational facilities like tennis courts could be located at different vertical levels. Currently, some cities are exploring aerial parking solutions.
Four key areas will shape future residential design development: smart cities incorporating systems like the Internet of Things; intelligent integration of indoor and outdoor activities within living spaces; widespread adoption of residential industrialization within 3 to 5 years to support sustainable housing; and lifecycle management of residential buildings.
Jin Yongtao, Director of the Intelligent Decoration Professional Committee of China Interior Decoration Association
Early smart home technologies were immature, negatively impacting users and designers. Smart homes are not all-powerful and require public acceptance. Currently, the field is diversifying but will eventually converge. Thus, intelligent indoor wiring is critical. Whether in two or five years, when technology matures, homes should be easily upgradeable without demolition.
Safety remains paramount, covering water, electricity, power lines, property, and personal security. Another important aspect of intelligence is health—particularly elderly care, medical monitoring, and child safety, including body monitoring and behavior assessment.
Wang Xionghui, CEO of Oribo
Our principle has always been “sufficient design, natural intelligence,” which aligns with future housing trends. Intelligent technology goes beyond functional intelligence, apps, or remote controls—it requires a multi-dimensional experience.
Four trends define this: first, product functionality, design, and quick configuration are improving; second, devices are interconnected to form ecosystem scenarios linked by small data; third, human-device interaction is becoming increasingly personalized; and fourth, devices are becoming service-oriented, offering personalized intelligence. For example, door locks link to insurance services, cameras to security services, and air quality monitors to related health services. Prefabricated buildings will increasingly adopt these features.
Huang Xiaojun, Founder of Intelligent Lighting “Adjustment”
The enhancement of housing value is closely tied to improvements in intelligent service experiences. In today’s interconnected smart communities and homes, real estate’s mission is shifting from mere functionality to intelligence. Making homes more technological, humane, and “understanding” is the future. With intelligence, people’s demands for home life are evolving—homes serve not only as living spaces but also as sources of enjoyment. Intelligent solutions like “smart lighting” and “smart air” will invigorate homes. As the most common lighting system, lighting may be the first to achieve full intelligence.
Zhu Yueyi, Founder
Homes may become smaller, but life itself could grow larger. As urban populations rise, living spaces might shrink, leading people to spend more time outside. At the same time, community environment and social interaction will become more important—residents will care about whether their neighbors fit their lifestyle and about local amenities.
In the next twenty years, homes may feature more intelligent devices like smart appliances. Yet, people may also devote more time to caring for potted plants, maintaining balcony gardens, or enjoying handcrafted furniture, enriching their living experience beyond technology.
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