The way we live is changing. Home is now a space where we work, rest, connect, care, and grow. The role of housing has evolved significantly in recent years, driven by factors such as hybrid working, professional mobility, dense urbanisation, a growing focus on well-being, and the demand for more agile and adaptable living solutions.

 

 In this new context, the concept of Flex Living emerges – a residential approach designed to meet contemporary demands for freedom of choice, proximity, functionality, and community.

 

The topic is gaining increasing relevance in international markets. Cities like Berlin, Amsterdam, London, and Paris already offer consolidated Flex Living solutions that combine flexible rentals, compact layouts, shared services, and adjustable contracts. In the United States, the Nordic countries, and some Asian cities, the concept is applied in projects that blend co-living, temporary housing, serviced accommodation, and centralised community management.

In all cases, the common denominator is clear: to provide a response that aligns with people’s real needs — one that is more in tune with the pace of modern life and more sustainable in its relationship with the surrounding environment.

 

Flexible living: freedom, comfort and service

 

As lifestyles become increasingly dynamic, housing must also evolve to keep pace. Flex Living emerges as a response to a new reality, where professional mobility, hybrid working, globalised companies, and the transitional nature of life phases demand more agile and adaptable residential solutions.

This concept applies to young professionals, digital nomads, families in transition, international students, or relocated employees. Different groups, but with a shared need: to live comfortably and with freedom of choice — without rigidity in space, contracts, or services.

The so-called Living-as-a-Service model translates into residential solutions that offer:

• Integrated services (maintenance, on-site support, security, utilities).

• Fully equipped social areas designed for socialising and functionality.

• Flexible contracts with greater adaptability and cost predictability.

This approach allows each resident to focus on what truly matters: their life, their goals, and their well-being. It’s a particularly relevant solution in major urban centres, where access to housing, space efficiency, and the quality of the living experience are critical.

Shared spaces as extensions of the home: the world of Flex Living

 

At the heart of Flex Living lies the idea that the experience of living extends far beyond the apartment itself. This concept moves past the traditional housing model and introduces new residential formats where daily life unfolds across shared spaces, integrated services, and more connected, functional ways of living.

It’s important to emphasise that Flex Living is not a single model but an ecosystem of residential solutions built on three core principles: adaptability, agility, and relevance to contemporary lifestyles.

• Co-living: Shared housing with private areas (typically ensuite bedrooms) and communal spaces (such as kitchens, lounges, rooftops, laundry rooms), with centralised management and included services.
• Serviced apartments: Fully furnished flats with bundled services (cleaning, maintenance, utilities), generally intended for medium- to long-term stays.
• Flexible build-to-rent: Buildings explicitly developed for rental, with adjustable contracts and shared spaces – ideal for those seeking stability with contractual freedom, without a property ownership model.
• Living hubs: Projects that combine housing, work, wellbeing and shared spaces in a single location. They may include apartments, coworking areas, green zones, gyms or lounges, often with unified management and curated community engagement.

In these settings, shared areas take on a central role: fully equipped kitchens, coworking zones, rooftops, laundries, gyms, lounges, or interior gardens. By allowing a reduction in private floor area without compromising quality of life, Flex Living becomes a more efficient, sustainable, and accessible urban solution – where living well means living smart, and living as a community.

 

Location, proximity, and connection to place

 

Flex Living is not just about how we live, but also where we live. This housing model places location at the core of the living experience. As such, these projects are designed to be integrated into well-connected areas, offering easy access to public transport, local shops, essential services, green spaces, and cultural or sports facilities.

Proximity becomes a real asset: fewer commutes, less reliance on cars, and more time for what truly matters. This logic of simplicity and flow is what sets Flex Living apart from other approaches that focus solely on the home’s physical space.

Moreover, the best Flex Living developments are rooted in their surroundings. They aim to enhance what makes each neighbourhood, street, or city unique — its local identity, sense of community, and balance between nature and urban life. This connection to context creates spaces that are more vibrant, more sustainable, and better aligned with the real rhythms of those who live there.

 

Flex Living is a clear response to the new dynamics of contemporary life – a declaration of urban adaptability and a genuine opportunity to rethink how we inhabit space, occupy territory, and relate to the city. Just as Flex Working has transformed the way we work, Flex Living is redefining the way we live, with greater freedom, functionality, and awareness.

 

Both concepts are at the heart of Castro Group’s new brand, Buz, which presents solutions for more human, agile, and integrated spaces.

At Castro Group, we believe the home of the future will be increasingly intelligent, flexible, and rooted in real human well-being because living better is not just about the space itself, but about the freedom to inhabit it as needed, when needed, and where it makes the most sense.

 

 

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