Family-friendly environments rank higher in 2025 than 2024, with greater focus on inclusive spaces and provision of spaces for all generations. Traditional differentiators like exclusivity, technology and social media appeal have declined in importance from 2024 to 2025, suggesting that consumers increasingly value practical convenience, event and activity-based experiences and holistic wellbeing over status-driven features .

Despite consumers’ preference for multi-activity and mixed-use developments, delivering high-quality and specific experiences across varied asset classes, or a combination of these, can be a challenge at any scale of development. 

The factors which drive return visits can vary significantly, as consumers prioritize relaxing atmospheres at restaurants while emphasizing the need for distinct design and excitement in cultural spaces. And while family-friendly environments and unique experiences are common across typologies, retail demands personalization whereas entertainment requires fun and excitement balanced with relaxation. 

In response to these increasingly complex requirements, the necessity for flexibility and variety in buildings and developments is becoming more and more important.

Taking into account flexibility requirements and constraints at both design and operational stages is vital (including flexible building systems and infrastructure), with innovative approaches to modular fit-outs and flexible leasing strategies being some potential strategies .

Consumers increasingly view spaces as extensions of their personal identity, values and aspirations, and this is driving personalization trends. Driven by shifting expectations across demographics, younger and mid-aged generations are curating lifestyles that reflect values around family, ethics and community contribution rather than simply buying products. 

As personalization has become increasingly common in products and retail in recent years, this is now seen in broader expectations in places and spaces. 69% choose places that align to their personal values over convenience or price and 74% like to visit brands that recognize them as a customer and personalize their products or experience. Technology is pivotal in enabling more personalized interactions with spaces, and AI solutions present opportunities for developers and occupiers as 63% of people report that AI in entertainment venues will enhance personalization and enjoyment in the future.

Technology sentiment varies significantly by generation. Older generations are less likely to see technology as important for buildings and places, or want to use innovative technology solutions, while those aged 25-44 years are most likely to embrace technology. 

The youngest generations (or the younger generation) surveyed, those aged 18-24 years, are also slightly less likely to value technology or AI. This reflects reports that younger generation are increasingly aware of the impact of technology on their daily lives, and more conscious of how they integrate it into their lives.

One area where the generational gap is most stark is in views on immersive technology. This technology has become more common in buildings, and many developments are integrating immersive technology as experience differentiators, including VR (Virtual Reality) entertainment and social spaces, immersive digital retail spaces and innovative immersive collaboration spaces in workplaces. However, the novelty aspect of this may act as a detractors for many people, and developers and occupiers should be careful of oversaturation of technology in buildings and places.

Despite a strong preference for technology that enhances experience and supports consumer convenience, there is also a growing interest in spaces without technology. Almost two-thirds of people are seeking spaces specifically for 'digital detox', an emerging typology in the built environment. Interestingly, this group is not generally anti-technology. In fact, people who agree they would like to visit digital detox spaces are those who are more likely to want to use technology across different spaces and activities - including VR and smart buildings - and embrace AI-enabled spaces for entertainment and retail. This reflects consumers' desire for intentional technology curation and smart-city integration that enhances rather than replaces human connection while balancing digital enablement with authentic experiences.

JLL Design’s global research echoes this desire for human connection in the physical retail or restaurant environment, where less than one-third (32%) of consumers say they’d prefer a highly efficient AI bot over a human associate.

A small but growing number of entertainment and social spaces are now implementing ‘no-phone’ policies, removing reliance on digital apps or QR codes for information and focusing on spaces for social interaction.

In workplaces, technology free spaces can be more difficult, but occupiers are considering low-tech collaboration spaces for innovation sessions and tech-free social spaces as contrasting options to enhanced AV and hybrid meeting rooms.