KUALA LUMPUR: For decades, the mantra of real estate has been "location, location, location". But as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation reshape how people live, work and age, industry experts believe a new factor may increasingly determine long-term property value: adaptability.
According to Tony Mak, director of SA Architect, future-ready buildings will be those designed to evolve alongside technology rather than simply adding smart devices after construction.
Mak said this thinking underpins the AI Living concept at i-City in Selangor, where homes are designed as adaptable environments capable of accommodating technological changes.
The rationale is straightforward; buildings that evolve with technology are far more likely to remain relevant, and that helps preserve long-term value, he said.
Mak said the key challenge is that buildings typically last for decades while technology evolves rapidly, creating a mismatch that architects must address.
i-City's structure as a coordinated freehold township is an advantage, where infrastructure and services can be managed at a district level. This allows AI and robotics to support not just individual buildings but also township services such as security, maintenance, logistics and public space management.
Mak believes such an environment can also act as a testing ground for future city services, allowing technologies to be deployed more efficiently than in conventional cities where multiple agencies and legacy systems often slow implementation.
Ultimately, he said, the shift reflects a broader rethink of how property value is defined.
"Location will always matter. But in the future, value may increasingly depend on how well a building can adapt."
March 18, 2026
Source: New Straits Times
Share: