The comeback of walls

For years, knocking down a wall seemed like the most immediate way to make a home feel contemporary.

The kitchen, living room, and dining area merged into a single space, becoming increasingly spacious, bright, and flexible. In the real estate market, open-plan living became almost synonymous with modernity.

Today, however, certain trends suggest that this concept is evolving.

Not necessarily as a return to the traditional home, divided into separate rooms, but rather as a way to reclaim something that large, continuous spaces risk losing: the possibility of experiencing different environments, each with its own purpose and atmosphere.

Beyond Open-Plan Living

In September 2026, Architectural Digest addressed the question directly: is open-plan living really a thing of the past?

The answer from architects and real estate professionals is less definitive than headlines about emerging trends might suggest.

Open spaces continue to be appreciated for their natural light, fluidity, and ability to bring everyday activities together. However, there is also a growing desire for dedicated spaces, particularly for working, reading, or retreating from the rest of the home.

The shift, therefore, is not about abandoning open-plan living, but rethinking it.

The Los Angeles Times, in an article exploring new directions in high-end residential design, also highlights a growing interest in the so-called zoned open plan: spaces that remain connected while developing their own identity through bookshelves, partitions, variations in materials, lighting, and furnishings.

Visual continuity no longer has to mean uniformity.

The Return of Thresholds

In Italy, this approach can be seen in residential projects that choose not to eliminate spatial divisions entirely.

In Turin, for the Vice 001 apartment, Tanaka|Tomidei opted for a semi-open layout rather than a traditional open-plan design. An inverted arch connects the kitchen and living room without completely merging them, while the corridor becomes part of the architectural experience, creating perspectives and visual sequences.

In Milan, a project by New Landscapes uses wood paneling, built-in furniture, and niches to guide the transition between the living room, dining area, and study. The spaces interact while maintaining their individual identities.

These are different projects united by a common approach: rather than viewing every division as an obstacle to remove, they treat it as a tool for shaping space.

One Home, Many Experiences

What makes this evolution particularly interesting is how it changes the approach to residential design.

A kitchen can remain the heart of domestic life without becoming the entire social space.

A living room can be open and welcoming, while a library or a small, intimate room offers a completely different experience.

In some cases, subtle interventions are enough: sliding doors, a glass partition, a niche, or a more thoughtful arrangement of furniture. In others, the design requires a more substantial reconfiguration of the interior layout.

The result is not necessarily a larger or smaller home. It is a home that allows its residents to choose how to use each space depending on the moment.

A New Definition of Quality

This topic becomes particularly relevant in luxury real estate.

For a long time, the perception of spaciousness was one of the most immediate ways to communicate a property's prestige. Large openings, continuous interiors, and uninterrupted sightlines helped convey a sense of freedom.

Today, some projects raise a complementary question: what is the value of a space if it cannot adapt to the different needs of those who live in it?

A well-designed property can offer both sociability and privacy, openness and intimacy, shared spaces and places for quiet retreat.

This does not mean automatically assigning greater value to homes with more rooms, but rather recognizing the importance of layout and flexibility in the living experience.

It is also a relevant distinction when evaluating a property for renovation: removing a wall does not necessarily improve a home, just as preserving one does not mean compromising on contemporary design.

The Luxury of Choice

After years in which open-plan living represented one of the most recognizable expressions of contemporary design, some projects are bringing renewed attention to the variety of spaces, architectural perspectives, and the ways in which each environment invites us to experience it.

It is a direction worth following, as it could also change how we evaluate a property: through the quality of natural light, the relationships between rooms, and the possibilities it offers in everyday life.

Because, ultimately, a well-designed home is one that offers the freedom to choose how to live in it.