Interdisciplinary Research on Real Estate

The proceedings of the Conference of Interdisciplinary Research on Real Estate (CIRRE) from 2016–2025 demonstrate the evolution of real estate research into an interdisciplinary, human-centred, and systems-oriented field that addresses complex societal, environmental, and technological challenges. A key lesson is the importance of integrating perspectives from law, economics, architecture, engineering, sociology, psychology, and environmental sciences. This interdisciplinary approach enables more comprehensive solutions to issues such as housing inequality, urban resilience, and sustainable development.

Human well-being has remained a central focus throughout the decade. Research increasingly emphasizes residential satisfaction, participatory planning, accessibility, and the needs of aging populations, culminating in studies on aging in place and smart home technologies. This reinforces the principle that successful real estate solutions should prioritize users’ quality of life alongside technical and economic objectives.

Sustainability has evolved from a conceptual aspiration into a practical imperative. CIRRE research highlights low-carbon development, circular economy principles, energy-efficient renovations, and resilience to climate change and global crises, emphasizing the integration of environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

Technological innovation has also become increasingly prominent. Early discussions of artificial intelligence, Building Information Modelling (BIM), and blockchain have expanded into research on digital twins, smart infrastructure, and algorithmic governance. These technologies are viewed as tools to support sustainable and human-centred outcomes, provided they are supported by ethical and effective governance.

Finally, CIRRE underscores the importance of context-sensitive solutions tailored to local governance, culture, and environmental conditions. At the same time, it identifies a persistent implementation gap, stressing that stronger policy frameworks, governance structures, financing mechanisms, and cross-sector collaboration are essential to translate research into effective real estate practice.