The Design Committee of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shared its Trends for 2011 at the International Builders Show.
The trends take into account the growing concern for health and the environment, as well as today's economy and its impact on lifestyles across generations. Home buyers want smaller homes, more specialized architecture and smarter land plans. There is a growing demand for communities which offer more convenience at more affordable prices.
With land becoming scarce and more expensive, infill property development has also become a market trend.
1. Holistic Approach to Home Building:
The building industry is beginning to place more emphasis on integrating natural resources and health and community concerns into building design. This approach addresses the need for a healthier environment inside the home.
This coincides with a greater emphasis on green living and furnishing green. A holistic approach considers all elements inside the building, including water conservation and indoor air quality. It also takes into account minimization of waste and toxin emissions.
There is a greater push towards planned communities that integrate all age groups, along with fostering a healthy and convenient lifestyle.
2. Multi-Family Homes
Multi-family housing is on the rise.
This includes adaptive reuse and rezoned single-family neighborhoods. It also embraces live-work projects and infill projects that use land within already built-up areas for further construction.
Multi-family housing is not confined to any single social class, but is being embraced in all kinds of different neighborhoods.
This trend is also part of a more efficient and earth-friendly way of living that maximizes resources.
3. Downsizing
The trend towards smaller, more efficient spaces is with an eye to reduce building waste. The reduced square footage will also affect how we furnish our homes, demanding more streamlined and functional furniture to help maximize the reduced square footage.
4. Retire-in-Place, Multigenerational Living
Multi-generational living is one of the growing trends today.
Many homes have two and three generations living together and new home designs will accommodate that. The elderly will have areas for privacy on the first floor, while their children live on the upper floor, with rooms for their grandchildren on sub-levels.
Homes will feature a large kitchen for shared meals on the main level, with smaller, private morning kitchens on other levels.
Multi-generational living will also call for more efficient, functional and flexible furniture choices as space will be at a premium.
5. Remodeling
The gross volume of remodeling now exceeds that of new single-family construction.
Many homeowners have also found that staying put in their homes is a better option than buying a new home.
Homeowners are finding new ways to finance remodeling. The impetus for remodeling may come from a desire to modify the home to care for aging parents, or to accommodate returning children and their families.
6. Resurgence of Mid-Century Design
Frank Lloyd Wright made a case for organic architecture in mid-20th century. It called for, and expressed a clean simplicity.
Mid-century modern architecture called for an integration with nature, and floor plans with an abundance of natural light. Modern building trends take that into account along with more reliance on solar solutions to reduce energy consumption.
To furnish the simple, clean, well lit spaces that define mid-century modern architecture, our love affair with mid-century modern furniture will probably show no signs of abating.
7. Reinventing and Re-energizing Streetscapes
I have to say that this trend sounds very exciting.
It calls for front elevations and facades that are unique, targeted and make more of an impact. This is to be achieved through an interaction of styles, textures, color and materials.
Will more exciting exteriors have an impact on how we furnish the interiors?
8. Americanization/Globalization
A greater cross-pollination of cultures among artists, designers, architects, builders and developers is taking place in today's world. It is easier for ideas and even traditions to travel across continents.
Global thinking is becoming more evident in all aspects of home building as a result of that. For instance, Asian inspired spaces are becoming ubiquitous.
We are also seeing similar trends in furniture and other home furnishings.
9. Fundamental Financing
Value is what today's consumer is looking for. Builders will have to define clearer goals that better match expenses with revenues to offer that added value in order to build buyer confidence through transparency.
10. Timeshares and Travel Clubs
As a result of the events in the real estate industry, buyers have become more wary of buying second homes or vacation homes.
As an alternative, it is suggested that people will choose to buy timeshares and travel clubs instead. These options are less risky, cost much less, and open up thousands of choices in worldwide locations.
