Amidst reports of banks seizing more foreclosed homes and homebuilders becoming less confident in the housing market, there were a couple of articles about the changing attitudes toward residential design. In a recent survey conducted by ZipRealty, they had asked 1,000 men and women about what features they desired in a new home. As ZipRealty.com reported:
Here are the top 10 features most desired by men:
1. Garage or designated parking space, 85.5 percent
2. Master suite, 79.8 percent
3. Ample storage space, 71.2 percent
4. Guest bedroom, 70.2 percent
5. Large closets, 64.2 percent
6. Outdoor entertainment area, 63.4 percent
7. Gourmet or updated kitchen, 59.1 percent
8. Breakfast room or eat-in kitchen, 55.2 percent
9. View, 44.5 percent
10. Large yard, 43 percentHere are the top 10 features most desired by women:
1. Garage or designated parking, 87.7 percent
2. Master suite, 77.8 percent
3. Ample storage space, 72.7 percent
4. Large closets, 68.7 percent
5. Outdoor entertainment area, 64.2 percent
6. Guest bedroom, 63.9 percent
7. Gourmet or updated kitchen, 61.8 percent
8. Breakfast room or eat-in kitchen, 56.1 percent
9. Large yard, 43 percent
10. Wood floors, 40.9 percent
As you can gather from the results of the survey, the top feature which men and women both want in a new home is a garage or designated parking space. I find it ironic in a world which is accepting and adopting eco-friendly principles that both men and women still want a space to park their cars. As homebuilders are incorporating more options for consumers to become more energy-efficient when purchasing a new home, it seems society still cannot relinquish their reliance on the automobile.
Under the principles of New Urbanism, a neighborhood should be developed to accommodate all daily activities within walking distance of each other. If people were able to walk to their intended destinations or take public transit, then carbon emissions would decrease significantly, therefore, dramatically resolving the issue of global warming. Yet, as the ZipRealty survey has pointed out, people still cannot acclimate themselves to the idea of a world where the private automobile becomes obsolete.
Now, this leads us to other design trends that Builderonline.com posted from the annual winners of the Gold Nugget Awards, which awards innovative homebuilder projects or developments that were open for sale, lease or rent since the beginning of the year. As Builderonline.com reported, there are some trends to watch for in the design of future homes:
Trend to watch #1: A contemporary floor plan wrapped in traditional architecture.
Trend to watch #2: Conservation paired with renewable energy production.
Trend to watch #3: Boutique infill projects offering detached homes in the city.
Trend to watch #4: Eco-minded place-making with homespun touches.
Trend to watch #5: Rethinking the energy equation for maximum efficiency.
Trend to watch #6: Urban revitalization hinging on mixed-use and mixed-income development.
Trend to watch #7: Modern, wallet-friendly design for the next generation.
Most of these trends are New Urbanist principles that can lead us to a more sustainable future for our communities. If society can adopt these principles into what we desire in a new home or a newly developed neighborhood, then society can make a larger difference in the way homebuilders develop in the future. Instead of sustainable homes being a catch phrase or a trend in building, sustainable homes should become a standard in the way we live. On that note towards sustainability, I leave you with a link, which showcases a home-built from unlikely recycled parts as reported by myfoxdc.com:
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