Study Architects report increased demand for functional designs

on Wednesday,March 10,2010 18:03

Due to the economic downturn and the growing elderly population, increasingly more individuals are seeking homes that will are energy-efficient and handicapped-accessible, new research suggests.

Analysts from the American Institute of Architects reports that a recent survey indicated that functional home designs have become preferable to large and lavish blueprints, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom areas of new houses.

In addition, many residential architects report that many developers are building smaller home models.

Several existing homeowners are making their homes more efficient by launching home improvement initiatives that might include replacing common appliances with energy-saving models or installing more cost-effective lighting options.

AIA chief economist Kermit Baker said that " doing more with less space [has become] a key consideration," and more families are making multifunctional and integrated rooms "a design priority."

Baker added that although the residential housing market has not fully rebounded, architects and home sellers who follow these trends by launching retrofitting projects for existing homes or integrating functional features into new construction projects could speed the recovery of this struggling sector.