In my last column I suggested I would delve into the design of the modern home, the home that speaks to a current way of living and recognizes the need for positive change.
What might this home look like? Here are nine positive trends we can expect to see in our homes of tomorrow.
The healthy home More environmentally sensitive means, methods and materials are becoming the standard for the residential construction industry these days. We're all becoming more aware of how toxic even the most standard of building materials can be and we're looking for change. The house of tomorrow will see a forgoing of plastics, laminates and off-gassing materials in favor of natural, healthier alternatives for building materials and finishes. As our general environmental consciousness grows, so too will our demand for greener alternatives.
Scaled down living Building trends indicate smaller homes becoming much more popular. The big, the over-sized and the opulent is losing its popularity. We will see a trend towards smaller, more efficiently designed homes to meet the increasing pressures of affordability and space. The 'small house' movement, professing the concept of quality over quantity, is a trend that's here to stay. The oozing excess of "The Donald" inspired home will always exist but thankfully the future will see less of it.
Energy efficiency Energy-efficient building practices and technologies will become more and more part of our national building codes and part of our homes. The house of the future will be better insulated, will better utilize renewable energy sources and will be designed to be more sensitive to the climatic and environmental characteristics of a given region.
Prefabricated homes Pick up a copy of the modern home magazine Dwell at your local shop and see how the concept of the prefabricated home has come a long way from the trailer park variety we associate it with. A new breed of architects and designers are creating cutting-edge modular homes that are factory-made, bold and contemporary.
The flexible floor plan A smaller home demands to be a more efficient one and a flexible floor plan allows for this. Pocket doors, sliding partitions and moveable walls will be more commonplace as dedicated living areas become more versatile in their use. The
Japanese have been the masters of flexible living for centuries. The home of the future will take a cue from these homes of the past.
Home office The house of tomorrow will be an office as well. Computer interconnectivity allows many of us to work effectively from home and the trend is growing. We'll see a growing trend to incorporate well-designed office space into our households as a bustling family life and a hectic commute keep many of us home.
Accessible living In 1900 the life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years. Today it's 78. People are living longer and more and more elderly people are still living independently at home. Main floor master bedrooms, wheelchair accessibility, residential elevators and singlelevel living will become increasingly popular in coming years. We're living longer and our homes will need to adapt.
Outdoor rooms As homes become smaller and more efficient they will look to capture the outdoor space as daily living space as well. Outdoor rooms are a trend we will see in future homes as large windows and sliding glass doors make the transition between the inside and the out more seamless.
Safer place to live As environmental risk assessment becomes more and more sophisticated so too will our ways to mitigate those risks. Earthquakes, storms, floods, hurricanes, landslides and fire hazards are always on the minds of planners and building code authorities. Homes of the future will adhere to ever-stricter national building code and regional zoning provisions to ensure the health and safety of the occupants.
Kevin Vallely is a residential designer in North Vancouver. kevinvallely.com The house of tomorrow will make use of natural fibre in furnishings and decor.
