The Future of Residential Architecture

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Every few years, another trend rolls around. There’s no need to design based on current trends or what’s popular right now, but trends can help us identify what’s important to us, since they are the natural byproduct of an entire culture’s shifting priorities. Changing times signal changing needs. Today, we’ll be doing a bit of informed guesswork by attempting to map out the future of residential architecture. How will our homes change in the next decade? What will we need by then? How will our homes reflect our lives in the 2030s? 

The beginning of the nineteenth century saw craftsman-style homes and arts-and-crafts interior decorations. Twenty years later, modernist style and Art Deco architecture emerged onto the scene. While the 1940s focused on coordinating colors, the 1970s saw a wave of vibrancy, before mellowing out into the pastels of the 80s. There was a boom of all-white kitchens in the early 2000s, and since 2010 we’ve turned towards minimalism and industrial spaces. Who’s to say what will come next?

Well, we’ve taken our cue from architectural experts, renowned designers, and plenty of research, to develop a sense of what’s headed our way. This article will give you a roadmap with which to chart your course, if you wish. For those interested in the future of residential architecture—and what will be relevant when you’re building a home in ten years’ time—read on! 

Less New Homes

Many of the future trends will be dictated not by design preference or whim, but by economic and demographic changes within our population. Lasting effects from the Great Recession, as well as the slowing growth of our population, mean we’ll have less need for newly built homes in the future. Where the past decade has seen 60% of housing spending poured into the development of new houses, the next decade may see 60% of housing spending poured into improving existing housing stock. Not only is this sustainable (which we’ll discuss later), but it’s also economically feasible for many. Generation X was hit by the housing crash as they were just reaching the home buying age. Since then, the price of homes has outpaced wages, making it even harder for Millennials to invest in homes. Due to these factors, you can expect to see more renovation—and even home flipping—as opposed to building. 

Stock Designs

That said, when people do decide to build, it probably won’t be from scratch. This point is more practical than strictly necessary. Design plans drafted from scratch require more time and knowledge (i.e. the homeowner has to have an understanding of their own needs). More time means more money. Today, people are happy to tailor existing plans to their liking and call it a day. 

Multiple Masters

As we mentioned, buying a home is much more difficult than it used to be, especially alone. This is why young people are increasingly comfortable with “going in” on a house with friends. Likewise, adult children who still live with their aging parents make for “multi-generational homes.” To ensure everyone has the space and privacy they need, allocating space for multiple master suites will become common. Or, at least, more common than it is now. 

Sustainability 

Climate change will affect many of our ways of life, and residential architecture is not exempt. As more people become conscious of sustainability, protecting the environment, and greenhouse gas emissions, “eco-friendly” homes are gaining popularity. We will likely see a rise of entirely self-sufficient homes, homes constructed without waste, solar panels to produce energy, and water filtration systems to recycle used water. One of the United Nations’ goals is to have sustainable cities and communities by 2030. The next decade will likely be geared toward reaching this goal and prioritizing the health of the planet. 

Hi-Tech

We’ve seen the rise of home security systems, temperature control systems, and light systems housed on apps you can use anywhere. Houses have already become home to incredible innovations which allow inhabitants to control almost every aspect of their surroundings. In the future, we’ll see this ability increase and become refined. As Swiss designer Yves Béhar put it: “Technology that is interruptive, distracting, and that is a visual scar on the home environment will disappear for experiences enabled by intelligent and invisible tech.” Therefore, the focus of technology will be seamlessness. This could be thumbprint capabilities baked into a self-sanitizing handle, or a programmable kitchen which offers you the ingredients to a recipe with the press of a button. There’s even talk of silicone walls which respond to the touch, like an iPad. We cannot say what will be created and become mainstream in the next decade, but we can say, with confidence, many of these technological advances will be baked into home design from the start. 

Work Integrated 

The pandemic saw many of us transition into a work-from-home lifestyle. This meant working from the kitchen, having meetings in the living room, and taking calls in bed. Even before the pandemic, however, people were migrating out of their home offices. This means the entire house becomes an office; and, as such, must be equipped with the necessary capabilities to facilitate work everywhere. This could be charging stations in bathrooms or makeshift desks on back patios.

Outdoor Space

We’ve always enjoyed a good backyard barbecue or swing on the hammock, but we may be transitioning toward an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Sunrooms, patios, porches, alfresco kitchens - people are blurring the line between the two spaces and embracing a life in which work can be done outside and exercise can be done inside. 

Universal Design

On the list of predicted priorities over the next ten years, voted by residential architecture firms as part of AIA’s Home Design Trends Survey, universal design is set to become an important feature in new homes. Universal design is geared towards making homes accessible to everyone, including the disabled and the elderly. As Baby Boomers reach retirement, this is something they’ll likely consider as they design their own homes. 

Healthy Living

Another of the AIA’s Home Design Trends Survey’s predicted priorities was healthy living. According to the survey, 25% of people are suspicious that their homes are the cause of their health problems. Another 20% aren’t sure whether or not they should be worried. Ensuring homes are safe to live in seems like a priority which has always been around, but advancements in science and increasing government oversight mean standards may change. Air quality, water quality, and the disuse of harmful materials will be on the top of everyone’s checklist. 

Kitchens as Hubs

Gone are the days of formal dining rooms. As homes broaden into open floor plans, kitchens have become the centralizing feature. Kitchens act as a communal space, where everyone can connect and interact. Future home designs will reflect a deference towards kitchens as the heart of the home and the place where essential controls should be stored. 

Clever Storage

There’s nothing worse than clutter on the counters. There are entire stores dedicated to storage containers and personal organizers. On a larger scale, homeowners will be looking for designs which incorporate storage into their lives without taking up too much space. Efficient use of space may require complex mechanisms in order to store items without adding bulk to the design. However, you’d be surprised how much storage space you can open up with a little creativity. 

Yves Béhar went on to say: “For me, the home in 20 years is silent, focused on human interaction, sustainable, healthy, and uniquely shaped experientially for its occupant. I see the systems of the house are passive and efficient. When I walk through the spaces, an overwhelming feeling of peace is the main impression.” The future of residential architecture is, at the end of the day, unpredictable. But, we hope she’s right. 

For more information on architectural design and building, keep up-to-date with the Architecture Plus blog! Our next few articles on what to look for in an architect and the future of residential architecture are sure to be wonderful resources! If you’re ready to sit down with an experienced team of designers and hash out the elements of your next project, reach out to us! We’re eager to hear from you. Until next time, thank you for reading!