Growing world population leads to more and more houses being built. The result is a blossoming real estate market, estimated to be worth $4tn by 2025, according to analysts Grand View Research. What this means is that there are more opportunities than ever for creative architects and other home design professionals to make their mark.
Whether angling for grandiose designs to appeal to those with more money in their pocket, or smaller homes for developing or space-starved cities, building design is a busy arena right now. As more homes are built, this will continue. A few key trends will define the industry through 2019.
The small home design
The late 20th century has been characterized by shrinking urban spaces. As a result, land is at an all-time premium, and houses are getting smaller to adapt. This has opened the ‘small homes’ niche for home designers and is set to take even greater importance in 2019. In Austin alone, one of the earliest takers to the trend, small home constructions rises over 100% each year. It’s noteworthy that these designs are springing up despite rising wages and all-time high equity. This suggests that it’s both professionals looking for these homes as well as those perhaps looking for something alternative, in a different part of the country, who have are able to release equity via remortgage and the like. Either way, it’s a very important trend in architecture.
As a result of this, a few curious designs have sprung up. One of the most common in America is the tiny home, a house capable of being carried on wheels. In Hong Kong and over the water in Japan, cities are looking for novel designs and have found both sleep-pods and disused storm pipes as a solution. Architects will continue to need to find creative answers through the coming year.
Eco-friendly design first
Green building is no stranger to designers all over the world. Creative architects have, notably, found ways to integrate ecosystems with outdated buildings through the green roof system in New York, which Forbes reports grows 15% every year. How is this being taken to the next level? Looking to Hong Kong, one of the most densely packed and in-demand urban areas globally, shows the way. Architects for new city productions and renovations are focusing heavily on green walls and recycling. Using new hi-tech processes, designers can create materials that are as sturdy as fresh products but without the added carbon footprint. From there, using plants to create living facades is very much in vogue. Finding ways to mix effective and safe building standards with a living plant matrix will be a key challenge for designers.
Smart technology first
The internet of things is rapidly defining the modern homes. According to consultants SPS Global, there are now over 15 million smart homes in the USA, and that number continues to grow with the success of big tech home hubs. Stifling progress in some areas is connectivity; homes made from older materials, or in certain layouts, are counter intuitive to the free sharing of signals through the home, making the ‘smart’ experience less seamless. When paired with sustainable design and open spaces – interior design’s hot topic for 2019 – it gives architects and home designers pause for thought. How do you make these environments effective but aesthetically pleased, too? Expect to see smart walls integrated into new homes and the connectivity of a home listed as one of the major selling points, through intuitive home and wall layout and the use of new materials.
The increasingly digitized world is full of opportunities for designers. As homes become more open and a greater focus is placed on sustainability, architects will respond. Identifying the key trends as the world turns into 2019 will be the crucial starting point.