Summary: Community design trends are moving toward greater accessibility to public facilities, such as transportation and commercial activities. Neighborhood design trends favor more mixed-use activities with infill and other higher-density development, and with dedicated areas for recreation and open space. Traditional design of neighborhoods and homes with upscale exteriors, and windows and porches to encourage more street-level interaction, also are gaining popularity according to the AIA's Home Design Trends Survey focusing on community and neighborhood design issues.
From a business perspective, residential architects are reporting a continued slowing of business conditions, with an even greater easing of inquiries for new work pointing to further slowdown in residential design activity in the quarters ahead. The softening is greater for affordable entry-level homes owing to growing housing affordability concerns, but virtually all new residential construction sectors are reported as weakening. In contrast, homeowners are still investing in their current homes. Kitchen and bath remodeling projects as well as additions and alterations are reported by residential architects as very strong.
Community design favors accessibility
Access to public transportation, and alternative transportation systems, such as bikeways and walkways, as well as access to commercial facilities, were both reported as increasing in popularity as community design elements by a large share of residential architects. Higher gasoline prices have made travel for routine activities more expensive, so preferences for greater accessibility may be partially in response to resistance to long drives. More services integrated into development—such as health care and convenience stores—is still seen as increasing in popularity, although by a smaller margin than a year ago.
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