As the housing market continues to struggle and energy costs remain near record highs, homeowners are looking to energy management systems and other sustainable design elements to help reduce the financial burden of high utility bills. Billings at architecture firms and inquiries for new projects are both at extremely low levels with no signs of an imminent turnaround. These findings are from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey for the second quarter of 2008 that focused on emerging home features: systems, technologies and function rooms in the home.
“There is strong demand for green home design features and products like solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, and water reclamation systems,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “As there is more focus on making homes more energy-efficient, there is less emphasis on investing in special function rooms such as home offices and game rooms.”
AIA Home Design Trends Survey highlights |
2008 |
2007 |
Home offices |
39% |
61% |
Mud rooms |
32% |
n/a |
Au pair / in-law suites |
16% |
20% |
Home workshops |
12% |
-4% |
Hobby / game rooms |
8% |
23% |
(% respond. report. popularity of room “increasing” minus % report. “decreasing”; Q2:)
Products |
2008 |
2007 |
Tank-less water heaters |
88% |
72% |
Energy-efficient |
69% |
62% |
Low maintenance |
70% |
65% |
“Green” flooring |
69% |
62% |
Synthetic / engineered |
62% |
61% |
Synthetic materials |
62% |
n/a |
Water saving |
62% |
47% |
Recycled materials |
60% |
n/a |
(% respond. report. popularity of products “increasing” minus % report. “decreasing”; Q2:)
Special home features |
2008 |
2007 |
Alt. insulation (e.g. panels; foam) |
69% |
62% |
Extra insulation |
68% |
56% |
Ramps / elevators |
43% |
54% |
Easy-to-use features |
34% |
32% |
Hurricane resistant design |
32% |
36% |
Three or more car garages |
-6% |
30% |
(% reporting popularity of system “increasing” minus % reporting “decreasing”; Q2:2007)
Housing market business conditions
The extended slowdown in the residential market is adversely affecting architecture firms. The national billings index was 38 for the second quarter (any score below 50 indicates a decline in activity), the lowest score in the three and one-half hear history of this survey. Inquiries for new projects also dropped to a historic low mark of 37.
Specific construction segments |
2008 |
2007 |
Additions / alterations: |
26% |
44% |
Kitchen and bath remodeling: |
22% |
38% |
Custom / luxury home market: |
-27% |
12% |
Move-up home market: |
-44% |
-2% |
First-time buyer / affordable home market: |
-46% |
-40% |
Townhouse / condo market: |
-49% |
10% |
Second home: |
-53% |
-6% |
(% of respondents reporting sector “improving” minus % reporting “weakening”; Q2)
About the AIA Home Design Trends Survey
The AIA Home Design Trend Survey is conducted quarterly with a panel of 500 architecture firms that concentrate their practice in the residential sector. Residential architects are design leaders in shaping how homes function, look, and integrate into communities and this survey helps to identify emerging trends in the housing marketplace. Business conditions are also monitored on a quarterly basis. Future surveys will focus on community design trends (December 2008), and kitchen and bath trends (February 2009).
About The American Institute of Architects
For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. By using sustainable design practices, materials, and techniques, AIA architects are uniquely poised to provide the leadership and guidance needed to provide solutions to address climate change. AIA architects walk the walk on sustainable design. Visit www.aia.org/walkthewalk.