Washington, D.C., September 9,
2008 — 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.”
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| 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.
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