Page 18 - Greater San Antonio Builders Association Builder Brief June 2022

TRENDS
WHAT'S DRIVING OUTDOOR LIVING TRENDS?
Originally published at nahbnow.com
Outdoor living has been propelled to the top of home owner wish lists and, subsequently, has become a top priority for architects and design professionals focused on residential design. Connection to the outdoors/nature and outdoor entertaining both ranked high on the top 10 list of design drivers in "The Future of Home Design," a recent survey conducted by
the New Home Trends Institute •
Popular solutions include:
• Expansive windows and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors help create connection to the outdoors without requiring additional square footage indoors or out.
• Expect efficiently designed outdoor spaces featuring more built-in features, such as firepits or fireplaces (73 percent), outdoor kitchens (68 percent), gazebos or pergolas (44 percent), pools (36 percent), integral package delivery solutions (22 percent), and spas or hot tubs (20 percent) — often several in the same footprint or across multiple (if smaller) outdoor living spaces serving the home.
• Covered outdoor rooms address the space allocation debate and also meet the need and desire for privacy. Often set up to mirror the comfort (and sometimes even the finishes) of the home’s
interior, these spaces are an indoor-outdoor hybrid.
Creating Privacy and Community in Outdoor Living Spaces In the push-pull of dwindling lot sizes and greater outdoor living functionality, privacy and community remain strong considerations among consumers, and roof decks are emerging as an ideal solution. "The Future of Home Design" survey found that about 38 percent of architectural designers included roof decks in their designs more in 2020 than in 2019. Meanwhile, the front porch — also a more common design feature for 53 percent of architectural designers in 2020 than in 2019 — is often used to promote community connection. One thing is certain: The future of outdoor living will look different from traditional backyards as more external challenges arise, but the importance of connecting to the outdoors remains a top design consideration for designers and consumers alike. This article is excerpted from a recent feature in Pro Builder magazine. Read the full article in the November/ December 2021 issue.
(NHTI) in collaboration with Pro
Builder. More than 300 residential
architects, designers and design-
minded builders across the country
responded to the survey with
their opinions, experiences, and
predictions about trends in new-
home design, including styles,
materials and more. The results
offer insight into trends we can
expect to see in home design during
the next three to five years. Connecting to the Outdoors Of those surveyed, 58 percent said connection to the outdoors/nature will be an important influence on their design choices in the coming years, while 45 percent said outdoor entertaining will also receive increased attention. Following value and cost considerations, connection to the outdoors and nature was predicted to be the largest driver of home design choices over the next three years. Home Owners Seek More Outdoor Living Options A large, green backyard once satisfied home buyers, but today's buyer is seeking more options and flexibility in how they use outdoor spaces — just as they are for interiors. In fact, "The Future of Home Design" survey reveals that an open yard ranks low among design professionals, compared with more multifunctional options. Just 28 percent of respondents chose that type of space in the survey, compared with other more popular features, such as covered outdoor rooms/open-air rooms (73 percent), patios (68 percent) and decks (55 percent). Challenges Spur Creativity in Outdoor Living Design Designing higher-density projects as demand for multifunctional outdoor spaces increases requires creative solutions.
18 JUNE 2022 | GREATER SAN ANTONIO BUILDERS ASSOCIATION