AIA Home Design Trend Survey: Residential design favors simplicity and durability

Washington, D.C. – December 6, 2011 – In recent years, there has been a definitive shift away from large residential subdivisions towards smaller scale infill development projects with a greater emphasis on affordability, access to public transportation, commercial opportunities and job centers. Amid continued concerns about over housing affordability, home styles have become simpler with low maintenance, durable building materials.

Residential architecture firms continue to report weak business conditions, with remodeling activity one of the few bright lights for residential design activity. These findings are from the American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Home Design Trends Survey for the third quarter of 2011 that focused on community and neighborhood design.

“On the development side, low levels of new home construction, steep foreclosure rates and a surge in the popularity of urban living are the primary reasons for high levels of infill projects,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. “From a home design perspective the preference is for building materials such as fiber-cement, stone, tile or natural earth plasters that are durable and require little maintenance.”

AIA Home Design Trends Survey highlights

(% respond. report. popularity of feature “increasing” minus % report. “decreasing”; Q3)

Housing market business conditions

The residential market continues to struggle. The national home design billings index was 45 for the third quarter of 2011 (any score below 50 indicates a decline in activity), down from the previous quarter’s mark of 50, although scores are not adjusted for seasonal variation. Inquiries for new projects were 52, dropping slightly compared to the score of 54 in the second quarter of the year.

(% of respondents reporting sector “improving” minus % reporting “weakening”; Q3)