Reburbia. Digital image. Inhabitat. 08 July 2009. Web. 14 Jan. 2012.
What becomes the next design trend within suburbia?
Intertwining roads, perfect plats of land and maybe even a white picket fence would have described suburbia fifty years ago. But in recent years gas prices have spiked and a crisis has occurred in the housing market. Areas that were once in high demand for young families are now often found foreclosed and, in some cases, the development has not been finished. The younger generation is beginning to put off the life altering decision of becoming a homeowner because of higher college costs, and an undesirable job market among other factors. On the other end of the spectrum, it is predicted that the nation will see the baby boomer population resurging in the housing market. With all of these factors there is a need for new design trends to keep suburbia flourishing and repair the damages brought on by the economic turmoil discussed above.
To address the needs of those living in suburbia one needs to reflect on what is happening around them. Technology is already ubiquitous, and families are continuing to notice the impact it has on many aspects of their lives. Schoenauer discusses how technology has influenced a state of “cocooning” and residences must conform to such lifestyles (421). In the 1950’s when the suburban concept was expanding the floor plan designs often included a built in television in the living room. Today’s floor plans must incorporate analogous design, allowing for the most current trends to be a part of the dual generations that will reside in such homes.
Sustainable design is another key component for suburbia and its existence in the future. This type of design has begun to take shape in many areas—commercial and residential. Energy costs, the need for conserving water, and the need for reuse of resources has been a push for homes to meet the standards of LEED. This process can be a large selling point for buyers of all ages—less cost for their home in terms of outside bills. The development can also lead to the integration of parks, community spaces and give a refreshing look to suburbia.
Aside from sustainable design and an incorporation of technology, suburbia has to meet the needs of the baby boomer generation and seniors. The State of the Nation’s Housing Report discusses how the “number of seniors living in suburban areas will grow by millions over the next two decades” (15). Some believe that persons will age in place as opposed to relocating due to a variety of factors. Accordingly, suburbia will need to have amenities and service-oriented facilities to meet the needs of a potentially older population than the one it had housed in prior years.
Finally, the suburbia of the future must make accommodations for residents to rent their homes or have access to multi-family dwellings. These residences may include new structures or turning foreclosed properties into multi-family dwellings. Along these same lines, the opportunity exists to address current zoning regulations and allow for mixed-use zoning to be a part of some residential zoning in areas that are saturated with foreclosed properties. The pictures below illustrate homes turned into opportunities for entrepreneurs to undertake such transformations. The age of homeowners is changing, but the cost of living increases have not kept pace with housing costs (“The State of the Nation’s Housing” 31) and that continues to increase the number of renting households. As affordability continues to be the biggest factor for some, owning a home is simply not attainable.
Urban Nature, F&S Design Studio, and Silverlion Design. Alocasia Lounge. Digital image. Reburbia. 31 July 2009. Web. 17 Jan. 2012.
Urban Nature, F&S Design Studio, and Silverlion Design. Suburban Farms. Digital image. Reburbia. 31 July 2009. Web. 17 Jan. 2012.
PLEASE use this question to discuss as well. I thought this question really well represented the readings. The readings were mostly about the housing trends of the past, questioned the trends of the future, clearly articulated those that will be, should be driving the demand of the housing market in the future [echo boomers & baby boomers], and discussed the predominance of existing vacancies and rentals on the rise.
ReplyDeleteCandace,
ReplyDeleteYour essay brought about some thought provoking issues. The first one is the incorporation of technology in today's floor plans. Technology is ever-evolving and one thing we do know is it's usually getting more compact and taking up less and less space. Tinier things are holding more information and products. Of course this is evident in computers, cell phones, TV’s, etc.
With technology being incorporated into current floor plans and at the same time sustainability and energy efficiency being a top priority in developments, it makes me wonder if one of the next design trends will involve scaled down homes. Homes may become less prominent on size and space and more prominent on downsizing, which goes along with technological advances and sustainable, energy-saving ideas. Not only could this help with overall cost of the property but also with yearly savings.
As mentioned in the article by Schoenauer pg 415, previous suburban homes were expanding in square footage as well as the amount of acreage they sit on. I’m not convinced that trend will continue. I found an article written by an analyst on futurist.com. Michael Vasser explores three predictions of suburbia 50 years from now. His essays are thoughtful and humorous. One thing he does mention (as was also mentioned in the Joint Center for Housing article on pg 19) is couples having less children and at older ages. He also entertains the reader with humorous language such as this: “Inside the home there are more people and less stuff. Better ventilation and air filters and the presence of simple cleaning robots have removed much of the dust, but the house of 2054 is much messier than the house of today. This is once again the result of electronic tags. Neatness is unnecessary when any desired object can tell your personal computer where it is to be found. This also makes it easier for more people to live together….”
Article from: http://www.futurist.com/articles-archive/society-and-culture/the-future-of-suburban-life-in-american-three-scenarios/
Regardless of whether or not Vasser’s input on future homes is correct or just entertaining, technology will be and is becoming one of the largest indicators of future trends in suburban homes.
Krystal-
DeleteFirst, I agree with the points you have brought up. I personally envision neighborhoods of 1500-2000 sq ft homes that are sustainable designs. I can see solar panels being used to heat the homes, windows that capture the sun and help heat, sustainable materials on the inside and technology running many things. The yards and sprinkler systems will probably be set up in such a way that they catch rain water or melting snow and recycle it through, there may be self sustaining grasses or other vegetation that can survive any climate. On the interior, I could see kitchen appliances being programmed, (robots like you mentioned from your article--maybe a little Jetson Rosie that takes care of daily tasks). I wonder what our depth of technology will become. At what point will technology overrule us? With the technology devices we currently have and the trend continuing to go go thinner and sleek, I can definitely see smaller homes continuing to be the trend but in the sense that families are not outgrowing them because of the resources they have in the home. In the changing workplace course I took, we discussed the portable offices and continuing with the trend of technology, I could see homes having a designated 'desk' for laptops and other wireless technology that might be needed for a homeowner to work from home. Michael Vassar's article that you mentioned, to me, is right on. I can see a combination of all 3 futures being reality. Technology will be in our pockets, everything is on a reduced scale. I worry though that we are beginning to see a lack in communication and social skills because of the trend in hand held devices. The majority of students text their friends and even their parents rather than call. Yes, it is quicker but what does that mean for the future job seekers of America?
When I was looking into future suburbia, there were a couple of websites that I found interesting. The first one entertains the idea of backyard homes. It mainly discusses building these in Los Angeles, but I could the general shape and concept working in other cities. This concept could help the baby boomers--perhaps they could move into a backyard home and give their children the home that sits on the front lot. It would serve many purposes this way; babysitting, interaction for the aging and help control development. Here is the site: http://citylab.aud.ucla.edu/projects/backyard-homes/
This article: http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?page=1150 talks about Santa Cruz and their ADU or Accessory Dwelling Unit. Basically the same concept as the first article, but this actually exists.
One thing that I stumbled upon really stopped me. Stephanie Simon wrote an article about how "agriculture is the new golf". People are wanting and actually building their homes on cattle land. The concept is great--people can then sustain their own vegetation and have quite the experience. I could see this catching on in the Midwest especially. Here is that article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903392904576510492421141056.html
krystal and candance, great points and fantastic references. [thanks]
Deletei also think that americans have learned the hard way the consequence of buying more house than they can afford. it only makes sense for houses to begin to contract. with less space, we also will be smarter and more strategic about what we buy to put into our homes.
as for the backyard homes. i love this idea and it helps to "double the density" in existing suburban contexts as mentioned in the other discussion. personally, i can relate in a slightly different way. i live right next door [share a fence] to my parents. my mom, watches my two sons during the day while my husband and i work, along with helping me out in other ways that are needed to allow alex [my husband] and i get established in our professions while raise a family and own a home. unfortunately, for one to really own a home these days it is hard not to have a two-income family...but the costs of daycare at times offsets the stress of having two working parents. this is the start of a discussion about how american suburban housing affects SOCIAL STRUCTURES of both families and societies. we will read more about this in the future.
these ideas help contain notions of residential sprawl, but yet we all would still greatly depend on the car to get us to our grocery stores, etc. do any of you have ideas of how to make these "projected newer and denser suburbs" more walkable communities?
Lindsey-
DeleteI envy you! We have two daughters, a 4.5 yr old and a 6.5 month old. Daycare costs are outrageous and while some times I feel I 'work' to cover those costs, like you, getting established in a career is so important to Eric [my husband] and I.
I think about your question a lot in our current neighborhood. I wish that we had stores closer than we do. Growing up we could walk down the street to a grocery store by my grandma and there were gas stations and other amenities within walking distance. After reading the articles, I really feel that the concept of 'building cities' would have to take place again--and I think I posted about this in another thread, but I have to wonder why this concept faded. It makes a lot of sense and seemed to offer jobs for the community, amenities all while offering a 'suburbia' environment. Perhaps this type of development is something that could be implemented in the areas that have seen construction at a halt. I wonder though, would zoning restrictions have to be rewritten to accommodate this? Would this start to draw crowds or traffic that would turn the community off?
I was thinking about the concept of live/work/play communities not just accommodating condos or apartments above commercial space, but being translated into the single-family home neighborhood in the suburbs. In this context, residents could share greenspace and grocery stores all while working from home or leasing commercial space that could be offered. These would be more multi-faceted neighborhoods, per say, and might help with establishing and retaining value.
DeleteThe discussion on families living near each other is another great thought. We have young children too and between a mortgage and childcare, costs can add up quickly. I tend to daydream about my mother living nearby! I could easily see a trend for families to live as next door neighbors or even a group of houses. Economically it makes sense, and I'm sure the added support provides a greater sense of security.
In the article from the Atlantic, it was stated that travel miles peaked in 2007 and the past few years, they have been at a halt, no increasing at all. I believe this is a direct result of technology and the workplace, as mentioned. Phone and video conferences have been replacing the need for traveling to a physical central location for meetings, etc. Online education has also probably reduced the overall miles, as less students are commuters. In terms of home design, I can see trends relating to multi-functioning residences, that include an office or detached studio of some sort.
ReplyDeleteCandace, I can also see the idea of building with agriculture in mind coming to fruition. With emphasis on organic and natural products, especially food, increasingly on the rise, I think more and more people are looking toward farmer's markets, or growing their own fruits and vegetables. I wouldn't be surprised if square footage of interior living space becomes more and more reduced, but the desire for outdoor space increases.
Erica- do you think that the agriculture trend is something that can be accommodated in all states? If there was a movement towards this in what way do you think we would preserve land for the sole purpose of livestock and farming of products that people in these areas cannot sustain? Would/will we reach a point where there will no more land to develop without tapping into the farming land? If this is the case, do we become solely dependent on other countries for food or meat?
DeleteIn reply to the technology comments, what do you think technology will do to the costs of things? Will we see a spike in prices for education, pay increases for all professions (since we will not be dependent on buildings and other resources to 'work')? How will technology affect the construction world for housing? I *think* I read an article over the summer that talked about new developments in drywall and it being made of recycled materials. Do you think that we could build a house with nothing but recyclable materials? How would that change developments?
Erica and Candace,
DeleteThe thought of an increase in outdoor spaces due to agriculture trend is interesting. I wonder if instead of increasing outdoor living spaces in each individual property, instead there could be an emphasis or increase in the public sectors of outdoor space. For instance, in a future suburb community, perhaps they have a community garden and weekly farmer's markets (or something of the sort). Perhaps there is a promotion for gardening in the community as a whole. It would be a great way to involve the neighborhood, and promote locally grown goods while at the same time not impeding on overall farm acreage which has been a concern already due to urban sprawl.
this is so interesting! i would encourage you that are engaged in this conversation to think about it as being a potential final paper topic. there is definitely awareness of organic and knowing the sources of our foods. convenience, etc.
DeleteCandace,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your point about the idea that future generations will have a tendency to "age in place" will have a massive effect on suburbia. Some of the readings mentioned that future generations will remain in their own home so they can be close to family and/or continue to work into their later years. I think this age in place mentality will have home-buyers looking at universal design features of the home before they decide on buying their home. With this new mentality of buyers, I think homebuilders will begin incorporating universal design features into their standard design. The parents of a friend of mine just completed building a home that incorporated universal design throughout. It is a beautiful home, and the universal design features blend in perfectly. I think the trend may be getting ready to take off!
Kim-
DeleteWhat elements did the parents of your friend have incorporated into their home? I wonder what becomes the 'standard' for these types of projects. Do you see the trend of housing styles going back to a ranch or a 1 1/2 story? One thing that I think needs to happen (and the articles did mention this) is outdoor spaces and being developed in such a way that it integrates the younger population with the old. I could see this being done with trails, a park, perhaps a club house or pool too. I also like to entertain the idea that we read about in terms of 'creating' a city. The logic behind this trend is one that I have a hard time understanding why it didn't seem to catch on. The way they carefully planned what buildings and what jobs and the layout really seemed to work and I wonder if that isn't a pattern language that has simply been overlooked. What is your thought on that?
I do see a trend in homes becoming ranch-style again with all the main amenities (bedrooms, kitchens, even the laundry room) on the main floor. My friends' parent's house incorporated all the main rooms on the main floor, no steps to get to the front door, an elevator to get down to the basement, but most of the changes were in the kitchen. Lower counters, open space under the counters, location of appliances (like the microwave is at counter height instead of above the stove).
DeleteI also like the idea of creating a community within the neighborhood. Strangely enough, a golf course by my house was just torn down and the developers are creating a little community within the neighborhood. I don't know all the details, but I think the plan is to build houses, apartments, multiple churches for different religions, grocery stores, etc. I don't know why this hasn't caught on before either. I think it's a great idea!
keep us updated on this. this is also an interesting topic for a final paper. revitalization of dead space...new = mixed use community centers. SMART GROWTH that we read about in week 2 readings.
Delete