Rise of smart, ecological homes in 2019

The “millenial” market is very keen on the outdoors.

Architectural trends are always evolving to adapt to society. As an architect, it’s my role to play foreteller and somewhat predict which trends will come into fruition so I can understand the evolving needs of clients, and design accordingly to suit their lifestyle. Now, as 2018 draws to a close and with 2019 slowly peeking over the horizon, which trends should we expect for the next months to come?

I personally think the biggest drive that will affect architectural design trends for the coming year is the rapid inflation over this past year. With additional taxes, interest rates and real estate prices shooting over the roof, home design will surely be affected. Hence, the rise of smarter and more ecological houses in the future. Regardless, whether people are renovating an old structure or building a new one, expect to see a lot of new concepts and materials to minimize cost and get more “bang for the buck.”

2018 saw a resurgence of industrial design with a modern twist. I think this will carry well into the next year, as the cost of land as well as materials have increased, people have looked more into recycling and re-purposing of natural materials. Industrial modern design concepts allow you to renovate well within a budget by being more forgiving in terms of finishing quality since most of these are finished in a rustic manner. If you’re a fan of using natural materials, invest in precious wood. They are getting harder to source by the day.

Another factor to consider is the growing number of the “millenial” market. Their non-conventional lifestyle demands for more flexibility and customization to suit their various needs. Since they are very keen on the outdoors, expect to see more outdoor spaces being utilized such as roof decks and gardens to bring the outdoors into their homes. Also, this market grew on technology, so as more of them invest in real estate, expect to see more built-in technology and in the houses and commercial buildings to come.

Architectural trends change as quickly as the next fashion collection, or the latest top song chart. You simply can’t design your home to never go out of trend. What you can do, however, is to invest in the best location, design and materials that will bring you the most satisfaction, relaxation and pleasure in the years to come because that never goes out of style.

Invest in the best location, design and materials that will bring you the most satisfaction in the years to come.