Simpler Lives, Cozy Homes Happening
Along with the occasional mansion, I am seeing a shift to more compact homes of reasonably upper-mid-range quality. People seem to want simpler lives and overall, smaller footprints.
Housing in the 2,500 hsf (heated square feet) to 3,500 hsf seem to be the demand more often these days. In the mid-decade (2003-2008) 4,500 hsf was the average, with more houses in the 6,000 hsf range and bigger. Recently, I have had two different clients, from different places in the USA, moving to the Carolinas, and wanting 2,800 hsf to 3,000 hsf or so. This appears to be a trend. Another client is having us modify their 6,000 hsf previous design direction to become more like 2,500 hsf.
The key to this emerging trend is developing more compact footprints with design approaches that FEEL big. That’s where the architectural artistry comes in. I used to work for one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s main apprentices and that is where some of the open space planning philosophies came from. Wright’s designs look very different from mine, but they share overlapping open plan space concepts, which serve to expand the visual environment in a house.
I have also developed sliding interior doors for certain multi-functional spaces, like seldom used bedrooms, that are more typically part of a recreation room or part of a great room. But we are here to serve the needs of the mansion clients and the cozy compacts; all are welcome.
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