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Canada
Homes of the future will be more elaborate and luxurious, but not larger
Mis en ligne le 03/09/2007
Experts predict that in ten years time homes will be more elaborate and luxurious but not larger. Technological automation, higher ceilings, more open and bright home interiors, more luxurious outdoor spaces and environmentally sound construction and amenities : those are new features of homes of the future.
The average family may be smaller than it was ten years ago, but the average single-family house is larger, and more luxurious. It has more bathrooms, higher ceilings, more elaborate master bedrooms and bigger kitchens and outdoor space. So what will the average home look like in the next decade ? More than 300 architects, designers, manufacturers and marketing experts interviewed last year predicted that the average home will not be bigger but much more luxurious. People want their homes well-equipped, as they do their automobiles. This trend started with baby boomers who started buying homes not just to meet functional needs but to fit a lifestyle, as Gopal Ahluwalia, staff vice-president for research at the builders association, said. But the next generation is just as demanding. Dual master-bedrooms will thus become even more popular than they are now and will include sitting rooms, bathrooms, and walk-in closets. The family room will get much larger, while the living room will continue to shrink. People will want their houses to be more open, airy and bright. They will ask for large kitchens with islands, fewer walls separating their dining rooms or family rooms, and recessed lighting. Plain white walls won't do; bold colours will be in. Technology will become a more integral part of the house and outdoor spaces are also expected to be more luxurious, with well-equipped outdoor kitchens. Universal design, a concept that makes homes accessible to all people regardless of age or disabilities, will also find a place in new-home construction. The survey also found that “green” methods will become more widespread. The home of the future will probably have water conservation devices and energy-efficient appliances, among other features. (Edmonton Journal, 18/08/2007 : "Making the inside count ; Experts predict homes of the future won't be larger – just more elaborate and luxurious")
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