by Nissa Hanna
WHAT’S HAPPENING
- More architects hope to keep consumers in their homes longer by creating adaptable living areas and making it easier to perform maintenance on wiring and plumbing (Boston.com 10.26.08).
- Bensonwood’s Unity House’s wainscoted walls disguise removable partitions that hide the wiring. Ceiling panels make the plumbing, heating and lighting accessible for repairs, replacements and upgrades.
- Owen Richards Architects and HyBrid partnered on a flexible prefab. The lightweight walls (except those bordering kitchen and bathroom) screw into the ceilings and floors so they can be rearranged or removed as the needs of the family change.
WHAT THIS MEANS TO BUSINESS
- Sustainable architecture isn’t just about where the abode is placed, how it’s made or how small its footprint is. Eco-minded buyers are also concerned with its projected lifetime: Can it sustain a family from expansion to empty nest? As it ages, can it be modified instead of demolished?
- Homes that can evolve with homeowners’ needs empower with more design and lifestyle choices. Think aging-in-place and multigenerational clustering.
RESOURCES
