In recent years, there has been a definitive shift away from large residential subdivisions towards smaller scale infill development projects with a greater emphasis on affordability, access to public transportation, commercial opportunities and job centers. Amid continued concerns about over housing affordability, home styles have become simpler with low maintenance, durable building materials.
Residential architecture firms continue to report weak business conditions, with remodeling activity one of the few bright lights for residential design activity. These findings are from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey for the third quarter of 2011 that focused on community and neighborhood design.
"On the development side, low levels of new home construction, steep foreclosure rates and a surge in the popularity of urban living are the primary reasons for high levels of infill projects," said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. "From a home design perspective the preference is for building materials such as fiber-cement, stone, tile or natural earth plasters that are durable and require little maintenance."