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http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/living/home/9933923.htm?1c
Homes of future will be like hives
More than just safe havens, we want places to make connections
TRACY LEHMANN
San Antonio Express-News
LAS VEGAS - The buzz in American homes is about hiving, and the view of home as a hub of activity is influencing new-home desires and designs.
Families today want more from their house than the sheltering cocoon of the 1980s and '90s, a safe haven from life's harsh realities. They want a place where they can connect with family, friends and community, according to J. Walker Smith, president of Yankelovich Partners, a consumer research firm based in Chapel Hill. They want comfortable, cozy and flexible spaces.
Research by the National Association of Home Builders, released in late January at the International Builders' Show, indicates consumers favor family rooms over more formal living rooms -- a space they could do without. Laundry rooms and dining rooms topped the list of indispensable spaces. Fervor for outdoor "rooms" -- decks, porches and patios -- remains strong.
"Underlying it all is a desire for homes to have emotional richness," notes Gayle Butler, editor in chief of the building and remodeling group of Better Homes and Gardens special-interest publications. The dining room, for example, might be used only for holidays and other special occasions, but it's a room associated with family, traditions and memories.
Three showhouses at the builders' show presented widely varied interpretations of the home as a hive.
While builders, architects and interior designers might not refer to the spaces they created as "hives," the principles echoed through the family rooms, dining rooms and outdoor rooms of the houses.
"A hive is a home designed to open out and facilitate connection," notes Smith.
Yankelovich research reported last summer reflected rising interest in connecting. "Across all generations, family is more important than ever," Smith said. "Through hiving, home is the best place to re-establish relationships and connect with others. Home is command central for this new lifestyle."
The concept is shaping tomorrow's homes in a variety of ways.
In the Ultimate Family Home showhouse, built by California-based Pardee Homes, consumers mapped out the spaces. Focus groups of children, teens and adults expressed their desires, which were incorporated into the 5,300-square-foot house that includes four bedrooms and 5 1/2 bathrooms in its three levels.
A home-management center off the kitchen could be the dream of parents everywhere. It is a designated area for homework, and parents can easily monitor Internet access. With a peninsula desk, the dual workstations make great use of the space; however, many families might prefer sliding doors to screen out the inevitable clutter of a family office.
The family also can monitor energy use from the center. In addition to the consumer-driven design, the house was built as a model for energy efficiency, meeting U.S. Department of Energy standards as a zero-energy house.
It includes photovoltaic panels, which help in the goal of producing more energy than the house uses, allowing homeowners to sell back to the local utility in exchange for credits on their bill. The estimated annual utility savings of $5,000 would be welcome in any family, especially with the $3 million price tag on this house.
The kitchen island serves both adults and children, with a microwave and beverage center in easy reach of youngsters. Focus groups prompted Bassenian/Lagoni Architects to include:
. An air-conditioned garage bay outfitted as a workshop where the family can work on hobbies and crafts.
. A media room and family gathering space off the kitchen.
. An open-air pavilion, complete with plasma TV and fully equipped kitchen and a shower to serve the pool.
Outdoor spaces and energy efficiency also play key roles at the New American Home, a three-story loft-style house built by Merlin Contracting.
Set on a canal, the house capitalizes on its southern climate with a patio at the entrance, a terrace off the living area and two balconies on the top level. There's even a bathtub on the terrace off the master suite.
The contemporary design focuses on flexible spaces, giving occupants plenty of togetherness and options for privacy. An upstairs loft could be an office or an exercise room. The living area -- stepped down from the kitchen/dining area -- affords some separation for the cook. Butler of Better Homes and Gardens notes that homeowners want some privacy for the cook along with the ability to hide some of the mess associated with the kitchen.
San Francisco interior designer Jiun Ho used rugs and other tactics to define areas within the space. For example, he hung a brilliant red light fixture resembling an oversized lampshade over the dining table.
In contrast to the Spanish-styled Ultimate Family Home, the loft design of the New American Home feels more refined and vibrant.
But the designer said he included some antique and vintage pieces to warm up the contemporary style. "It is good to blend the past and future to show how you can blend things you may inherit and create a cozy environment."
The basement offers a small media room, two of the home's three bedrooms and a narrow hallway that doubles as a gallery for displaying art.
Built of concrete and structural insulated panels, the house also boasts low-energy use.
The estimated price on the 5,180-square-foot New American Home is $1.8 million.
In the Home by Design showhouse, architect Sarah Susanka, author of "The Not So Big House" (Taunton, $40), shared a different vision of what homebuyers want. "People are looking for something that has the feel and character of an older home but is designed for modern-day lifestyle," she said.
The house, reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright, illustrates the principles she lays out in her upcoming book "Home by Design." It also demonstrates the harmony of good design.
Architecture, she says, is like music. "Many of us have a musical ear. We can just tell if things are in harmony. A lot of people are very sensitive to the quality and character of space. Most people don't know that's what they are feeling."
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