64 ~ North Shove News - Friday, November 19, 1999

Forecast

PICTURE the home
of the future.

Do vou see a fersons-style
space needle model plopped
on top of a chrome-plated
pillar?

Housing, like all things,
changes with time.

Consumers want homes
that accommodate _ their
lifestvles. And the pace ac
which we live has definitely
gained momentum in the
past decade.

So how will housing
evolve? What will the new
millennium housing look
like?

According to MaryAnne
Connor-Simpson, chair of
the Sales & Marketing
Council of the Greater
Vancouver Home Builders’
Association, some housing
experts predict it will appear

surprisingly un-futuristic.

Homebuyers won't rush
the market to purchase
round, metallic-plated
homes,

For the last couple of cen-
turies, builders have con-
structed homes that are vari-
ations on several basic archi-
tectural themes.

Many of us will, probably
continue to live in colonial or
other traditional-style
homes.

And a few might live like
kings in homes with enclosed
courtyards and castle-like
towers.

Just as with clothing,
most housing styles eventual-
ly come back in vogue —
even if it takes several cen-
turies.

Size proportions in mil-
lennial housing will shift.

For the past decade, com-

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to the developing world.

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ing the future

mon areas such 2s family
rooms and kitchens have
expanded at a steady pace.

Housing experts predict
this trend has staying power.

The home’s  “public™
spaces will keep growing
whereas “private” spaces,
such as bedrooms and baths,
will shrink.

Some housing industry
experts predict thar 2)st cen-

What the

ACCORDING toa
new survey, today’s
homebuyers want:

@ at least onc fireplace;
@ central air conditioning.
&3% of respondents wanted
central air conditioning in
their home;
@ high ceilings. Some home-
buyers want ceilings as high
as 1} feet. First-floor ceilings
in homes built 10 years ago
average cight fect; .
B home offices. Homebuyers
want bigger and better-wired
home offices;
E open space;
larger
Homebuyers. want | more:
counter space, rable space,
central islands, walk-in
antrics and double sinks;
more. bathrooms. Thirty
years ago, the average home
had 1.5 baths. Today it has
24% to three. Homes built in’
the 2ist century should
come with plenty’ of bath-
rooms. Buyers want linen.
closets, exhaust fans, separate’
shower enclosures, whirlpeol

kitchens...

tury homes will function as
digitally controlled, robotic
servants, catering to the
homeowner’s every want and
need.

How would you like
kitchen cupboard that
noticed when the Frosted
Flakes were gone and called
in a restock order to a super-
market that delivers? And
solar panels may shrink in

average

tubs, water temperature con-
trols, — dressing /make-up
areas and private toilet com-
artment in their baths;

two storeys. Increasingly
over the past two decades,
homebuyers have shifted
toward a preference for two-
storey homes. In 1971, only
17% of new homes built had
two storeys. By 1995, 48% of
new homes buile had two
storeys;
4 high-tech security systems:
© media rooms;
@ cwo or three-car garages;
W@ sunrooms;
@ exercise rooms;
®& laundry rooms;
@ communications ports.
Upgraded and improved
wiring systems provide better
access to the Internet and

’ cable TV stations;

®& multi-purpose rooms. In
some homes, the traditional
kitchen and family rooms
will melt into one larger,
new, multi- “PUTPOSE cfm,
either divided by a haif wall
or left completely open;

@& more storage space. In

: Space, Place for. table and .

in housing styi

size until they resemble shin-
gile-like roof tiles.

Even if they can’t have
computerized Kitchen cabi-
nets, homebuyers will still
want convenience.

The average
home will come
stocked with amenities.

Housing experts can’t
predict exactly what conve-
nience item will become

Canadian
fully

les

commonplace in new homes.

Fifty years ago, who
would have guessed that
every new home would one
day come with a dishwasher?

But they can make guess-
es by looking at current
amenities featured in most
new homes, or by reading
surveys that ask homebuyers
what features they consider
essential.

homebuyer wanis

some bedrooms, closets will
cover an entire wall. Most
master bedrooms will include
his and hers walk-in closets;
@ energy management sys-
tems;

a lighting controls.

Homes built in the 21st
century will suit individual
lifestyles, providing havens in
which homeowners can live
comfortable and convenient
lives.

And again we will won-
der, as a new amenity
becomes commonplace in
the average home, “How did
we ever live without in”

Composite Home:

(Based on  homebuy-
ers’ /preferences):
= single-family detached,
rwo-storcy with basement,
& median size: 2,196 Sq. tt;
& bedrooms: 4;

bathrooms: 35;
WM parking: 2 car garage;

@ extra bedroom — guest:

coom/heme office;
Bl kitchen: large counter

chairs, double sink,. walk-in
pantry, island work area,
Corian counter top; ;

S bath: white toilet tub and
sink, separate shower enclo-
sure, private toilet cempart-
ment, linen sleset, exhaust
fan; .

H secu-ity system: internal
security system; |

@ kitchen-femily room: visu- -
ally open, with a half.
wall/completely open;
ga specialty areas: laundry
near kitchen or bedroom,
dining recom, home office,
den/library, sound proofing;
double pane windows; ':
@ built-in shelving;
8 fireplace in: family room; ’
‘] skylights fin:
bathroum/kitchen;

f§ bay: ~~ windows
living/dining room,
& cathedral ceiling in: living
room;

@ front exterior material:
brick:

& outdoor features: lot with
trees, exterior lighting;

@ ceiling height: nine feet on
first floor.

vin:

TO OUR SUCCESS
- Here's. what our homeowners are saying nee
about The Vista at Haomersley Park... -