WASHINGTON – Sept. 21, 2021 – The pandemic and climate change will continue to adversely affect communities, and new data from the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) is revealing its already profound impact on current design trends.

The Home Design Trends Survey for the third quarter of 2021—focusing on home features—found a sharp uptick in demand for outdoor living space, multiple home offices and exercise space. Also making headway in demand are sustainable and resilient related features like hurricane resistant design, back-up power generators and solar panels. 

“Outdoor living space and home offices have been popular for years, but the dramatic increase in demand for them, along with multiple laundry facilities and patio heaters indicate homeowners are staying home more and want to be prepared in the event of another shutdown,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD. “Rapidly expanding demand for super-insulated homes, back-up power generators and other features that allow homes to function in the wake of catastrophic weather events, signal homeowners are increasingly concerned about climate change.”

Housing market business conditions

Project billings, inquiries, and design contracts continued to report strong numbers during the last quarter, resulting in record high project backlogs.  Additionally, all housing sectors continue to show a strong rebound from the initial days of the pandemic.  

The AIA Home Design Trends Survey is conducted quarterly with a panel of more than 300 architecture firms that concentrate their practice in the residential sector. More information on these survey results can be reviewed on AIA’s website.

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Founded in 1857, AIA consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing.

AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation, and world. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards.