What’s the Future of Home Building?

What's the future of home building? According to the diverse sources Fernando Pagés Ruiz talked to, it will involve many things. Architect Marianne Cusato says that as a result of the economic downturn, tough times will lead to better houses featuring cleaner lines and less clutter. Cusato also believes home design will be influenced by social trends, not the whims of builders and architects. Colorado developer Jim Leach foresees the development of better neighborhoods and cohousing communities. Catherine Ross of the Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development at the Georgia Institute of Technology says that generation Y will be a big influence on how and where we live, with housing decisions based on lifestyle rather than location. Green builder Carl Seville of Atlanta envisions a greater role for rental property and calls for more attention to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes. Futurist Mitchell Joachim looks to science fiction for inspiration, and with his background in ecology, urban design, and architecture, he is looking at developing homes made of living materials. Writer Lee S. Sobel says that old, dead malls will be revived as neighborhoods. Writer Witold Rybczynski sees a period of celebration after the recovery from the current economic malaise, with an upturn in the growth of multifamily housing.