This generation expects houses to be technology integrated.
Therefore, the houses should have wireless home networks, and more importantly, the houses should be functioning as a unified system rather than having a separate cooling and heating, sprinkler, and entertainment system. This generation also prefers to purchase small houses that are affordable, unlike generations before them. The fall of the birthrates in the U.S in recent years also narrow down to the existence of smaller families and small homes.
Generation Y
Millennials are the youngest new homeowners. Most of them are eager to have homes that fit their unique lifestyles (Dickerson, 2015). The features that millennials are looking for in homes include; the houses have to be customized to their needs. The inward and outward expression of the house should be a reflection of these individuals. Therefore, the one-size-fits-all model is not enough for this generation. The second feature is an open floor plan. Basically, a room that has few walls between the kitchen, living room and dining room is the best for the millennials. Another feature is the presence of a home office. The millennial generation is largely transforming the workplace (Rappaport, 2015). Many of them work from home and thus the potential homeowners want a suitable workplace for an office at home. Additionally, the houses need to be energy-efficient. Millennials are more concerned with the impact they have on the environment that all the other generations. Therefore, they want to own houses in places they are sure they will have minimal carbon footprints. Finally, many of the individuals in this era are sensitive about space usage. Many are foregoing the extra bedrooms and the very large living rooms.
Generation X
This generation is active with their communities. Houses with large layouts with flexibility are thus preferred. Individuals in this generation may look to accommodate their families (Coupland, 1991). A large layout is ideal to accommodate everyone in the family. The other feature is some outdoor space. This space is important for these folks to enable them to hang out with guests and their families. Houses with a little bit of luxury are also important for folks in this generation. Having kids at home, a lot of individuals in their 40s and 50s will want to have luxurious lifestyles for the sake of their kids and for themselves. Additionally, having "Green" living features is also crucial for this generation (Coupland, 1991). Houses with solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and low-flow shower heads are a preference because these features are environmentally friendly.
Boomers
The baby boomers are nearing retirement age while some are already retired. Before the millennials took over, they were the largest American generation (Enelhardt, 2006). Though they were born between 1946 and 1964, many of them are not ready to head to their retirement homes. This generation has a very sophisticated style and wants to have choices in their homes. Some opt to sell the homes they used to raise their children and move to sunnier pastures while others decide to redesign their houses to suit their retired lifestyle. Some of the features that are important when designing houses for this generation include: Home offices; there are those boomers who choose to work past the age of 65. As these individuals move from the normal 9-to-5 job, they want to have home offices which guarantee flexibility. The second feature is media/ tech centers. Many of the boomers want high-class amenities for their homes. The amenities include a media room, wireless home network, security features, and remote control lighting. The other feature is wider hallways and doors. They use of a wheelchair may become a necessity with aging. Therefore, wider doors and hallways are important for people in this generation to facilitate the movement of wheelchairs. Additionally, while moving large furniture, wider doors are useful. Better lighting is another modification that is very important. As individuals get older, the need for more lighting increases. Wider windows are thus necessary to let in more natural light.
Post-war cohorts
The post-war cohorts are probably the elderly people in the society. There are simple designs that are suitable for them for safety and security. First, the houses should have good lighting. Good lighting prevent falls (Rougier, 2016). Outdoor area, bathrooms, workspaces, stairways and reading areas should have adequate lighting. The presence of emergency lights, night-lights, locker-type light switches and under the cabinet lights in the kitchen is important. Secondly, for those with hearing problems, it is important to install devices such as smoke detectors, doorbells that are audible enough, and telephones with adjustable volumes. The other feature is designing a house with no steps at the entrance for ease of entrance of wheelchairs. Stairway handrail is also important and should be installed on both sides of the staircase. It is also important to use door levers because they are easier to use than the door handles (Rougier, 2016). The other modification suitable for the post-war cohorts is first-floor bedrooms and bathrooms. This aged group of people does not wish to go up and down stairs with their aching backs and bad knees. They prefer bedrooms that are large, more spacious walk-in closets and bathrooms with separate tub and shower.
References
Coupland, D. (1991). Generation X: Tales for an accelerated culture. Macmillan.
Dickerson, A. M. (2015). Millennials, affordable housing, and the future of homeownership. J. Affordable Hous. " Cmty. Dev. L., 24, 435.
Engelhardt, G. V. (2006). Housing trends among baby boomers.
Rappaport, J. (2015). Millennials, baby boomers, and rebounding multifamily home construction.
Rougier, I. (2016). Housing for the elderly. Vie sociale, (3), 117-129.
