Washington – The pandemic has buoyed the custom residential design sector while impacting homeowner design preferences, according to a fourth-quarter Home Design Trends Survey from the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
The latest survey results—focusing on community and neighborhood design—showed a decline in homeowner demand for infill and higher-density development, reversing a multi-year trend. Conversely, demand for multi-generational housing accommodations vaulted in popularity. Project billings, inquiries, and design contracts also rebounded from a record decline in the first quarter of 2020. Additionally, all custom residential sectors reported improved market conditions with home improvement reporting the strongest gains.