Active Adults Drive New Trends in Community and Home Design - 7/5/2004 - Home Remodeling Interior Decorating Design

Active Adults Drive New Trends in Community and Home Design

Community First, Product Secondary

When creating projects for active adults, think community first. We’ve heard that buyers in this market make “lifestyle” choices when deciding where to live. But what exactly does that mean? Lifestyle is more than just a way of life or a style of living that reflects the values of adults ages 55 and older. A lifestyle is created by the community and reinforced by the product.

In essence, the community is all of the things that aren’t product. It is important to create a finished community — with mature landscaping, details that count and amenities that make sense — that looks as though it’s always been there. Many active adults consider a community’s “locational value” to be more important than floor plans. It’s not just about the location itself; rather, it’s the sense of value that’s conveyed by the location.

The entry sets the tone for what buyers can expect from a community. However, it’s a common mistake to “overshoot” the market with elaborate entry features. You need to be sure that your entry design appeals to target buyers’ wallets as well as their eyes. Some less affluent active adults may be scared off by ostentatious entries, even if the product is within their price range.

Even though most active adults appreciate nice entry monuments and amenities, less is more because they prefer not to feel like all their money is being eaten up by home owners’ association dues.

Amenity packages provide an incentive for active adults when choosing a new community but what you provide should be site- and market-specific. What seems nontraditional in one area may be the norm in others.

A developer in St. Augustine, FL, soon will offer residents the opportunity to play croquet. Some active adult communities feature simple lap pools, while others have lagoon-style pools that allow residents to gradually walk into the water without having to manage steps. Hard (instead of dirt or gravel) trails are the single most important amenity for active adults because they provide a place to walk, hike, bike and socialize while letting residents enjoy the outdoors.

Efficiency and Flexibility Are Key

Most active adults enjoy being outside, yet they don’t want the responsibility of taking care of their yards. Lots up to 60 feet wide usually work best for creating a “maintenance-free” home. It’s usually too expensive for a home owners' association to maintain the landscaping for larger lots, although it really depends on the number of lots in a community.

Incorporating thoughtful outdoor living spaces into each home, as well as sunrooms or other indoor/outdoor spaces — especially in cooler climates — adds to the enjoyment without adding to the work.

Inside, give them options; for example, the dining room can be a den or the den can be a bedroom. Always include a guest suite option. The more opportunities available, the more likely your prospects can envision themselves living there.

Diversity of Buyers Means Diversity of Product

A mix of product ensures that there’s something to appeal to everyone in an active adult community. Even though most buyers are downsizing, they don’t necessarily see themselves as moving down. Instead, they want to move up in terms of quality and design features.

Whether for sale or for rent, single-level and Cape plans (with the master bedroom on the first floor) are favored, but you’ll want to carefully research your market to ensure that you are offering the correct product mix. Elevations help “sell the message,” so the character of the architecture should complement the community theme to convey the lifestyle message.

Focus on Function, Not Drama

The inside of active adult housing should reflect the change in residents’ lifestyles. The trend in the active adult market is for fewer rooms and bigger spaces — with the formal living room usually the first room to go. Active adults want more casual living space in the form of a great room or perhaps a home office.

His-and-her offices have become popular because active adults want their “own” space. These personal spaces don’t have to be separate rooms — a designated corner, alcove or small nook works just as well. By creating and merchandising special spaces, you’re portraying the active adult lifestyle for people who want to pursue all the hobbies and interests that they didn’t have time for when they were younger.

With thoughtful up-front planning and follow-through on the details, you can create a community that has active adults clamoring to get in.

Doug Sharp, AIA, is the managing partner for Des Moines, IA-based Bloodgood Sharp Buster Architects and Planners, Inc. Sharp’s work has been recognized in many publications and design competitions, while his firm has won numerous awards in NAHB’s Best of Seniors Housing Awards, Best in American Living Awards and The Nationals. Sharp speaks frequently at regional and national events, including the Urban Land Institute, The Seaside Institute and NAHB. He can be reached by e-mail or at 515-273-3020.