By 
We as humans have been building houses for thousands of years. In the modern age, a house provides more than just shelter afforded by the simple dwellings of our distant ancestors. A house is a place to relax, to entertain, to grow, to be creative and express our personalities. It is in many ways an extension of ourselves. While some things have remained fairly constant over the centuries, much in the way of society and technology has evolved. So too, has the way we design houses. Modern home design is influenced by many factors. Some of these factors include environmental awareness, energy efficiency, technological advances, style trends, population growth and the demand for affordable housing. In turn, these factors are reflected in various design elements, utilised in the construction of new houses in many parts of the world.
Modern House Design
Lot Sizes
Buildable land close to town centres is becoming scarce in many places. This has lead developers to subdivide new estates into smaller and smaller lots. The layouts of new home designs have shifted accordingly, favouring narrow, elongated blocks of land. Home and land packages save buyers from the hassle of finding the right home design to fit on a block, as many off-the-plan houses are designed to suit very specific building envelopes. A slight miscalculation could leave landowners unable to build their ideal home.
Building Materials
Advances in building materials and construction technology have naturally lent themselves to certain stylistic elements. Modern home facades tend towards more simplistic and geometric forms, in a move away from the more ornamental styles of earlier periods. The use of eco-friendly materials such as hempcrete is slowly gaining traction but is unlikely to replace traditional materials such as bricks and mortar anytime soon. Internally, flooring in many new homes includes ceramic tiles and timber laminate floorboards, with options such as polished concrete providing a more contemporary finish. Reconstituted stone benchtops are an attractive and affordable alternative to traditional stone benchtops, with a vast array of colours and patterns available.
Energy Efficiency
The move towards homes that use less power, and maximise the benefits of the outside environment, has had a significant impact on modern home design. Orientation is an important design consideration, as the position of the sun throughout the day (and throughout the year) will significantly affect the amount of light to different parts of the house. Modern floor plans are laid out to allow cross-ventilation from one side of the house to the other, improving air quality within the home and minimising the need for electric cooling. Solar power continues to see widespread adoption and has lead to the development of solar roof tiles. This will allow builders to incorporate solar panels as an intrinsic part of a home, rather than an unsightly add-on.
Lifestyle
As the trend towards smaller homes continues, home designers are looking towards ways of maximising the use of available space. In an effort to create clutter-free kitchens, designers are making creative use of cabinets to conceal kitchen appliances and fixtures. Moving partitions allow living spaces to transform to suit different occasions and functions. Indoor-outdoor living spaces are becoming more desirable, as many people are working longer hours than ever in artificially lit offices. Large glass bi-fold doors and covered outdoor areas help to invite the restorative energy of light and air into the home.
Final Thoughts
History has shown that trends come and go, often to re-emerge years or decades later in an updated form. As our lives are becoming busier than ever, many of us seek to both simplify and optimise our living spaces. Some things never change however, as we continue to strive to make our homes more relaxing, rejuvenating, and ultimately more enjoyable to live in.
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