Architects’ New Survey Shows Growth Trend In Five Wellness Categories

The American Institute of Architects’ latest survey looks at home and property design trends for the second quarter of 2024. Each quarter, the professional association asks its members to complete questionnaires on what they’re seeing in their practices and then they produce the reports from hundreds of responses. Five of the growth trends in this report fit into a wellness design conversation, so I asked a range of home design and building professionals across the country to weigh on how these are showing up in their projects.

1. Junior ADUs and In-Law Suites

Compared to the same time in 2023 and to other wellness-supporting trends in this report, this feature saw the greatest increase, (43% in 2024 vs. 32% in 2023). “We are seeing a tremendous uptick in the requests for ADU designs,” shares Sausalito-based interior designer Katie McCaffery. She cites government incentives to help relieve housing shortages for part of the growth, adding, “ADUs are great because they can provide wonderful housing for elder family members to age in place, kids home from college, family members in a transitional time in their lives or it could be a place for caregivers to live or for renting out as extra income.”

This growth isn’t limited to California. “Since 2020, we’ve seen a growing demand for spaces that can accommodate either in-laws or short-term rental guests,” says architect Kim Payne Allen in New Orleans. “The layouts are often designed like efficiency apartments or hotel rooms, typically featuring a small seating area, a mini bar or kitchenette, a bedroom, and a bathroom.” She also includes a separate entry and mini-split HVAC system and keeps the unit as far from the owner’s primary suite as possible.

2. Heated Exterior Spaces

This trend ticked up slightly from last year (30% in 2024 vs. 27% in 2023) as homeowners look to optimize their space, but experience some inflationary and interest rate constraints along the way. In regions that experience cold weather for more of the year, this extra capacity and comfort can be a major boon.

“We are getting so many more enquiries from people wanting to make their patios, outdoor kitchens and swimming pools usable all year round, adding heat as part of the home improvement process,” declares Tyler Hull, a Waukesha, Wisconsin-based general contractor, citing radiant heating systems as a particular growth area. “Less obtrusive, blending in better, and energy-savings-friendly (translating to lower bills over time),” are why they’re growing, he adds. In his area, the prices have dropped as well, he says. “A year ago, you might have been talking about $12 to $21 per square foot for a basic outdoor radiant-heating setup. But with all of these efficiencies, it could be $10 to $18 per square foot now.”

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These projects are popular in sunny Southern California too, observes architect Michael Metiu, with an office in Santa Barbara. “While indoor-outdoor flow has always been important to our clients, since Covid it has become ubiquitous to develop attractive outdoor spaces to entertain all year long.” Radiant heating is also a top choice for his projects, but added, “In some cases, we even use heated outdoor furniture and it creates a true tactile experience for its users.”

3. Ramps and Elevators

The popularity of these accessibility features has been growing, the survey reports (45% in 2024 vs. 40% in 2023). Allen just completed one of these projects, she says. “Residential elevators are a common ask for custom home customers with an aging-in-place strategy in mind, particularly in coastal areas where homes are raised, sometimes by 20 or more feet, from grade.” Permitting can be a challenge, she notes, with many jurisdictions lacking the inspection infrastructure for a home elevator, (rather than the apartment and condo buildings in which they’re more commonly installed).

Interior designer Leann Lynn with McCroskey Interiors in Kansas City, Missouri is also seeing this growth, she says. “The trend toward future-proofing homes is on the rise, with nearly every luxury project we handle incorporating elevators or at least pre-planning elevator shafts. Homeowners today want long-term solutions that make their homes adaptable for changing mobility needs over time, reducing the need to move multiple times.” (I’ve taken this approach in my own aging in place friendly home search, evaluating houses for elevator potential.)

“I’ve had both a ramp and elevator installed in recent projects for greater inclusion of high-needs family members at home,” comments Denver-based residential design firm principal Sharon Read, adding, “I see a beautiful trend towards gathering family together for mutual support.”

4. Backup Power Generation

Hurricanes, floods, wildfires and other disasters are helping to drive this trend across the country (56% 2024 vs. 53% 2023), including for McCaffery’s San Francisco Bay Area clients. She cities California’s increased fire risk and related utility shut offs for growth. “Almost everyone is thinking about ways to better store and generate power almost all year long. Generators and power walls are a wonderful way to keep your home comfortable and your family safe and comfortable.”

Frigid winter weather can also contribute to power outages and rising demand for backup systems. “Adding a backup power generator is a relatively easy process, one that will improve both the safety and security of your home. Due to the extreme winters in the Midwest, having the extra peace of mind is priceless,” shares general contractor Jeff Russell in St. Paul. He has seen this trend increase in recent years, he says.

5. Security Systems

This category saw a notable jump this year (38% 2024 vs. 31% 2023), likely attributable to dramatic headlines and social media posts spiking fears. "This is getting more complicated as crimes, and the perpetrators of crime, are becoming more sophisticated,” observes Los Angeles-based designer Susan Taylor. “We are moving away from wireless back to hardwired security systems as criminals are utilizing ‘jammers’ to infiltrate and disable wireless alarm systems,” she adds.

“Lately, I've worked on several home remodels where homeowners have requested to keep security doors and window gates, especially in areas where crime and break-ins are a concern,” shares Dominique Lawrenz, San Francisco Bay Area-based interior designer and renovation advisor at Freemodel, a pre-sale home renovation company. “To balance safety and style, we've been either repainting the existing security features or replacing them with more modern versions. This approach maintains the home's security while enhancing its overall aesthetic.”

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Note: Source interviews were conducted via email and professional social media group responses between October 18 and October 21, 2o24.