6 Homebuilders Predict What Houses Will Look Like in 20 Years

Caplow predicts we will have eliminated much of these unwanted materials in the next 20 years and replaced them with alternative solutions, such as polished concrete ceilings, encapsulated insulation, or ductless air conditioning systems. For Thorpe, this desire will become increasingly pressing as the realities of climate change set in. “We need to take ownership of how we live and make purposeful and responsible decisions for the health and wellbeing of ourselves, our families, and our communities,” he says.

At the Mendocino, California, cabin of Max Goldstein and Jay Ezra Nayssan, connection with nature and community are top of mind.

Photo: André Jones / Styling: Leila Nichols

Among the home’s gestures towards community is its ADU, where homeowners or guests can lounge or take a snooze.

Photo: André Jones / Styling: Leila Nichols

Place for Community

As the concern for healthy living grows, so will our understanding that our individual health is inexorably tied to the health of our communities. Many of the builders surveyed predicted that the homes of the future will be more open and connected to community and intergenerational living. The shift in today’s homes towards shared spaces that promote connection among neighbors will only continue to grow. “In the future, I think that our cities will become denser while offering new typologies of common space,” muses Thorpe. “Regarding the American suburban landscape, I’d like to see a shift towards focusing on community-driven planning.”

For Thompson, this also translates to more collaborative methods of building the homes of the future. “In the future, I’m hopeful that all parties involved in the residential construction process will appreciate the benefits of a collaborative design effort,” he reflects. “To make a durable, comfortable, and energy efficient home, it requires a high level of collaboration amongst the clients, designers, builders, and trade partners.”

Energy Independent and Sustainably Affordable

As communities around the globe continue to experience the effects of climate change, homebuilders predict that tomorrow’s residences will need to be more efficient in how they use energy, both in their construction and their operation. “I’m hopeful that as builders, we become far better stewards of scarce resources and hopeful that the homes of the future will be largely energy independent,” says Seattle’s Mike Suver, founding partner of Lockhart Suver. By this he means homes that can operate solely on renewable energy sources and off the energy grid. “Apart from photovoltaic arrays, innovations like the Tesla solar roof shingle and improved battery technologies for power storage will be coupled with ground source technology so we can increasingly use the earth and sun to power our homes,” he predicts.

While these technologies lead to lower operating costs over time, today’s homeowners often find them pricey to install. Thorpe is optimistic that will change in the next two decades. “I’m hopeful that renewable technologies such as solar, wind, and geothermal will become more efficient and cost effective,” he says. “Even more, I hope that they will be the default standard for housing infrastructure, fully integrated into the design and development of not only the home itself, but the planning of the community in which it sits.”

Emmett Moore’s Floridian home, designed by Arquitectonica, sits five feet off the ground and incorporates myriad strategies for coastal resiliency, among them catch basins, French drains, and an absorbent landscape of salt-tolerant plants.

Ori Harpaz

Built to Last

Ultimately, today’s homebuilders predict that in 20 years, builders will have solved the puzzle of how to create homes that truly stand the test of time. Rather than follow the sway of ever-changing trends and styles that prioritize aesthetics over craftsmanship, builders hope that tomorrow’s homeowners will appreciate homes of quality that are made to last. “I am most hopeful that there will be a continued appreciation for quality construction and design with a focus on sustainability and efficiency,” says Chandler. “A well-built house can last for decades, and the most responsible thing we can do for the environment is to keep substandard construction out of landfills.”

And Thompson agrees. “If anything, I think the quality of materials will only improve over the next 20 years, which will improve the performance and quality of our builds,” he predicts. “This will enable us to continue making unique designs, but doing so in a more durable and resilient way.”