Until the dust settles, homeowners will be cautious. Soaring mortgage rates are making them reassess their priorities for buying a new home and are re-evaluating renovation plans. As a result, developers may struggle to sell plots on projects already underway, while architects involved in projects still in the planning stages will need to design homes with the most consumer appeal.
Homeowners want properties that offer them the most value, support their lifestyle, and protect against the rising cost of living – they want long-term reassurance and reliability. It is therefore imperative that homes are designed with this in mind, while architects and specifiers need to be confident that the systems they choose will support changing homeowner demands.
Broken Plan Living
A quarter of people in the UK now work remotely, while socialising at home has become increasingly popular as families try to save money. Rather than open-plan layouts, they now want separate areas of the home for work and family life.
Closed plan living, or ‘broken plan’, is making a comeback as homeowners want different areas of the home to live, work, and play. However, they don’t want to compromise on the amount of natural light they have come to love with open-plan living concepts. The Origin OI-30 Internal Door and Screen system is the perfect way to divide the home into functional rooms while retaining the flow of natural light. Available in over 150 RAL colours, it is made completely bespoke with the option to add as many vertical or horizontal glazing bars as you wish.
Improved Energy Performance
A steep increase in energy prices, plus the upcoming introduction of the Future Homes Standard, has propelled thermal performance to the top of buyers’ priority list. Housebuilders will look to architects to recommend the best-performing glazing systems that don’t compromise on functionality and style. At Origin, our in-house R&D team is constantly updating the design of the Origin Home Range to achieve the highest level of energy performance.
Small Upgrades with Big Impact
Whilst housebuilders seek advice from architects on home layouts, homeowners want to know what smaller upgrades they can make to their homes that will add impact and value. Something as simple as upgrading the front door can make a dramatic difference to kerb appeal, whilst replacing French doors with a set of bi-folding doors or sliding doors improves functionality and adds value to a home.
With so much uncertainty around the UK housing market, developers are looking for assurance that products specified by architects will have homeowner appeal and stand the test of time, whilst homeowners want to know upgrades will add value. Origin products are built to last and come with an industry-leading guarantee of up to 20-years, so they can be confident when specifying our glazing systems in homes for the future.
To discuss your projects with Origin, please visit the website below.
