The mechanization of the 21st century also brings completely new possibilities for house construction. Thatched roofs and indoor pools have long since become obsolete, and building with the renewable raw material wood is just being rediscovered: the latest house trends were presented at the Berlin trade fair HäuserWelten. Our experts were there and will provide you with an overview of the latest house building fashions.
the essentials in brief
- The bungalow has risen from the holiday home to a paradise of houses. Because it does not need stairs, it is particularly suitable for multi-generational living .
- Building with wood is enjoying regained popularity: More and more Germans are relying on the renewable and romantic building material.
- The smart home is only just emerging and is already being hotly debated. A house that responds to the needs of its residents is more than a vision of the future.
Bungalows are becoming increasingly popular
The former holiday home cliché is becoming more and more popular with house builders: living on one level saves you having to climb the stairs up and down. That is why the bungalow is also suitable for the disabled and the elderly .
In addition, the large area offers a lot of architectural freedom. Anyone who automatically thinks of a flat roof when it comes to bungalows is wrong: hipped, tented or pitched roofs are just as attractive constructions as the simple flat roof. And since the walls have to be less static than in a multi-storey house, the bungalow offers further architectural freedom. The interior design of the bungalow is also impressive. It is usually characterized by spacious and light-flooded rooms.
The main disadvantage of the bungalow is obvious: since it does not go up or down, but only uses the space of the level, it requires a larger floor plan than the classic single-family house with several floors. However, the higher costs for a large property are usually balanced by the comparatively simple and therefore cheaper construction of the house.
Another disadvantage of the bungalow is that it has more outdoor space compared to the bunk house. Thermal insulation is therefore more complex and expensive.
Nevertheless, more and more Germans decide to build a bungalow because they are aesthetically impressed by the spacious and light design of the one-storey house. And especially for smaller houses, the level construction is very good.
Lifestyle trend: multi-generational living
This trend is not a type of house construction, but a lifestyle: multi-generational living. The principle can be interpreted in two different directions. On the one hand, it describes living together with the grandparents under one roof. This results in advantages for everyone involved. On the one hand, grandma and grandpa can step in as babysitters and thus enjoy a special bond with the grandchildren. On the other hand, it is often a relief to know that the parents who already need care are nearby so that they can help at any time. However, multi-generational living can also mean that growing children can be guaranteed greater freedom without having to give them up completely.
Architecturally, the principle can best be implemented with a granny flat.
“Numerous prefabricated and solid houses are offered with an additional granny flat to meet the desire for more family under one’s own roof.”
The granny flat is connected to the main entrance of the house, but has its own access to the flat. With a separate kitchen and bathroom, it offers a lot of privacy.
The construction of granny flats is on the rise again. Numerous prefabricated houses and solid houses are offered with an additional granny flat to meet the desire for more family under one roof.
Rediscovered: The wooden house
For a long time, the wooden house was on the fringes of attention. It was considered rural, peasant and old-fashioned. However, building with the natural raw material wood has recently become more and more popular.
There are good reasons for that. Wood is a renewable raw material and therefore has a good ecological balance. Added to this is the fact that the building material comes from the region. This not only saves CO2, but also delivery costs. The solid wood is also an optimal silencer. And what was once the doom of the wooden house has now become an attractive argument for it: the traditional and charming architectural style of a wooden house is very trendy. In addition, building with wood today offers many more design options than you might think. A wooden house can be designed not only traditionally, but also very modern.
It should not be forgotten that wood is a natural product and as such requires care. Depending on the type of wood (and thus the costs also vary), the walls must be varnished regularly to protect them from moisture. In addition, the wooden house “lives”. That means it breathes, moves, and is susceptible to pests like woodworm.
So smart
The latest trend in residential construction is the smart home. To illustrate, imagine the following scene: Instead of using a key, you open the door with your thumb. When you enter, the house adjusts itself optimally to your needs. Controllers measure temperature, humidity and light levels to adjust to your pre-programmed preferences.
In a smart home, all systems are linked, converge in an overall system and are controlled from there. That means your fridge will send you an SMS when the milk is gone. If a traffic jam is reported, your alarm clock will automatically ring earlier. And when you turn on the television, the light is naturally dimmed. All this is not a distant vision of the future, but already reality.
Smart Home is based on the latest technology and is viewed very skeptically from various perspectives. Above all, the security aspect and the endangered privacy are criticized.
First of all, however, you should pay particular attention to the fact that you should decide for or against a smart home at an early stage. All components are connected via a central cable system that is several kilometers long. In order to be able to elegantly hide this immense length of cables in the house wall, it is necessary to plan for them in good time.
When making a decision for or against the latest trend in home construction, you should consider the advantages and disadvantages at an early stage.
In this article we have presented the latest house building fashions to you in a nutshell. Nowadays, the focus is not on the practical advantages and disadvantages of building a house, but on your individual design wishes. Easily determine what your dream home could look like with our free home build planning tool.