Archecture's limited connection to reality
Architectural design - in general is one of the major sources of what is wrong with housing design. Like most designers they are tied to their personal perspective of aesthetics and due to a general lack of engineering and basic economic training, they largely create places to live that generally lack functionality, adaptability and especially economic optimization and focus on an expression of their own aesthetics. Errors in design by even "successful" and "experienced" architects are common as dirt - and as a consequence their designs, especially large complex ones need to be critically scrutinized by other architects and especially materials engineers.
I saw one statement in the article that is well connected to reality "- increased demand for more informal, flexible spaces" and too that could be added practical storage solutions. Most house buyers don't understand the basic economics of construction either - further supporting the inept evolution and continuation of in inept architectural design. "Space" is the least expensive feature of any house, and yet it is the first to be cut when trying to reduce costs - and this is totally absurd. It's the fixtures and finish that create the most significant cost areas in housing. Nothing is more adaptable than "space." Books could and have been written on this subject, but it doesn't take much looking at current and past housing design to conclude in the vast majority of designs - the designers were clueless with regard to average families needs for the most adaptable commodity in existence - space. For get all the bright shinny fixtures and "architectural features" and focus on how you live - now and if you are young in the future as your family grows - children and parental care needs. If you building you really, really, really need to analyze your builder's record of construction results (mistakes, and fit and finish quality)/competitive costs. Finding competent building contractors is a major undertaking, but success in doing so pays immediately in construction cost and for years to come in maintenance.
