The show stopper of the Responsive Home project is the 3,194-square-foot Transitional residence, a model of forward-thinking design with the intent to wow young move-up buyers. It’s targeted toward a professional couple who want more space but don’t want to give up a walkable location, style, or amenities.
These types of consumers want lots of space—83% of millennials in Ketchum’s survey said more space is the biggest motivator to buy a home. Nevertheless, they still want to be in a walkable community with recreation, trails, and shopping nearby, says Claudia Sieb, head of community marketing for Inspirada. “What the research is telling us is that they want the best of both worlds,” she says.
This $450,000 home boasts a spacious casita behind the garage that provides full privacy for owners or their guests and includes a covered private patio, small kitchen, and full bath. Buyers have an option to expand the casita or add a separate adjoining fitness room.
Outdoor activities are a huge selling point for this demographic, so the project team included myriad ways for homeowners to interact with nature. For example, sightlines from the entry of both homes lead all the way to the backyard. “The dining room, great room, and kitchen all have access to a front courtyard, rear courtyard, or covered outdoor living space on the side of each home,” says lead architect Hans Anderle.
Electronic controls for temperature, lighting, and home automation will appeal to tech-savvy millennials who will enjoy being able to easily manage the home’s energy use and comfort from anywhere via tablet or personal device. And, the home’s green credentials are sure to impress environmentally conscious young buyers: With a well insulated building envelope, advanced framing, and 9.6 KW south-facing PV system, the HERS 11 home will produce about as much electricity as the house requires.
In Las Vegas, Pardee Homes often has pushed the envelope on contemporary architecture, and the Responsive Home project takes this boldness even further, says division president Klif Andrews. “I think a new modern feel is really what the home buyers of Las Vegas are looking for,” he says. “We know right now that the market is very interested in contemporary furniture, so if people are that intrigued by contemporary furniture why wouldn’t they like to have a great home with a contemporary style to put it in?”
The Responsive Home project is a test case for the company. “We want to learn more about the potential for contemporary architecture in a new-home builder environment,” Andrews says.
