Residential Architecture in the Hamptons

Residential Architecture in the Hamptons

Residential architecture is the art of designing living spaces. It is a personalized experience, giving creative results to individuals and families where more design freedom is allowed. Residential architecture mainly focuses on homes and their spaces. A home can be a penthouse, mansion, multi-story home, single-story apartment, condominium, etc. 

It can be tricky to design a residence with many different functional spaces. On average, a person spends 70% of their life at home. Therefore, a residence must be designed with much sensitivity. Several factors need to be followed when it comes to residential architecture. 

Client's Expectations 

Listening to clients to fully understand their needs and vision is the first and the most fundamental step of residence design. Residential architects work alongside their clients to meet their needs and expectations. A home is a personal space; therefore, it needs a personalized design to cater to the user's needs. 

Building Codes 

Building codes ensure that buildings are safe and resilient. Residence architecture must follow these codes to protect the building against natural disasters, fire hazards, etc. Moreover, defying the building codes will lead to breaking the laws of the local government, which may ultimately cause the building project to be ceased. 

Safety

In the stone age, people built homes to protect themselves from harsh weather and wild animals. A house has been the symbol of safety and protection since the start of time. Therefore, a home must provide a safe environment for its dwellers. While following building codes will make the house safe, there are other safety factors that the architects can consider from the user's perspective. Extra safety measures should be ensured when there are kids or elders in the family. 

Functionality 

A house that is beautiful and well decorated will be useless if it lacks functionality. Like the phrase 'form follows function' famously coined by Louis Sullivan, architects should prioritize functionality alongside aesthetics, even in residence design. For instance, consider the spaces of your home; if your living room and dining room are at opposite ends of the house, then you and your guests will feel uncomfortable walking all that space. When a house is functional, the users are at ease and comfortable. 

Aesthetics and Décor 

A home should be aesthetically pleasing and well decorated to satisfy its owners. An aesthetically designed space will keep its users happy and cheerful. Lighting also plays a vital role in residence design; a well-lit home will instantly lift the owner's mood. Overall, a home must be aesthetically appealing as it will inspire its users and provide them with a better lifestyle. 

Home Offices in Residential Architecture 

One of the most significant parts of residential architecture is designing a study or a home office. Especially after the covid 19 pandemic, a home office has become necessary for residential architecture. The work-from-home situation has newer possibilities for home offices, and now residential architects are also focusing on designing home offices that boost productivity. In the past, home offices were mostly designed for huge luxury homes and were left unused. However, the work-from-home era has completely changed this scenario as remote work became the new normal. Here are a few reasons why you must consider residential architecture for your home office: 

Secluded and Quiet workspace 

A residence architect will know where to design your home office, so it does not hinder other home activities. The home office will be secluded from noisy areas such as the kitchen and living room so that a peaceful and focused ambience is always maintained. Residence architecture will allow you to have a separate entry for your home office if you wish to have clients over; that way, your clients or team members can enter your office without entering your private family space. 

The Work/Life Balance 

When people started working from home, they found it difficult to separate their personal life from professionalism. Many people were working amidst their family time; therefore, the lack of work-life balance affected their mental health and productivity. Residential architecture designs home office so that it doesn't overlap with your family activities. The home offices are designed so that once you enter the office, you have a physical barrier between your personal and professional life. Therefore, you have a separate zone where you are uninterrupted by household events; this allows you to focus better and be more productive. 

Well Lit Workspace 

Poor lighting can greatly affect a person's mood and make them inefficient. Working in dimly lit conditions can also cause headaches and make you feel demotivated to work. Residence architecture will ensure a well-lit office with ample sunlight. Your home office placement is a key factor that decides how much sunlight it receives, and residence architecture will design these spaces accordingly. Natural light is also known to reduce stress and boost your mood; therefore, it will keep you uplifted and energized throughout your work hours. Moreover, residence architecture will also help you strategically place your office furniture so that your desk receives enough daylight while the computer screen avoids glare. 

Cohesive Design 

Your home office, although secluded, is still a part of your home. Hence the design of the office must resemble the theme of your house. Residence architecture will help you design a home office that is cohesive to the design of your house. Although the office space will be more formal, it will still contain design elements and colors that will unify it with the rest of your house. 

An Essence of Play

Residential architecture also focuses on entertainment, enjoyment, and spaces for pleasure. After a hard day of work or a long day at the beach, you want to come home to a space that is inviting and lavishly filled with the comforts a home should provide. Expert architects design homes that help make transitions seamless, from the home office to home entertainment areas, from the kitchen to the pool house. Each room of the house containing its specific purpose while connecting to the rest of the home. 

Consider choosing a local architect for your next residential build. A local architect will design a home that’s intended to support work-life balance. Are you considering building a home out east? Let’s talk.