Trend Insight Webinar Recap

Last month the President of HPA Design Group, Chelsea Dora-Shibley, was invited to speak at Humphreys & Partners Architects’ annual kick-off webinar. Joining an accomplished panel of experts, Chelsea shared the latest in amenity trends and design innovations that will set any multifamily community apart from the competition. Highlighting areas from unit design to amenity programming to property signage, Chelsea shared HPAD’s holistic approach to thoughtfully crafting spaces geared towards target residents while incorporating unique elements of design.

Units: Symbiotic Living & Working

With the global shift to remote and hybrid work schedules, we are seeing an increase in demand for usable square footage dedicated to workspaces within residential units. Our designers are maximizing square footage by taking advantage of vertical space in ways previously not considered. When brought in the early development of the unit footprint, we can optimize both vertical and horizontal space, creating unique environments that speak to the way we live, work, and relax.

Amenity Interior Design: Cue the Curves.

There is a definitive shift towards curved lines, soft edges, and organic shapes. In sharp contrast to the clean, hard lines of the mid-century vernacular style that has dominated the last decade, we are leaning into rounded forms, not only in furnishings but also from an interior architectural perspective. The incorporation of arched doorways, portals, and features are allowing us to create movement, contrast, and new dimensionality.

Amenity Interior Design: Bold Moves.

In contrast to the neutral, subdued tones that have saturated the market for the last several years, bold color and exciting hues are leading the way into the next decade. Pairing vibrant pops of color with high contrasts between neutral tones transform a space and imparts a more playful feel to the overall aesthetic. Bold colors can also convey a sense of optimism, positively affect energy levels, and evoke a sensation of cheerfulness.

Amenity Interior Design: Global Connection.

Due to the impacts of the pandemic, connectivity to our outside world and our global neighborhood is shaping design more than ever. The global influence on design can be attributed to the larger connectivity to the world around us and celebrates culture, different world-views, and ideology that makes us all unique. As designers, we constantly explore ways to bridge cultures and connect our lives through the lens of design.

Amenity Interior Design: Murals with a Message.

Incorporating the spirit of the property’s unique location is one way to help shape communities and bring residents together. By engaging local artists to create one-of-a-kind murals, we are able to deliver placemaking artwork to bridge the gap between residents and their communities.

Amenity Interior Design: The Evolution of Working from Home.

When rethinking how residents work from home, we are shifting perspective on how amenity spaces are programmed from the onset. Community spaces need to consider a wide range of options for working from home including collaborative co-work and private work options. Through the use of both collaborative seating arrangements and private work pods (or booths), we can deliver a work environment that offers both practicality and flexibility while still creating a sense of togetherness.

Amenity Interior Design: Exploring the Indoor-to-Outdoor Office.

With an increase of residents spending more time working from home, designers are met with the challenge of creating work-from-home environments that promote productivity and well-being. Biophilic design remains a topic at the forefront where the focal point in each space integrates the indoor to the outdoor both directly and indirectly. The holistic consideration of natural lighting and living greenery allows us to deliver spaces that can impart science-driven health benefits.

Amenity Interior Design: Design without Limits.

The hallmark of exceptional design is not simply creating a space, but creating a lifestyle. By reimagining uses, functions, and offerings we can deliver truly special environments that resonate with residents. From private wine rooms and barista-style coffee bars to hidden speakeasies and virtual reality lounges, our designers focus on creating spaces that make a lasting impression, enhance marketability, and ultimately entice residents to call the property their home.

Amenity Interior Design: Grand Game Rooms.

Dynamic game rooms are essential for residents to connect with friends, meet neighbors, decompress, and ultimately have fun. Nostalgic games including vintage arcade games, pinball, and skeeball are making a big comeback in our line-up of amenity offerings. Duck bowling, a miniature version of standard bowling, offers a unique way to engage the residents on a smaller square footage allowance. Golf simulators are still enjoying popularity and are being taken to the next level by expanding the rooms’ footprint to include club seating, service bars, and viewing decks.

Amenity Interior Design: Wellness is the New Fitness.

With the mind-body connection becoming more prevalent in our society, we are designing spaces that influence overarching full-body wellness. We are seeing the incorporation of green pods, integrated spas, meditation decks, and zen rooms and are discovering new ways to implement this holistic approach to our multifamily communities.

Amenity Interior Design: Pools with a Purpose.

Taking the term “inside-out” to the next level, our designers are constantly striving to elevate our outdoor amenities in innovative ways. Creating resort-inspired grounds, pool-side sculptural elements, and one-of-a-kind furnishing pieces can deliver “Instagrammable moments” and create enticing spaces that make people want to stay, play, and live.

Amenity Interior Design: A Cohesive Community.

Connecting the interiors of a property with signage and wayfinding significantly elevates the overall design. The journey from architecture to interior design to signage is at the forefront of our minds when the conceptual phase begins. Signage and wayfinding have the ability to tell a story and create a sense of place and identity. A current signage trend we are seeing in the industry includes the use of negative space and the integration of monumentation into the natural landscape.

To view the full webinar, visit humphreys.com/2022kickoffwebinar. For more information on interior design innovations, or to partner with HPA Design Group on your next project, contact Amy Becker, Business Development Manager, at amy.becker@hpadesigngroup.com.