p style=text-align:center;a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.pkstudiosblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Ole-Paseo-Clubhouse_005.jpgimg class=aligncenter size-full wp-image-665 title=Ole-Paseo Clubhouse_005 src=http://www.pkstudiosblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Ole-Paseo-Clubhouse_005.jpg alt=Ole-Paseo Clubhouse_005 width=500 height=333//a/pp style=text-align:center;strongemWhat does the future community look like? /em/strong/ppAs architects, we#8217;re always thinking about cutting-edge design and how we can best advise our clients. When it comes to master planned communities, predicting future trends and consumer needs is ultra-important because of the long time span of construction and enormous capital outlay./ppWe need to think 5, 10, 20 years ahead of our time, because that#8217;s when sales and re-sales are going to occur and the concept of the community will be tested in the market. At times, it#8217;s a scary thought. But we accept the challenge with open arms and sharpened pencils./ppRecently at PK Studios, we#8217;ve really focused on looking at communities, and particularly #8211; clubhouses. We dusted off the crystal ball we#8217;ve been hiding in the mezzanine./ppTrying to come up with a future master planning concept is not an easy feat. We#8217;ve spent countless hours pouring over data, researching trends, understanding our target demographics, and interacting with other thinkers in the architectural and planning communities./ppstrongSo what do we think?/strong/ppTo understand the buying habits of consumers, we first need to understand the consumer. The US population of those aged 55-64 is rising rapidly, and will be about 35+ million by 2015. These are not your #8220;father#8217;s retirees.#8221; They love interaction, activity, experiencing new things, diversity, and a host of modern amenities. Until the current recession, they also had the money to back it up. But don#8217;t be fooled #8211; to a large extent, they still do./ppThe trends of what people want are pretty clear #8211; golf is down but not out, while outdoor activities like walking are in. So are fitness centers, spas, and cultural activities. #8220;Green#8221; hasn#8217;t caught on yet, but the indicators may be a few years behind, and eco-friendly living has the potential to emexplode /emout of the gate and into the spotlight./ppConsumers are increasingly inter-connected, Internet-ized, and pushed to get more done in less time. At the same time, they love the interaction of being with other people and want opportunities to connect on a personal level. Oh yeah, and they hate being thought of as #8220;old.#8221;/ppstrongTranslating Demand/strong/ppWith everything we know and trends we can measure, the challenge becomes designing a community that people will cherish for decades to come./ppWe believe we have the right solution. What are some of the components of our dream community?/pulliResort-style living./liliProximity and activity./lili#8216;Village Centers#8217; (like a rel=nofollow target=_blank href=http://www.pkstudiosblog.com/2009/05/project-profile-ole-at-lely-clubhouse/Ole/a) instead of traditional #8220;Clubhouses.#8221;/liliA lot of open space with integrated activities./liliFeatures that encourage a pleasant active/outdoor lifestyle./liliIncredible level of service and personalization./liliDiversity amp; authenticity in product./liliIntegration of high-performance green design, beyond the typical #8220;superficial#8221; features./liliDiversity in market reach, including senior care and employee housing./li/ulpThe list sounds like a tall order, but it#8217;s not impossible. With a strong idea about what the community should be, we turned our attention to the village center concept. What does the successful community center of the future look like?/pulliIt#8217;s a semi-private club, rather than completely private./liliThe emphasis is on activities and interaction./liliFitness and spa centers are emphasized and top-of-the-line./liliCatering to current emand /emfuture club demographics (think emyoung people/em)./liliThe atmosphere is fun, relaxing, and definitely emnot /emstressful./liliThere#8217;s a lot of choice when it comes to dining./liliServices are not only offered, but are customized and go beyond the basics./liliTechnology is prominent, cutting-edge, and perfectly integrated./liliCommercial components are integrated in the club, including hotel uses, entertainment, and services (like groceries and banking)./liliA lot of outdoor amenities, including a variety of water #8216;options#8217; and other activities./li/ulpThat#8217;s a lot to think about, for sure. In many respects, we#8217;re putting together the #8216;ideal#8217; community. Developers, with the help of their architects (and their investors) will have to prioritize the list and choose the most high-impact features./ppTomorrow#8217;s buyers are astute. They are looking for value, and they will know if you#8217;re selling them short. Through our inter-connected studios, we are creating the community concept of a lifetime as an integrated and well thought-out package. Get on board!/pimg src=http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/PKStudiosBlog/~4/hj5Mb61ssoU height=1 width=1/

Tags: Amenities, Architects, Buying Habits, Capital Outlay, Clubhouse Design, Countless Hours, Crystal Ball, Cutting Edge Design, Enormous Capital, Future Community, Future Trends, Pencils, Planned Communities, Recession, Rel Nofollow, Style Text, Target Demographics, Thinkers, Time Span, Us Population