A long-time builder client recently launched his first development in the San Francisco area. Before we put pencil to paper, a Feng Shui consultant helped us incorporate the harmony and balance so important to his target buyers, which included a higher percentage of Asian and Asian-influenced people.
Another builder in Hawaii indicated that he is building homes for a growing number of multi-generational Asian households. He has found that, in his market, younger generations are continuing to care for their elders as they age — all in one household. He noted that he has built homes for as many as five generations under one roof.
Some design suggestions for extended families
To design a kitchen for an extended family, you need to incorporate additional space for multiple cooks of varying sizes, ages and stature. This includes incorporating lager work aisles around a central island, as well as a more generous and flexible eating area to accommodate more people and a wider range of activities.
A second sink used for food preparation, equipped with a generous chopping area and perhaps a waste disposal chute, is especially appropriate due to the amount of vegetable chopping that is part of many cultures. Generous freezer space will be important for some because of batch cooking. Ample refrigerator space is a real priority, possibly at several points of use, for fresh vegetable-based cooking.
A lowered work area that allows cooks of shorter stature to feel comfortable working in their kitchens is a good idea. Flexible storage space should be able to handle large pots and unusual equipment.
With the growing emphasis on outdoor living space, an outdoor kitchen or cooking area can provide needed extra ventilation to reduce humidity and heat. This is particularly important when considering the high-temperature, heavily spiced cooking associated with Asian and Latin cultures. An outdoor cooking area is a natural spot for a wood-fired “pizza oven” or for a tandoor used in some Indian cultures. When an outdoor kitchen is planned, try to make the main kitchen and eating area adjacent. If not, supplemental space near the outdoor cooking area is desirable.
Look for new products that meet specific needs
Over time, companies have introduced and adapted products to meet changing cultural differences and integrated them into mainstream design. Fifteen years ago, I had to contact the California relative of a Connecticut client of mine to acquire a gas-powered wok. Today, several major manufacturers offer these woks. Just five years ago, pizza ovens were strictly for commercial use. Now, several manufacturers sell wood-burning ovens to use in the home, and these ovens have popped up in high-end residential kitchens.
I once had to try to locate a Japanese fish cooker for a Seattle client. However Japanese fish cookers currently are not wired or UL-approved for use in the United States. Fish cookers are often used instead of ovens in Japanese homes that did not have kitchens large enough to accommodate ovens. This buyer did not want a smaller kitchen but an older-generation member of the household may have preferred to cook with traditional equipment. Some day a UL-approved fish cooker may be available in this country. It will probably become a popular item in Asian kitchen design before eventually becoming integrated into kitchen design in general
Materials and finishes matter, too
The art and literature of different cultures offer wonderful guidance in terms of colors, materials, motifs or signs. Soft neutrals and the strong use of contrast seen in Asian cultures, or the bold colors of some Hispanic cultures, can provide an excellent link to a client’s heritage.
Using stone and natural materials, as well as finishing techniques, can make a cultural statement. Providing space to display heirlooms or collections of family treasures invites personal and cultural expression. The colors, textures and other elements significant to a culture can be incorporated into the architectural details, not to mention the cabinetry, backsplashes and the space’s other decorative aspects.
Historically, traditions and links to heritage have influenced home and kitchen design. The homes of today’s senior buyers should support and help preserve their heritage, not only as a special link to the past, but as an influence and tradition for future generations. Incorporating cultural elements of our target markets offers the opportunity to improve the product we offer and to better meet clients’ diverse needs.
This article appeared in the Winter 2002 issue of Seniors’ Housing News. Mary Jo Peterson, a certified kitchen, bath, and aging-in-place designer with 20 years of experience, is president of Mary Jo Peterson, Inc., a Connecticut-based design firm that focuses on residential projects and provides design support to major home builders nationwide. Peterson also is a trustee for the NAHB Seniors Housing Council. She can be reached at 203-775-4763 or maryjo@mjpdesign.com.
Learn More About Seniors Housing Through the Seniors Housing Council
To learn more about seniors housing or boomers, join the NAHB Seniors Housing Council. The council provides information, education, networking and recognition opportunities for its members and represents NAHB on seniors housing issues. For more details, e-mail Jeff Jenkins or call him at 800-368-5242 x8292.
BuilderBooks.com Has Publications About Seniors Housing
BuilderBooks.com offers a variety of publications about the seniors housing market. To view or purchase these publications, click here and type “seniors” in the search engine.
2004 Seniors Housing Symposium
To learn more about the seniors housing market, plan to attend the 2004 Seniors Housing Symposium, Building for Boomers & Beyond in Chicago from April 14-16. The symposium will focus on the lifestyle component of 50+ seniors housing.
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