New Real Estate Trends: Glass & Aluminum Facades
Assignment #7

In recent years, I seem to have noticed a new movement in the development of modern homes. While I grew up in the suburbs and am used to typical brick and stone houses, there has been a growing trend in the use of windows; particularly in aluminum and glass facades. This trend is evident in not only homes, but also offices and commercial properties. A few examples to get what I am describing are below. (A home in Burbank, California, an office in San Diego)

This trend is appealing for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, it gives a more open feel to the space and allows for a vast amount of natural light to flood the area. Secondly, as technology has improved in architecture, it is possible to insulate the building just as well as when using other materials such as traditional brick and stone. However, this design also has it's downfalls, the prime of which is safety. Glass is not as strong of a material as tried and true materials and presents the possibility of a safety issue in the instance of natural and man-made disasters.

This trend adds to the aesthetic appeal of the property and is far more interesting than what we are used to in American Real Estate. One great example of this is the Apple Retail Store in New York City.

The picture above is merely the top of the store. While the retail outlet is underground, this structure is appealing in an aesthetic nature and invites people into the store to explore. Not to mention, the design also seems to fit quite well with Apple's image of being modern, clean, and innovative. The purely glass facade the whole way around along with the familiar logo in the center provides a drastic contrast from the usual NYC skyscrapers that surround it. It represents a unique trend and a fresh take on a common piece of real estate.