Who would live in a house like this?

Fri, May 26th 2006, 11:00

When it comes to designing the interior of a modern day home, house builders like Redrow look to who will live in the home, the way they go about their daily lives and their likely needs and aspirations.

Just as a brand new home for a celebrity would demand certain features - eg. a gym, tanning studio, lots of walk-in wardrobe space and a large lawn for a kickabout for England and Manchester United soccer star Wayne Rooney and his shopaholic fiancée Colleen McCloughlin - so too homes for us ‘lesser mortals’ are planned with our lifestyles, habits and pastimes in mind.

And while Hollywood A-list celebrities Brad Pitt and Angeline Jolie might need extra rooms for their expanding family and separate space for a nanny, so too properties being designed for everyday family life need to take into account future changes in the family make-up.

It’s something that Redrow’s in-house designers and planners are dealing with on a daily basis as they strive to create a property portfolio that ticks all the right boxes.

Redrow’s group design and technical director Stuart Norton says: “Identifying the need for a particular size or type of property is generally sales-led but once that need has been identified our design teams need to translate it into a property that suits.

“To do this we generally start by envisaging the type of person who would live in the home, what their home might mean to them, what they would aspire to, the way they would live their lives and how they might use the accommodation. The answers to these questions will influence the rooms we include and the space allocated to them, the layout of the property and any special features.

“Our Debut range of affordable first time buyer properties, for instance, was designed very much with single people or young couples in mind. We created something light, airy and aspirational with the kind of open plan living that’s appreciated by twenty and thirty-somethings. This translates into the external areas too, with communal outdoor space that’s managed and maintained so they can enjoy it without worrying about its upkeep.”

Whether it’s for young couples getting ready to start their family and needing a room that is perfect as a nursery or for an established family with growing children and requiring space and flexibility, such as extra bedrooms that can be used as a study or playroom, Redrow has created a selection of homes to meet their needs.

Stuart adds: “Once we graduate to some of our largest homes we’re imagining families with older, maybe teenage children, who might need a bit of independence whilst their parents may appreciate some peace and quiet. Here we might build in additional rooms such as a designated study, a family room or second living room, extra en-suite bathrooms, etc. Our three-storey designs are especially good in this respect, often with whole areas of the house that can become almost self-contained accommodation for a teenager or grown-up child still living at home.”

However, whilst Redrow may design its homes with a particular type of person or family in mind, it also likes to keep an open mind on exactly who will live there and make sure there is enough in-built flexibility to keep all the options open.

“We might come to the drawing board thinking that a particular property is likely to appeal to two parents and one child, but the reality is that it may become home to one parent and three children,” explains Stuart.

“And just as brand new apartments are appealing to young professionals because they require little maintenance and offer a great lifestyle opportunity, so too these features are sought-after by empty nesters and early retired, who want a safe, secure, easy to manage environment whilst they pursue new activities and enjoy extended periods abroad. The beauty therefore of modern homes is their versatility.”

For details of Redrow’s extensive new homes portfolio and information on your nearest Redrow development, make one call to 0845 676 0500.