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*Original article was written by Cassie Cherry and published in Green Home Builder Magazine.
While affordability, “missing middle” housing, and the sheer number of housing units needed to keep up with population demands (a-hem… RNHA numbers to anyone in California?) are omnipresent headline topics, I don’t think anyone can argue that these words and phrases have never had a greater heyday than they are experiencing at present. Now add into that mix labor shortages; sharply rising materials costs; increasing governmental, regulatory fees, and land costs; and the rapid drive to make our new construction housing more sustainable and you have a fairly complex equation that must pencil at the end of the day and oftentimes, a longer than expected project schedule.
Sustainability and social impact are homogeneously intertwined with Millenials. As the most recent generation to join the ranks of homeownership (watch out – the eldest ‘Geriatric Millenials’ are moving over for Gen Z who are now starting to make their presence felt on the housing scene) they are strong advocates for sustainable housing options with their choices and preferences. However, when forced to make decisions over housing costs vs. sustainability, price wins out 100% of the time. We all want a great home that lives well and reduces our environmental footprint, but if the alternative choice is simply being able to get into a home, the decision becomes very clear.
Sustainability and attainability cannot be mutually exclusive. Design professionals need to roll up their sleeves and work with their builders to create solutions and opportunities that address both while staying mindful of construction costs.
Having had the opportunity to work with builder clients in addressing this topic, DA’s own Idea Lab Design Studio has become a resource for exploring sustainability solutions while remaining cost sensitive. Passive designs, home orientation, and a bit of creativity can all be applied – there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Recently, our team was tasked to design attainable, workforce housing in a tertiary housing market where energy costs and considerations were a big factor in ensuring housing affordability. At the time of design, this community was set to be the largest net-zero community in California (the great news is, there are even bigger communities on the boards now that can make that claim which means our industry is rapidly changing for greater sustainability). With some clever partners on board, this community will employ flywheels with microgrid technologies to create and send electricity to homes within the grid on demand. Many of our fellow architectural design firms in Orange County and throughout the country are also exploring similar solutions, which is very promising and exciting to see. Additionally, we are seeing greater traction outside the ‘Smile States’ for sustainable home solutions thanks in part to NAHB’s outreach and efforts for the National Green Building Standard (NGBS).
Much of the past year has been spent talking about lifestyle shifts and design solutions regarding the pandemic. While topical, these design solutions are part of a bigger focus on creating timeless home designs that adapt and grow with our living experiences and lifestyles. Creating multi-purpose, flexible spaces with indoor /outdoor connections, recreation and exercise spaces, safe spaces for entry and package delivery, and multigenerational / guest living suites / ADUs allow homes to support changing lifestyle needs over the course of its useful life, effectively creating sustainable homes the gracefully ‘age in place’. Meticulous incorporation of these design elements can be done with minimal impact to budgets. By creating timeless architectural elements at all housing levels and implementing thoughtful sustainable construction practices, one can achieve both an attainable and sustainable home.
Millennial Homebuyers Spurring Suburban Trends
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*Original article was written by Cassie Cherry, LEED AP, for and published in the October 2020 issue of Builder and Developer Magazine.
One thing we can all agree on these days: The silver lining for this year has most certainly been the residential housing sector. With low interest rates and ‘windfall savings’ from the postponement / cancellation of many celebrations, travels, and life events – there are even more opportunities to get into a home.
In Danielian Associates’ recent industry-wide survey, nearly 50% of Millennials who identified as ‘currently renting’ said they plan to purchase a home in the next two years despite the pandemic and economic uncertainty. Work from home has morphed into work-from-anywhere, which has effectively opened up additional housing options for those previously unable to relocate. Lesser densities, larger private outdoor spaces, and lower priced for sale housing opportunities are very attractive to the older, Millennial homebuyers that are now planning to start or have started their own families.
Over the summer and in response to demand, we have seen rapid growth in the SFD housing product types that are stretching out into secondary and even tertiary markets. For those urban dwellers wishing to escape to the suburbs, the adage drive until you qualify is becoming a more attractive option now without the pressures of a long commute. Current vacancy rates in the San Francisco multifamily markets are probably the most aggressive example of the outward migration away from the urban core.
With that being said, the oldest segment of Gen Z is now in the early 20s. They are leaving college and entering the work force. While their generational cohort preferences are distinct and unique as a result of their own life experiences, they are not dissimilar from the previous generation of Millennials in the preference for connected, walkable spaces and a desire to live in urban locations. Gen Z has now surpassed the Millennials as the largest generation, and they will be looking for places to live. Multifamily housing has traditionally been the entry point, so purely from a numbers perspective we need to keep building these products to keep up with growing populations and housing demand.
While the recent focus may have quickly shifted to single family housing, multifamily housing is still an important piece of our housing puzzle and will not be going away. Many architectural resources have been spent on rethinking single family home design in the post-pandemic world. We need to be sure we are also addressing post-pandemic design options within our multifamily product types as well. Health and wellness, flexible spaces, daylighting, entry context, safe package handling, indoor air quality, and opportunities for indoor / outdoor living and private outdoor spaces are equally as important and perhaps more challenging to achieve within multifamily housing units. Additionally, we will need to also rethink the common area amenities – opting instead for multiple smaller, more intimate social gathering spaces instead of a single, larger one. The outdoors has become the new frontier for recreation, dining, and social gathering spaces and the planning and design for multifamily projects will need to reflect that. Creative teamwork and collaboration by builders, planners, architects, interior designers, and landscape architects can help achieve project goals while also ensuring these multifamily projects remain timeless while meeting today’s consumer preferences.
Increasing Demand for Attainable Housing
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In our recent industry-wide survey, nearly 50% of Millennials who identified as “currently renting” said they plan to purchase a home in the next two years despite the pandemic and economic uncertainty. With many individuals riding out quarantines in one-bedroom apartments or living with roommates, will this be the catalyst for additional first-time homebuyers entering the housing market, effectively further increasing demand for attainable housing? There was already a significant shortage of this product type across many markets, and we expect to see strong demand continue to grow.
Sales in this product segment have remained strong throughout the first half of 2020, with lower price point homes outselling move-ups and other products nearly 3 to 1. Ali Wolf, Chief Economist for Meyers Research, reported this week how low mortgage rates and the strength of the ‘hypothetical buyer pool’ will continue to fuel demand.
Our team has been hard at work designing homes that provide first-time buyers with purchase opportunities and offer alternatives to apartment living. Take a sneak peek at one of Danielian’s iDA Lab concepts designed to help meet the growing demand for attainable housing.
Danielian iDA Lab ‘Attainable Housing’ Concept Plans
Originally designed to provide Millennials an alternative to apartment living, these floor plans were created to maximize interior square footage and provide meaningful outdoor space thanks to use easements and alternative parking arrangements. Open floor plans with flexible spaces provide the homebuyer opportunities to create their own personal living experience that is best suited to their individual needs.
The above floor plan concepts take advantage of 34 x 40 lot dimensions while yielding 1,075 SF in Plan 2 and 1,000 SF in Plan 1.
In order for these small footprints to feel open and liveable, we focused on maximizing indoor / outdoor living connections and placed them off both the living rooms and kitchens. These outdoor spaces are then interconnected, to maximize yard size and usability. Plan 1 uses a single car garage along with an outdoor parking space that shares outdoor flex space that can also be used for outdoor dining. Plan 2 focuses its outdoor space off the front yard and utilizes a tandem outdoor parking layout with a sizeable storage room, in lieu of a standard garage. Of course, municipalities and local buyer demographics would factor into actual parking considerations.
These plans represent just one of our many R&D solutions we have developed in response to today’s homebuilding challenges. These plans can be adapted to meets the needs of both for sale residential and single family rental communities, with elevation styles tailored to meet local buyer demographics.
The Danielian Team is very excited to announce that we have several of these plans under construction with builder clients in various locations and look forward to sharing details of the built communities in the very near future!
‘Safer at Home’ Shifting Ideas of Design
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*Original article was written by Cassie Cherry, LEED AP, for and published in the June 2020 issue of Green Home Builder Magazine:
For over three months now our industry has been making it happen. We have been inviting colleagues, clients, and competitors into our homes virtually. We have learned to adapt, be resourceful, and leverage technology at a speed we never thought possible.
From a sociological impact, there have been some profoundly positive aspects that have come alongside the ‘safer at home’ orders. In a recent poll, half of all Californians have reported enjoying the increased family time, a third reported they were more self-sufficient, and another third reported a greater sense of community spirit and altruism. With the abrupt stop of life’s hustle and social activities, there has been an increased sense of grounding and mindfulness taking root. Safety, security, and well-being have become central to our daily lives while we slow down and search for new ways to communicate in genuine and meaningful ways with those around us.
When asked how future home designs may look in light of these sociological changes, Louis Bretaña, Senior Designer and Associate at Danielian Associates shared, “This is a reset button for our industry and will produce a longterm shift in how we practice architecture.” One thing is certain, the idea of home has changed. How will the effects of this pandemic shape home design in the future?
The Danielian Team has been hard at work in our iDA Lab studio, designing for the future and exploring that very question. We recently reached out to the industry and conducted a survey, investigating how the idea of home has changed and what that means for the future of residential design.
Over half of all respondents said that the pandemic has shifted what they prioritize in a home – a substantial impact. Particularly noteworthy was our demographic sampling was well distributed at nearly a third each for Boomers, Gen X’ers, and Millennials. Meaning, this information will have an impact across all product types.
Below are some notable findings from our research endeavors:
By a wide margin, the single biggest demand is for open floor plans with flexible spaces. With homes now currently tripling their job descriptions, flexible spaces in all product types will become an even greater focal point. Our design studios have been utilizing flexible spaces in smaller lot floorplans for many years to maximize space. These spaces at all scales can be used for family time and entertaining as well as at home workouts, school time activities, hobby space, impromptu jam sessions, quiet reading corners, extra office and study space, and group “zoom rooms.”
Nearly 50% of Millennials we surveyed who are currently renting said they plan to purchase a home in the next two years, despite the pandemic. With many individuals riding out quarantine in one-bedroom apartments or living with roommates, will this be the catalyst for more first-time homebuyers entering the housing market? There was already a significant shortage of this product type, we expect to see the strong demand in this market segment continue to grow.
Truly, there is never enough storage in a home. While this doesn’t come as a surprise, the idea of being able to store bulk purchases and supplies is now more appealing than ever. Closely behind flexible space, more storage was the second biggest feature that survey respondents were looking for. Additional storage opportunities that make organization easy and leverage clever use of space are a perfect way to set your home apart.
67% of our survey respondents had a dedicated work space in their home, yet over 90% said these spaces were lacking or not ideal. Among the increased home technology and Wi- Fi, will we see a return to formal office spaces and more reliable hard wire connections?
Simple details in the fit and finish of homes like antimicrobial fixtures and finishes, air filtration, and water purification systems can help differentiate products in a competitive market. We have seen very recently that these small details are making positive impacts in sales velocity where they have been implemented.
Meaningful outdoor space with indoor/outdoor connections in the home is always in demand, but again here, we expect this to become an even bigger focus. Sufficient outdoor space rounded out the top three demands in our survey. This becomes a bigger design challenge in smaller lot and single family attached products. Approaching outdoor spaces with potential homeowner uses in mind (outdoor cooking, space to work out, designated areas for gardening even if it is small, etc.) will help maximize opportunities to create these experiences even when lot space is constrained. They say what is old eventually becomes new again – will we see a return of sleeping porches where opportunities for private outdoor space is limited?
To view the original article, please visit Green Home Builder Magazine.
The Future of Home Design – Entry Context
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Health and Safety: The Entry Context of a Home
The idea of “home” has taken on a new meaning with health, well-being, and safety at top of mind for both consumers and homebuyers. Commitment to safety and well-being starts at the front door, and as such, the DA Design Team began here with our deeper dive into the future of home design.
Last month we conducted an industry-wide survey to investigate this topic further, discovering how the idea of home has changed and what that might mean for the future of residential design. Over half of all respondents said that the pandemic shifted what they prioritize in a home, certainly a substantial impact. Particularly noteworthy was the sampling came back nearly equally distributed across each age demographic – Boomers, Gen X’ers, and Millennials. Meaning, this information will have an impact across all product types.
12% of respondents indicated they had either a mudroom or a ‘transition space’ within the entry context of their home. This number contrasts sharply with the nearly 70% who indicated that having this space was either desirable or highly desirable (for reference – 78% of total respondents indicated they had purchased a resale home vs. 22% purchased a new home). With older housing stock making up the bulk of home sales along with the fact this design feature is often overlooked in temperate West Coast housing markets, reshaping the entry context is a great opportunity to differentiate current products lines and adapt these design elements into homes for greater living experiences at all scales and price points.
Thinking of the home’s entry as a ‘transition space’ and what daily activities transpire here is the inspiration for our design solutions. How are we currently using these spaces and what are they lacking in order to better suit our daily lives? It is also important to ensure that design solutions are scalable and adaptable for future use.
As ‘safer-at-home’ orders are eased and we begin to venture out more frequently, this transitional entry space or “Well-Way” will be central to keeping our home’s interiors and occupants safe and healthy – akin to scrubbing in to our homes when we return from work and essential activities. Places to safely and elegantly store shoes, clothes, purses and totes, etc. should be easily accessible in order to avoid tracking these dirty items throughout a clean and secure home. Locating the powder room and laundry area near the entry is important for handwashing and clean up. In larger homes, an opportunity to have a full bath or shower near the garage / secondary home entrance would be ideal. Think of all the essential workers and health care providers that would appreciate that extra bathroom right now, not to mention how convenient it would make cleaning up from routine household chores and weekend work. A secure package reception space can be upgraded with technology to handle both parcels and perishable food deliveries. Lastly, a control hub can be integrated for centralized access to smart home technology as well as news, weather, community alerts, temp scanning, etc.
Anecdotally, taking a quick look back at history shows an appreciation for Janus (the god of beginnings) reaching as far back as prior to the city of Rome. This symbolic nature was often applied to doorways and passageways for safety and protection and has echoed throughout society since. Janus is typically depicted as having two faces looking at opposite ways, one towards the past and the other towards the future. It is often said that history repeats itself, will we see an appreciation for Janus and the concept of passageway safety and protection return within the home?
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The Danielian Associates Team is working hard to provide our clients with creative solutions for current challenges. Contact us today to start a conversation and see what our iDA Lab studio can do for you.
DA Wins Gold Nugget Award for ICON Palm Springs
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ICON Palm Springs Wins a Gold Nugget for Best Architectural Design of a Single Family Detached Home at the 2019 Gold Nugget Awards Presented by PCBC and the California Building Industry Association
Judges for the 2019 Gold Nugget Awards announced the Danielian-designed ICON Palm Springs project a Grand Award winner. Built by Far West Industries with interiors designed by AI Designs, the ICON collection features modern architecture and an authentic Palm Springs experience with ample room for entertaining and indoor-outdoor living throughout. The open floor plans and generously sized flex room options ensure that homeowners can customize each new home and make it their own.
ICON Palm Springs had previously been announced as a Merit Award winner in early May in anticipation of the 56th Gold Nugget Awards ceremony.
“The relatively small square footages of these floor plans were a bit of a challenge. The design team was asked to develop a modern architectural theme that carried seamlessly from the exterior to the interior and ‘lived much larger’ than its true size,” said John Danielian, AIA, President at Danielian Associates. “Our firm takes great pride in working collaboratively to develop design solutions that support successful projects and enable our clients to meet their goals. I am very proud to say that we achieved those results at ICON.”
The 56th Annual Gold Nugget Awards were held on Friday, May 31st in San Francisco, CA in conjunction with the PCBC Show. Each year the awards recognize outstanding architectural and planning achievements in home and community design, retail and commercial design, site planning, mixed-use development and specialty housing categories. Grand Award winners were selected from a pool of over 600 submissions with all entries judged by esteemed industry professionals. ICON Palm Springs was announced the Grand Award winner out of a revered group of finalists in its category, including Trilogy at Monarch Dunes – Valles Collection – The Solvang by Shea Homes and Bassenian Lagoni Architecture, Vita at Altis – Plan 3 by Pardee Homes and Bassenian Lagoni, and Altura – The Bryce by McCaffrey Homes and KTGY Architecture + Planning.
What’s Next In Single Family Architecture
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An overview of the top design trends that will be seen throughout the rest of the year
As appeared in the February 2019 issue of Builder & Developer Magazine
Many experts and industry professionals expect 2019 to be a pivotal year in residential homebuilding. While demand for new homes is generally still strong in most market segments, buyers are now finding that they have more options available. This means they can be more selective about their purchases. Now, more than ever, home design can help builders differentiate their products and help realize faster sales velocities.
Here are the top design trends we anticipate seeing this year in single-family architecture.
THE INDOOR-OUTDOOR LIVING REIGN CONTINUES
There is no mistaking the elevated user experience that indoor-outdoor living brings to homebuyers. While this has normally been associated with the Sun Belt and more moderate climates, we are seeing indoor-outdoor living elements included across the US. One public builder recently reported that 20 percent of its buyers nationally are opting into their indoor-outdoor program.
Smaller floor plans and attainable housing will need to look for additional, creative ways to incorporate indoor-outdooring. A kitchen window that opens up to a small outside bar or a dining nook positioned perfectly to give an al fresco feel – a little creativity here can yield a heightened homeowner experience with minimal impact to bottom line costs.
Danielian’s District at the Edge showcases unique architecture with a pop of color in this California based design.
CUSTOMIZATION
With the ability to customize and control nearly everything at a consumer’s fingertips, architectural customization will be a way for homebuilders to differentiate themselves.
A few leading builders have adopted programs that allow buyers to add in options and make floor plans changes that are not tied to a specific construction schedule. If a buyer comes in and decides to purchase a specific home that is already framed, the options have already been included in the home’s design. This grants buyers greater flexibility and the ability to customize their home for the way they live. Expect to see more opportunities for customization.
INNOVATION IN ATTAINABILITY
With high demand from millennials and first-time buyers to purchase homes alongside high land costs in many markets, in which we are seeing perhaps a slightly softening market condition, is a lack of attainable housing supply.
Look for substantial innovation this year in small lot products. Having a planning and architecture team working together under one roof will be advantageous here, as good planning can maximize home values while your architecture team works in tandem to create smaller footprints that both live large and maximize privacy.
The ABC Green Home 3.0 showcases modern style architecture designed by Danielian Associates.
MATERIALS & FINISH WORK
Also knowing where to value engineer and where a simple upgrade will enhance a small space can add tremendous appeal. A single statement or highlight feature within a small floor plan, such as a full-height kitchen backsplash or an enhanced feature wall, can be included in price-sensitive products and give even first-time homebuyers a sense of luxury. These small touches, carefully added, will help create a more elegant space and a better living experience with minimal cost impact.
Across all products types, modern and transitional design is still very popular. We also see increasing demand for contemporary farmhouse design. Look for creative use of industrial materials in residential applications and increased use of lighting as a design highlight.
TECHNOLOGY
Smart homes are now the industry standard. The best home technology will function as a cohesive system, be absolutely seamless, and be simple to use. Look for continued innovation in the application of technology within the home, particularly with the active adult markets.
There is some fantastic technology within the multifamily housing industry using smart robots and an AI stack. This system increases usable square footing by storing, managing, and retrieving objects on-demand in the ceiling. These systems are already being used in existing rental products in high-cost areas like San Francisco and Seattle. Perhaps we will see this technology cross over to higher density single-family housing as well.
The Altair Irvine development, developed by Lennar features Danielian’s signature Undertainment Floor.
WHAT IS NEXT?
In addition to these design movement trends, we turned to the Danielian Team to hear straight from the source what they expect to see in single-family residential architecture and planning in 2019:
Joe Wicentowich – Co-housing will become a growing trend, particularly as it relates to attainability. Look for more “co-op living” to address the growing attainable housing issue.
Alena Chernolevskaya – Look for increased use of off-site home manufacturing technologies and on-site assembly to save on construction and labor costs.
Louis Bretana – Smaller floor plans and attainable design should allow options for communal spaces, depending on the level of interaction desired at any given time. Lifestyles and trends are always in flux so versatility in design of public and private spaces is equally important.
Miguel Martinez – Safety and security are two hot button issues. Creative use of voids in floor plans can affordably create safe spaces in homes at all price points. Peace of mind is priceless, particularly for families.
Jeff Stevens – Redevelopment of malls and other large commercial spaces and integrating residential onsite to grow demand for a broader range of services while also increasing available housing supply. Rethinking these commercial spaces to create experiences, entertainment and retail – creating a true ‘Live, Work, Shop, Play!’
Robin Titcher – The increase in catastrophic wildfires will create a demand for fireproof homes. Beyond far beyond the current code, expect to see substantial innovation in creating a fully fireproof home.
Andrew Schaffner – Increasingly frequent package deliveries continue to be a management issue for homeowners. Expect to see innovative ways for secure package delivery and storage incorporated into residential architecture.
Victor Alvarez – Expect to see increases in VR / AR technologies to enhance communication between designer and client and also between builder and homebuyer.
Rene Alvarado – Look for increased incorporation of eco-friendly materials, particularly as it applies to indoor health and wellness.
Mike Boyd – With co-living becoming more accepted, the next evolution would be a hybrid of communal living combined with communal work spaces. Micro units that share common areas and in separate but connected location sharing “we work” style offices. These micro communities could be grouped together to create larger, walkable, and more sustainable communities.
Delivering Design at Lumiere
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Danielian Associates teams up with Lennar in Altair Irvine to create luxury homes with innovative interior spaces
When the Danielian Associates team was asked by Lennar to design the largest product at Altair in Irvine, the firm knew it had to create an extraordinary interior living experience for future residents. At one point during the visioning process one of the firm’s architectural designers said, “Guys and Gals, this may be just the right opportunity to introduce a courtyard basement feature into a production home environment.” Boom. With 60’ x 105’ lot sizes already predetermined and a targeted move-up / luxury buyer demographic for the product, this basement feature was just the solution for delivering homes with very large open floor plans and private outdoor space within relatively small lot configurations. From that visioning team meeting, the Undertainment™ Floor was born. While courtyard basements are not necessarily new to the Danielian team or to custom home builders for that matter, bringing this element into a production home neighborhood in Irvine certainly is new.
Featuring contemporary architectural styling throughout, Lumiere delivers luxury living at its finest with thoughtful details and seamless indoor / outdoor living elements within its six floor plan offerings. The old adage form follows function certainly applies, and each of the six floor plans were meticulously crafted with the homeowner experience in mind. The crown jewel of the Lumiere neighborhood is the Plan 3X and the Plan 4X residences which offer walk out, courtyard basements and ample amounts of natural daylight throughout the center of each home.
The Undertainment™ Floor Defined
These courtyard basements are not the stuffy basements that you might be familiar with, they truly go above and beyond which is why the firm coined the term Undertainment™ to describe these spaces. From the get-go, the design focus was on the interior architecture and the functionality of the spaces. Ranging in size from 1866 – 1985 SF, the Undertainment™ Floor features an outdoor courtyard with fireplace, game room and lounge, built-in wet bar, flex room, additional bedroom and bathroom. This space is just as ideally suited for entertaining as it is for everyday living with a heightened sense of distinction. The 3X and 4X Plans Undertainment™ Floors are modeled with numerous options – a home theater, wine room, exercise studio, home office, and entertainment lounge – to give future buyers a glimpse into the endless customizable living experiences that are possible within this space. The first and second floors wrap around this private courtyard space, creating a perfect opportunity to leverage a central corridor of natural sunlight and celebrate it throughout the home. To create a truly seamless architectural experience, the elevation style and theming must be carried throughout the home and into the interior spaces. With so much indoor / outdoor living opportunities in these floor plans, the contemporary styling details have been integrated into both the interior and exterior architecture. The architecture and interior design teams worked together to create an environment that brings the story and design intent of these homes to life, while allowing the future buyers to live their own story and personalize their living experience.
It’s All About The Experience
Lumiere features six different luxury floor plans, each designed with a diverse user experience in mind. The architecture team and builder worked together to identify buyer demographics and craft homes that matched a wide-range of user experience preferences.
The Plan 1 at 3,471 SF offers single story living with indoor / outdoor living elements woven into the floor plan throughout, ideal for a luxury move-up or for downsizing. The second story is perfect for entertaining guests or relaxing with an over-sized loft that opens out to a second floor California Terrace.
Plan 2 offers the flexibility of a master suite on the first floor harmonious an additional master suite on the second floor. The over-sized game room and adjacent California Terrace allows for everyday living and entertaining with large families.
The Plan 3 and 3X range in size from 4,824 – 6,613 SF (the Undertainment™ Floor is featured in Plan 3X) and include Lennar’s popular NextGen® Suite. These homes allow for multi-generational living with an attached private suite with separate entrance, living room, bedroom, bathroom, laundry area and kitchenette. The suite is connected to the main home in a way that allows for as much privacy or connection to the heart of the home as desired. A grand foyer opens up to the large great room, generously over-sized kitchen island, and a large outdoor living space making this plan the perfect mix of private spaces and large gathering places.
Plan 4 and 4X range in size from 4,605 – 6590 SF (the Undertainment™ Floor is featured in Plan 4X). Featuring five bedrooms, a very large open floor plan, and entertaining areas with adjacent covered outdoor spaces upstairs and down, this home is designed to bring elegance and sophistication to everyday living and entertaining.
“Altair is such a distinctive and unique new master planned community, it is unlike anything that is currently available in Irvine,” said John Danielian, AIA, President of Danielian Associates. “As an ever-evolving architecture and planning practice, we are always looking to create innovative housing products and leverage opportunities to bring custom home design details into a production home environment. This gives our builder clients an edge in the market. The simple elegance, location, stunning views, and its proximity to world class restaurants and entertainment make Altair a true destination for authentic, resort style living. Lumiere at Altair tells that story and reflects a living experience that is unparalleled.”
Project Information:
Project: Lumiere at Altair
Location: Irvine, CA
Builder: Lennar
Interior Designer: Ambrosia Interior Design
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THE DANIELIAN-DESIGNED ‘UNDERTAINMENT™ FLOOR’ TO MAKE ITS DEBUT AT LUMIERE GRAND OPENING
Lumiere, the sixth and final Lennar neighborhood will open at Altair Irvine on Saturday, June 23. Two floor plans will feature spacious courtyard basements, creating an ultra-luxurious entertaining and living experience.
With a constant goal of creating innovation in residential architecture, the Danielian Associates team have designed the Undertainment™ floor, which will be featured in two of the six plans at Lumiere within the exclusive gated community of Altair Irvine. The Undertainment™ courtyard basement floors will range in size from 1866 – 1985 SF and include features such as a spacious lounge area, media room, game room, oversized wet bar / kitchenette, wine cellar, bedrooms with en suite bath, office, and powder room.
“It’s always a challenge to push design innovation while simultaneously being cognizant of the cost pressures our builder clients face, especially with rising land costs,” said John Danielian, AIA, Principal at Danielian Associates. “The Undertainment™ basement floor option can be a great solution for increasing square footage in a luxury product targeted to specific market segments where land costs are very high. We took the concept of a basement level, designed it with a sophisticated living experience in mind, incorporated an indoor / outdoor living element, and successfully incorporated it into a production housing environment in Orange County.”
Although presales are currently underway, Lennar will officially unveil this collection of contemporary-styled luxury homes at the grand opening of Lumiere on Saturday, June 23rd. Four models will be available to tour.
Lumiere offers six different floor plan options ranging in size from 3,471 – 6,817 SF, including a single story living plan with second floor loft and deck. These modern open floor plans feature up to 6 bedrooms / 6 baths with a blend of stunning features, grand living spaces, gourmet-inspired kitchens, dual master / multigenerational living options, two and three-car garages, outdoor balconies and interior courtyards with seamless indoor / outdoor transitions, and an unrivaled experience for everyday living and entertaining.
Grand Opening of March Veteran’s Village
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Thursday, March 29th the U.S. Vets Initiative, Coachella Valley Housing Authority, and local government officials celebrated the March Veteran’s Village grand opening in Riverside, California. This supportive housing facility designed by Danielian Associates Architecture + Planning and built by Brown Construction features bold, iconic architecture and a service-rich environment to house and care for our military veterans.
“The entire Danielian Team is extremely proud of this project, both from a design standpoint and that we are helping to solve the housing crisis for our US military veterans,” said Mike Boyd, AIA, Principal at Danielian Associates. “To be able to design a comprehensive housing and service facility for people who serve our country is beyond gratifying.”
The complex was planned and designed to create a walkable, campus-like setting that will provide a nurturing, rehabilitative environment. By providing housing, meals, and career training counseling for veterans, the goal for this project is to help the transition back into civilian life as smooth as possible. The housing component is comprised of three different programs: the Veterans in Progress program provides short-term dorm style housing with on-site counseling for high-risk veterans; the efficiency program provides single room occupancy units for veterans who are being re-trained for the job market or for those who have found work but need low cost housing; and the third component accommodates the families of veterans who are also in need of low cost housing. The community has been designed to be LEED Certified.
About U.S. Vets
U.S. Vets is the nation’s largest nonprofit provider of housing and supportive services. They are dedicated to assisting in the transition of veterans and their families by providing housing, counseling, career development and comprehensive support. For more information, please visit https://www.usvetsinc.org/