Ben Brocklesby, Director at Origin, discusses the importance of choosing high-performance door and window solutions for new-build and refurbishment residential projects.

The housing market is in a state of fluctuation. Following the events of 2022 – changing prime ministers and financial instability – mortgage rates have soared, leaving homeowners to reassess their priorities in 2023. Many are shelving the idea of moving while others are re-evaluating their renovation plans. This means that when a housebuilder or a homeowner consults an architect, their influence and advice is valued more than ever because there is so much more riding on the decisions made during an unstable market. So, we know how important it is that architects are confident in the products and solutions they specify.

Building for tomorrow
The National Housing Federation predicts that Britain must build 340,000 new homes each year until 2031 to mitigate the housing crisis. Yet, housebuilders are in a difficult position. Many are part way through projects whilst facing uncertainty around whether they will be able to sell the plots due to high mortgage and lending interest rates, making it difficult for buyers to commit. Others are in the planning stages and will be considering how they can build the best homes with the widest consumer appeal in the current landscape to ensure their project’s success. They will be consulting with experts, including architects, on how they can best ensure their homes serve the needs of buyers now and in the future, and offer the most value from both a financial and lifestyle front.

This includes considering the latest living trends and functionality of a home. Origin’s own research has found that more and more homeowners are falling out of love with open-plan concepts, especially with home and work life colliding like never before. Similarly, homeowners understand the value of natural light on their mental and physical health, and it is becoming an increasingly high priority on their checklists when viewing a new home. Housebuilders will be looking to architects to advise on how to achieve these crucial qualities in a home, alongside the products that will help them facilitate these ideas.

The rise in popularity of ‘broken-plan’ rather than ‘open-plan’ homes means that internal glazing is becoming a staple of the modern home. It’s the perfect solution to creating separate spaces whilst retaining the light and airy feel homeowners love. Gone are the days of pokey, dark rooms. Now, large living spaces can be effectively divided into beautiful, functional rooms that people want to spend time in. The Origin OI-30 Internal Door is an aluminium system made completely bespoke with the option to add vertical and/or horizontal glazing bars, and additional fixed frames for larger apertures to work for different styles. Plus, it is now available in over 150 RAL colours to match all aesthetics, making it an ideal option for those looking to create a ‘broken plan’ layout that’s full of natural light.

But there’s not only the functionality of a home to consider. Changing building regulations are a hot topic right now ahead of the Future Homes Standard (2025), which aims to create carbon-neutral new-build homes. Housebuilders will be looking for product recommendations from architects that facilitate this whilst maintaining the aesthetics and functionality that homebuyers are looking for.

Helping homeowners be smart with their budget
Whilst housebuilders are focussing on ways to ensure their new build properties appeal to the masses, current homeowners may be reassessing their renovation projects and investigating ways they can update their homes without committing to the multi-thousand-pound renovation they had planned before the economy flipped.

They will be looking to architects to advise on smaller upgrades to their homes that have an instant impact without creating such a hole in their finances. This could be upgrading their front door or replacing a small French door with a stunning set of bi-fold doors which not only improves the look of their home but its functionality as well.

Whatever the project, homeowners will rely on their architect to specify products that look great, are functional, and will last, to ensure their investment offers true value for money. Origin products come with an industry-leading warranty of up to 20 years, so architects can rest assured that their product recommendation is built to last. Origin’s external doors and windows also meet and exceed thermal efficiency regulations, further helping homeowners by reducing the cost of their energy bills.

Looking ahead
Whilst we don’t yet have a full understanding of what’s in store for 2023, we do know that homeowner and prospective homebuyer priorities have shifted following the events of 2022. Housebuilders will be looking to architects to ensure their project plans have mass appeal, whilst homeowners may be exploring ways to upgrade and renovate their homes without committing to large-scale projects like they were immediately after the pandemic. Whatever the project, large or small, architects can rest assured that Origin products can be recommended with confidence.

Contact Details
To discuss your projects Origin, please visit the Origin website.