March 27, 2009
  Upper-End Kitchen and Bath Features Fall Victim to Housing Downturn
Kitchens and baths, long considered to be key areas of focus within the home, are losing some of their attention with the prolonged slump in the housing market. Many upscale products and features are slipping in their appeal given falling home prices in most areas of the country and the renewed concern over housing affordability. Still, other home features have remained popular. Interest in increased accessibility throughout the home, often referred to as universal design, continues to show consumer support, as do products that promote environmental sustainability. Products that have seen the steepest declines in popularity recently are upper-end products that increase housing costs, but that don’t reflect much additional value given current market conditions.

The User’s Guide: The Economy’s Toll on Religious Buildings
It’s hard to imagine any type of building that exists further from the worldly fluctuations and vicissitudes of globalized gold and silver than the art of designing religious worship spaces. But it’s precisely this dependence on altruistic faith that’s tied them to the wider world. As the financial system’s malaise has spread to everyone’s pocketbook, the charitable donations that fuel this part of the design and construction industry have been drying up, stranding faith communities and their architects.

kiplinger connection
Global Economy • U.S. Economy • Financial Services
Global Economy: EU and Japan drag feet waiting for more regulatory certainty.
U.S. Economy: Fed balancing conflicting forces to avoid deflation and inflation.
Financial Services: Loans for smalls may be easier to get, but who wants to?

Candidates Issue Statements
Elections for the Institute’s next first vice president/president-elect, vice presidents, and treasurer will be held April 30–May 2 at the AIA 2009 National Convention and Expo in San Francisco. Now posted is a PDF file of all eight candidates’ position statements.

 

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Welcome to the Business Zone
This is the place for our monthly Work-on-the-Boards survey report, quarterly Housing Trends survey report, and biannual Consensus Forecast, all by AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker, PhD, Hon. AIA. You’ll also find tips for managing the business side of your practice, as well as the weekly Kiplinger Connection.