Hot Product of the Month
TROUBLE-FREE INSTALLATION: The trouble with columns is that they’re most often installed during the framing process, which exposes them to all kinds of damage as materials and equipment are taken in and out of buildings. HB&G’s PermaWrap columns can be installed around existing structural posts with the final trim package, which eliminates costly damage and callbacks. They’re made of cellular PVC, will accept paint, and are backed with a five-year warranty. For more information, call 800-264-4424 or visit www.hgbcolumns.com.
Q: What amenity considerations are important for age-restricted properties?
A: In many ways, designing properties for the ever-growing 50-plus market is much different today than it has been in the past. As the country’s most dominant cultural and economic force, this generation remains very influential in the residential development market. They know what they want and expect, and they even demand that today’s designs feature a wide variety of amenities that foster social interaction. Facilities range from swimming pools to tennis courts, fitness clubs to spas, and business centers to trendy WiFi hot spots.
Although demands for certain amenities have changed over time, the fireplace is a classic element incorporated into nearly all 50-plus community clubhouses. Common gathering spaces such as great rooms or libraries serve as activity hubs and are ideal locations for this amenity. A fireplace can be used as a focal point in a large room or as a subtle gesture in a more intimate gathering spot. The warm hearth evokes a sense of comfort, making it one of the most effective design features in the built environment.
–Jeremy Greene is a principal at BartonPartners, a full-service architecture and planning firm in Norristown, Pa., that specializes in residential and mixed-use design.