Multifamily Executive published the 2018 outdoor trends for apartment developments. To be competitive the most innovative affordable housing developers are building amenity-rich communities. This is particularly important in mixed-income and mixed-use developments.
Top Outdoor Amenities
- Flexible-use space for yoga classes, movie night, etc. 74%
- Charging stations for mobile devices 70%
- Bike storage 70%
- Play area for children 58%
- Water feature (aesthetic feature, not pool) 47%
- Bike-repair station 46%
- Transit screen (providing updates on public transit) 39%
- Pet spa 32%
- Plunge pool 19%
Top 10 Landscape and Garden Elements
- Native/Low-maintenance landscapes 80%
- Flexible-use space for yoga classes, movie night, etc. 74%
- Permeable paving 74%
- Drip/water-efficient irrigation 72%
- Rain gardens 71%
- Reduced lawn area 71%
- Food/vegetable gardens 71%
- Charging stations for mobile devices 70%
The top three most-popular outdoor design elements overall are fire pits/fireplaces (66%), lighting (65%) and seating/dining areas (64%).