Modernism & Residential Design...is it dead?

Modernism... will we ever start living in modern houses again?

It seems to me we're living in a time where we are technologically advancing everywhere except our homes. We build using old building technologies and methods. We use strong historically referential styles in our homes on the inside and the outside. We look forward everywhere but at home.

Why?

As far as new building methods and materials are concerned, I would argue that most builders do and buy what they know...and aren't a lot to increase what they know. I'm not knocking on them, but they just don't spend much time investigating new materials and methods. It's hard to blame them. In most places, the contractor is legally liable for their work for many years. Recent lawsuits related to mold and their experience with asbestos make them wary of anything that might increase their exposure. My experience is that contractors don't want to open themselves up to callbacks and lawsuits. Who does?

Having said that, I still think that there is considerable progress to be made in this area. First, there are materials and methods that have been tried and tested in other parts of the world. We know how well they work (you can see structures built with them). They may not be cutting-edge new in the world, but they're certainly new to us. They may also inspire new thinking, combining new and old. Second, you can do some research and ask for your contractor to consider the use of "non-traditional" materials. No...don't just ask him to consider their use, insist on it.

I'm doing my part by being my own client and trying out the materials myself.

Now, for the more sticky question. What about design? We see production builders mass building "traditional" styles. Check out Toll Brothers or Donald A. Gardner for examples of what I mean. It seems that these are the only options. Even their "transitional" styles are more traditional than modern.

I can also understand an aversion to modern architecture. I don't like most of what I see of residential designs in the professional trade magazines. Add to some off the edge designs the fact that much modern architecture just doesn't weather particularly well and most people just won't buy it. I don't like most of it either.

But I'm not a fan of "traditional" design either. They're made to evoke the feeling of tradition but are hollow inside. Most of the plans are modern, containing the currently hot spaces. But their traditional feeling is empty nostalgia and their interior plans are often designed with a real estate agent in mind, not the people who are going to live in the spaces. No...Toll Brothers and Donald Gardner just don't cut it with me.

I'm searching for "modern" architecture...