We get this question a lot. A client will tell us they want a Contemporary home, but keep showing examples of a Modern, or the other way around. While there is no an easy answer, and many people equate Modern with Contemporary, they are quite different.
In the real world, many homeowners will incorporate the two styles and build a Modern Contemporary. Modern Contemporary homes are very popular in the Tucson area right now and we sell a lot of these. Depending on the wants of the owner or developer, these types of homes can blend elements of both Modern and Contemporary architecture. The balance determines how the home is perceived.
Modern design equates to a "super simple" feel. These homes feel minimalistic and are built that way on purpose. Simple design is probably the hardest type of design to pull off well and the Modern home is all about this feel.
Modern style stands out! If you are walking down the street and see a modern home you will take notice. The home just looks different—hard edges and flat surfaces with sharp lines cut a shape in the desert that seems to make people take notice.
Most Modern homes incorporate structural building materials into the visual appeal of the interior surfaces and exterior of the home. Concrete floors, steel, duct work, wrought iron, and other materials can be seen which is part of the design and simplicity.
Modern homes almost always have extremely oversized windows and doors. To those not accustomed to Modern architecture, the home may feel uncomfortably open. For the Modern home lover, this is exactly the point. The Modern home brings in the natural surroundings and allows for maximum livability inside or outside.
In Tucson, metal is frequently used in the exteriors and even the interiors of modern homes. Many designs have also incorporated a patina into the metal to make the homes look more industrial in nature. While not everyone likes this style, in Tucson it seems to be taking hold in many of the Modern homes being built.
