New generation creating the look of the new millennium.

As with all forms of artistic expression, trends in design emerge when many artists work consecutively within a set point in time.

The product of the designer's labor will potentially remain unaltered for many years, thereby reflecting the panache of its day long after its peak and remaining an influence over time.

The Art Deco period, for example, has long since passed, but the interiors of that period are celebrated, studied, carefully preserved and even mimicked in new construction.

Strong economic performance, particularly where real estate is concerned, often precedes a new period in architecture and design. Demand for new product results in both a "building boom" and a sharp increase in the number of commercial, industrial and institutional-to-residential conversion projects.

Suddenly there is a lot of space to be re-imagined, and new trends emerge.

New York is currently enjoying such a period of prolonged economic growth. Not surprisingly, a sharp increase in new construction and conversion projects has followed suit.

Experimentation in architecture and design has become commonplace, and a distinct new era in design--one whose impact will be experienced by New Yorkers well into the foreseeable future--is taking shape.

Many stylistic benchmarks for which the early 21st century will be remembered have already been set.

Eco-consciousness is the principal consideration from the perspective of all parties in this market, from the buyers and brokers to the developers themselves. From roof gardens to glass walls and abundant natural light, green is the theme in today's architecture and interior design.

Whether or not a building is LEED certified, if it is newly constructed then it is bound to have elements that are green in both the functional and aesthetic senses. Designer fixtures with low-flow fittings and energy-efficient lighting have become highly prominent.

Popular finishes are often chosen because they contribute aesthetically in an environment which exalts the organic.

A good example is a generous use of stone, especially in bathrooms and kitchens. Another is finishes made of wood--provided that wood is from a sustainable forest. Noble materials are abundant, including macassar ebony and other high-gloss finishes.

The most advantageous layouts for today's market reflect efficiency as well, mainly through minimalist, open-concept plans. Especially in small areas, the most efficient layout possible is to be considered the main focal point of the design. Many new amenities incorporate all of these elements. Open common areas abound in forms such as Zen gardens and planted roof decks.

The very luxurious projects go a step further with large lap pools and spas where residents are offered massages, facials and other treatments.

New York is a large and diverse city with varying types of spaces, tastes and economic considerations. Styles are therefore dependant on where the space in question is located.

However, a picture already comes to mind when one considers which factors have come to define this as-yet unnamed period in architecture and interior design. It is a picture of New York itself in the first decade of a new millennium.

Its impact will be plain to see for generations to come.

Whatever the direction of the next period in design, it can only begin with the current period.

The city of the future will remember this moment in its history as one in which changing attitudes about sustainability dramatically redefined the environments in which New Yorkers live, and one which made those to come possible.

BY ANDRES ESCOBAR, PRINCIPAL

ANDRES ESCOBAR & ASSOCIATES