The unique charm of Rijhuizen, Houses in Ambachtsman style and Victorians fades under a groove layer in gentrifying neighborhoods in the US.
In some areas, the rapid 'grayification' of houses transforms the visual landscape dramatically. In Washington, DC, for example, red brick row houses and colorful murals steadily replaced by monochromatic facades.
An analysis by Washington Post showed that gray houses occur more and more often in Gentrifying DC neighbors, coinciding with rising house prices, sound complaints and the relocation of black inhabitants.
Newly built or renovated houses replaced lively shades of red, yellow and brown through muted tones such as shark fin and deep space.
The study, which Google Street View used, grouped outside colors in wider categories to follow the shift.
Academics note that gray, modern houses often indicate wealth and luxury. These neutral tones are seen as status symbols, which reflect both the meticulous maintenance and an appeal to specific buyers.
“It all comes down to this perception of wealth and luxury, this idea that neutral colors indicate the status – painted brick takes more for maintenance than regular brick,” said Libby Rasmussen, a color lover who lives in DC and possesses a house decor company, the post.
“If you have a light gray or white house, this indicates that you can afford to keep it clean.”
The transformation of DC is especially noticeable in Ward 5, including Eckington, where warm brown and red have been largely replaced by shades of gray, blacks and whites.
In Gentrifying urban areas, the charm of historic houses is replaced by gray exteriors
An analysis by Washington Post showed that the shift correlates with rising house prices, sound complaints and black displacement
Although this trend dominates in the northwest of Washington, it is now spreading to departments 7 and 8, fed by new developments.
Scholars connect this shift with broader themes of post-racial urban design, which means a minimalist aesthetics to be inclusive, but often knew cultural and historical identities, instead catering to prosperous newcomers.
'The concept of a post-race America is connected to this aesthetics. It is a kind of “everyone is welcome here, and nobody should feel uncomfortable if the aesthetics is uniform.” Gray is a way to flatten the difference, “said Brandi T. Summers, associate professor Afro -American and African Diaspora studies at Columbia University.
'But when you create an aesthetics that must be minimalist and monocultural, the difference goes out. This allows different people from different cultures to actually be different. '
The DC real estate market has embraced the trend, where agents advise sellers to re -paint their homes in neutral tones to attract buyers.
Sales analyzes reveal that houses with the updated gray aesthetics often sell for considerably higher prices than those with original colors and designs.
Rural, the preference for dark, muted outside is growing, according to surveys from platforms such as Zillow.
This shift accelerated during the pandemic, because buyers were looking for more and more houses like retreats. In DC, sound complaints in Gentrified Neighborhoods emphasize a preference for quieter, more controlled environments.
Gray houses, often seen as symbols of wealth and luxury, become dominant in neighborhoods such as Ward 5 on DC, and the trend spreads.
This trend can also be seen in other cities such as San Francisco, where gray exteriors are linked to broader socio -economic changes
Real estate markets encourage this aesthetics, because houses with neutral tones tend to sell for higher prices
The trend is not limited to the capital of the nation.
In San Francisco, known for its colorful Victorian houses, the rise of Gray Exteriors has fueled the recoil.
In historic Latino neighbors such as the Mission District, residents regard the shift as symbolic for deeper socio -economic changes.
Studies have even linked the spread of gray houses in the mission district to increased police activity and enforcement of immigration.
Similar trends have emerged in cities such as Nashville and Chicago, where older houses are renovated or replaced to match contemporary flavors.
With exterior design trends that move in 15-year-old cycles, the gray-home movement can peak.
But the likely successors – black -white contrasts or deep charcoal tones – suggest that the monochromatic aesthetics will continue.
