The Domestic Frontier
The way we live is evolving—and with it, the way we build homes.
For developers and individuals alike, the decisions we make today about how homes are designed and constructed will shape not just daily life, but entire communities and landscapes for decades to come. At INDIO, we’re deeply invested in that future. We believe residential design deserves better—not more expensive, not more complicated—just better. Smarter. More enduring. Less about market checkboxes, more about how people actually live.
The housing crisis and rising construction costs have created a surge in large-scale residential development—and with it, a wave of sameness. Uniform floor plans, disposable finishes, homes built to flip. We understand the pressures: time, materials, margins. But we also see an opportunity to design differently within those constraints.
1. The Developer Opportunity: Profiting from good design at scale
We believe the standardization of homebuilding doesn’t have to mean soullessness. With the right strategies, good design can be embedded at scale. That starts at the foundation— literally— with smart planning, thoughtful materials, and standards that prioritize long-term livability. We’re talking about durable systems, layouts that reflect contemporary life, and details that make a house feel like a home from day one.
Small moves can make big differences: enhanced landscapes, subtle shifts in massing, neighborhood planning that encourages connection. These are not luxuries—they’re investments in resilience, retention, and value. When development creates a sense of place, people stay longer, care more, and communities thrive.
2. The Homeowner Opportunity: Reimagining the custom build
For individuals building their own homes, the stakes—and the potential—are even higher. A custom home isn’t about chasing trends or maximizing square footage for no reason. It’s about aligning your space with your actual life. That might mean designing for hybrid work, for creative practice, for multi-generational living, or simply for stillness. It means letting the home support the rhythm of your days rather than complicate it.
We’re entering a new era where customization and craftsmanship are no longer at odds. Advancements in construction technology are making once-inaccessible ideas possible again, while simultaneously allowing us to support the resurgence of trades and specialized skills. We’re excited by what this means: homes that feel human, contextual, rooted in their site—and worthy of preservation a century from now.
Whether you’re building for many or building for yourself, home is more than a project. It’s a concept, a position. A chance to shape culture, community, and the future. We want to work with people who are as excited about this opportunity as we are.