Raad Ghantous & Associates / RG&A

02/20/2026

What if it’s time to admit our urban planning is outdated?

Yet most urban planning still assumes one life stage, one household, one way to live. That model no longer works.

Cities need to plan for reality, not nostalgia.
Here’s what needs to change:
Design housing for multiple life stages, not single-use living
Normalize multigenerational apartments, not treat them as exceptions
Allow flexibility in unit layouts and adjacency for families and caregivers
Use ADUs and urban infill strategically, not defensively
Plan neighborhoods for daily life, not just density targets

Why this matters:
Housing that adapts stays relevant longer
Cities reduce displacement and infrastructure strain
Developers gain broader demand and longer occupancy
Communities become more stable, not more transient

Urban planning must evolve or cities will keep reacting instead of leading.
At RAAD Ghantous & Associates, we develop urban housing concepts that align planning, design, and lived reality, because the future of cities depends on it.

https://raadghantous.com/

02/17/2026

Are our cities future-ready - or is demographic change outrunning city planning?🏙️

Cities are grappling with profound shifts in how people live:
📌 Multigenerational living is rapidly rising.
📌 By 2030, nearly 1 in 5 Americans will be over 65
📌Over 30% of U.S. households are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing

These shifts reflect more than family choice - they signal housing demand that cities must respond to. But our current urban infrastructure still favors:
Rigid zoning that limits flexibility
Housing stock designed for narrow life stages
Services and amenities siloed by age

The result? Cities that aren’t built for how people increasingly want to live.
Future-ready cities must do more than grow, they must adapt.

That means:
✅ Redesigning zoning to allow multigenerational housing as a standard option
✅ Enabling flexible housing types, from ADUs to shared living models
✅ Integrating public services, mobility, and access for all ages
✅ Viewing longevity as an urban infrastructure challenge, not a niche issue

When a city plans for life’s full arc, from youth to aging with support and connection, it becomes more resilient, more equitable, and more desirable.

https://raadghantous.com/

02/13/2026

Imagine if communities were designed as destinations, not developments…

What if resort-style living supported longevity, not just leisure?
And what if communities were built for connection, not isolation? ✨

Today’s trends show this isn’t just an idea, it’s happening:
📈 Senior community occupancy is strong - independent living communities crossed 90%+ occupancy in 2025, highlighting rising demand for lifestyle-oriented environments.
🏙️ Resort-style retirement models are emerging that feel less like institutional housing and more like everyday destinations, with amenities and active social environments that support wellness and community.
📊 Research also shows that thoughtfully designed living environments can promote better health outcomes, including improved wellness and longevity.

And beyond luxury communities, new models such as cohousing or intergenerational living are gaining attention for their ability to foster connection over isolation, blending privacy with shared spaces and support networks.

At RAAD Ghantous & Associates, we believe the future of community development goes beyond traditional retirement or resort concepts. It’s about living better, longer, and together.

https://raadghantous.com/

02/09/2026

Longevity is no longer a social trend - it’s one of the strongest value drivers shaping real estate and city development today.

By 2030, nearly 1 in 5 Americans will be over the age of 65, and globally, people are living 10–20 years longer than previous generations. At the same time, multigenerational home purchases reached 17% of all home purchases in 2024.

Yet much of our housing stock and urban planning is still designed for:
• single life stages
• short holding periods
• rigid, one-use living

For developers and cities, this gap represents both risk and opportunity.
• Multi-generational housing expands demand by serving families, caregivers, and aging residents under one roof
• Adaptive developments age better, reducing long-term obsolescence
• Communities designed for longevity see higher retention and longer asset relevance

Longevity and multi-generational living are not niche concepts, they are reshaping how people choose where and how they live.

At RAAD Ghantous & Associates, we believe the next generation of development requires rethinking housing, communities, and cities as living systems, designed to evolve with people, families, and time.

https://raadghantous.com/

01/02/2026

Sometimes a New Year doesn’t call for resolutions… it calls for a new blueprint.
2026 feels like that kind of year.

A year to be designed with intention.
A year to shape thoughtfully, instead of rushing through.
A year where possibility isn’t a slogan..it’s something we get to architect, detail, and build for real lives, real families, real communities.

At Raad Ghantous & Associates, we’ve always believed great design isn’t just about beautiful spaces. It’s about crafting experiences that help people live better, feel grounded, and move through their lives with a little more ease, beauty, and dignity.
This year, we’re leaning into that mission even more deeply.
More purpose.

More humanity in design.�More innovation where it matters.
And yes...more joy, curiosity, and courage in how we show up in the world.

Here’s to a year of possibilities.A year of new beginnings thoughtfully built.
And a year to courageously design the lives and environments we truly want to live in!

So, if you’re planning a renovation, exploring a new development, or reimagining how you want to live, work, or welcome others this year...we’d love to help you design it with intention. Send me a DM, visit www.raadghantous.com or reach out directly and let’s start the conversation.

Happy New Year from all of us at RAAD Ghantous & Associates.
Let’s build something meaningful together in 2026.

12/27/2025

In hospitality design, every inch matters.

Exceptional hotel design goes beyond aesthetics—it transforms underutilized spaces into meaningful, revenue-generating experiences. When space is at a premium, creativity becomes a strategic advantage.

At Raad Ghantous & Associates, we approach every square foot as an opportunity. Lobby corners evolve into curated retail or café concepts. Corridors become storytelling galleries. Transitional areas host pop-up experiences that surprise, engage, and monetize.

Designing for flexibility is key. Modular furniture, adaptable layouts, and multi-use rooftops or terraces allow spaces to shift throughout the day—expanding the guest experience without increasing the physical footprint.

Technology further enhances this approach. Touchless check-ins, mobile ordering, and digital concierge services streamline operations while unlocking new micro-revenue streams.

We believe successful hotel design is rooted in purpose, adaptability, and commercial insight. When aesthetic refinement meets strategic thinking, even the smallest spaces can deliver lasting value—both visually and financially.

Because great design isn’t about seeing a space as it is, but imagining what it can become.

To see the full article, go to: https://tinyurl.com/mprz2nhj

-Raad

&associates

12/19/2025

A private coastal residence is never about the view alone. It’s about how the interior supports the life happening inside it.

For this home, our work focused on restraint, proportion, and longevity. Natural materials, quiet palettes, and intentional sightlines create spaces that feel calm, grounded, and effortless. Nothing is loud. Nothing is temporary. Every decision was made to age well and to serve the people who live here, not just today, but years from now.

This is a design strategy that respects its environment, honors craftsmanship, and understands that luxury is felt more than it’s seen.

Learn more here: https://www.raadghantous.com/private-coastal-residence/

12/19/2025

Hi, Raad here.

The December Raad Ghantous & Associates newsletter is live, and this month I’m sharing what’s shaping the next chapter of residential and commercial design.

We’ve been deep in projects that push beyond aesthetics and into real-world impact—from homes designed for how people actually live, to business environments built to inspire productivity, flow, and long-term value. Whether it’s a high-end residence, a boutique commercial buildout, or a full-scale development, my team and I focus on design that solves, elevates, and endures.

I’m also excited to announce our official partnership with ForeverHome®, expanding our reach in aging-in-place environments and universal design solutions. This collaboration brings a new layer of purpose to our work helping people stay in the homes they love, safely and beautifully.

If you want a look at what we’re building, where we’re headed, and why this next era matters, the December newsletter lays it all out.

👉 Newsletter is now live here:
https://mailchi.mp/e3d97a9c9c10/design-that-builds-value-and-delivers-results

— Raad Ghantous

NOW IS THE TIME FOR DESIGN DREAMS THAT DRIVE DIVIDENDS Design shapes how people feel and function in a space. Smart design adds value. Intentional design elevates a space, improves constructability, reduces surprises, and strengthens an asset’s market performance. At RGA we design for beauty, effi...

12/05/2025

Aging isn’t a decline … it’s a design challenge.
And the future of aging-in-place starts right here and right now!

I’m excited to share that Raad Ghantous & Associates / RG&A and The Raad Life have joined forces with Aaron Murphy and the team at Forever Home and I will be acting in the new role of Southwest Regional Director, based out of Southern California.

ForeverHome® is one of the most thoughtful, human-centered frameworks I’ve seen for helping people stay in the homes they love, safely, elegantly, and with more independence, for decades longer than traditional design has ever allowed.

Being someone who has spent the last 25+ years designing environments that support real life, dignity, and connection, this mission resonates deeply with me. And since my work continues to be at the intersection of design, longevity, wellness, hospitality, quality of life and reinvention, this partnership feels like a natural evolution of everything I’ve believed in and have been building.

Together, we will bring the ForeverHome® vision to families across the Southwest:

California • Arizona • Nevada • New Mexico • Utah • Colorado

My role will focus on expansion, regional partnerships, design integration, and helping homeowners (and their families), create spaces that evolve beautifully with every chapter of life.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing:

• New resources for aging-in-place

• Ways to transform your home into a safer, smarter, empowering future proofed ready ‘ForeverHome’, that enhances your quality of life.

• Out AI-powered FAQ system

• Opportunities for designers, contractors, and partners

If you, your clients, or your family are exploring long-term living solutions, or if you’re simply thinking about how to design your home for the next 10 or even 20 years, I’d love to connect.

Midlife isn’t an ending. It’s an invitation to redesign your life on your own terms proactively….And that is one of the most meaningful redesigns we can do.

10/01/2025

Yesterday, RGA’s founder, Raad Ghantous, joined an incredible panel at the Orange County Multifamily Annual Conference, hosted by Bisnow, to discuss one of the most urgent issues facing the region: delivering affordable housing in OC.

Alongside leaders Rochelle Mills (Innovative Housing Opportunities), Michael Ruane (National Community Renaissance), and moderated by Stephen Lee (Citrin Cooperman), Raad unpacked the challenges of funding, feasibility, regulation, and community acceptance.

Raad shared insights rooted in RGA’s philosophy that design is more than aesthetics — it’s the bridge between policy, financing, and community trust, highlighting:
• How placemaking and human-centered design can transform NIMBY resistance into community pride.
• How wellness-driven, universal design ensures affordable housing is aspirational, sustainable, and dignified.
• The importance of embedding community identity and dignity at the center of housing projects for long-term success.

The discussion underscored that the future of Orange County housing depends not just on unit counts, but on creating communities people are proud to call home.

RGA is proud to continue driving this dialogue and exploring how thoughtful design and placemaking can transform the affordable housing conversation.

09/29/2025

Tomorrow morning 🎤 I’ll be on stage at the Orange County Multifamily Annual Conference with some amazing leaders:

✨ Rochelle Mills – Innovative Housing Opportunities

✨ Michael Ruane – National CORE

✨ Stephen Lee – Citrin Cooperman (Moderator)

We’ll be tackling one of OC’s biggest challenges: Delivering Affordable Housing.

My lens? 🏡 Design and placemaking. Because affordable housing isn’t just numbers on a page — it’s about creating communities people are proud to call home.

I’ll be sharing how:

🔑 Great design can turn NIMBY into neighborhood pride

🌱 Wellness + universal design make housing aspirational

🤝 Identity + dignity are central if projects are to last

📍 Hilton Anaheim | Sept 30 | 8 AM

🎟️ Tickets: [link in bio / below]

👉 https://www.bisnow.com/events/orange-county/multifamily/orange-county-multifamily-annual-conference-9287

Affordable housing can be smart, sustainable, and dignified. Let’s rethink what’s possible.

07/19/2025

Design isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about longevity, dignity, and independence.

At Raad Ghantous & Associates, we’ve long believed that interior design plays a crucial role in how people experience life at every stage. Yesterday’s Los Angeles in San Clemente reinforced that belief tenfold.

The event spotlighted bold innovations—from robotic companions for dementia patients to immersive VR for caregivers and smart home systems designed to support aging in place.

But here’s where design comes in:

- If the technology doesn’t integrate seamlessly into a person’s space—both visually and functionally—it won’t be adopted.

- If the environment doesn’t honor beauty and accessibility, it can diminish rather than empower.

- And if we don’t start planning now, Gen X will inherit a built environment that doesn’t serve the way we want to live.

As the sandwich generation, Gen X is modifying spaces for aging parents and relatives. But we should also be designing with ourselves in mind, crafting spaces that support aging with grace, style, and autonomy.

We’re excited by the future of age-friendly design—and proud to help shape environments that adapt, support, and uplift.

Special thanks to the brilliant minds at today’s event:

– Kyle Steel, FutureCare Solutions
– Tom Stevens, TomBot
– Yael Swerdlow, Maestro Games
- And the entire AgeTech LA and team for creating space—literally and figuratively—for this conversation.