The 2026 Virtual Concept Home by NewHomeSource Has Arrived

The future of housing and new-home design is becoming clearer. With the help of visualization technology like Zonda’s virtual tours and interactive floor plans, the plans and ideas of seasoned designers, home builders, and architects can come to life long before a lot is sold.

Each year, Zonda partners with a builder to create a virtual home that incorporates the latest digital tools. Last year, it partnered with Ashton Woods, and the year prior was a group of builders. Every virtual home emerges with a unique vision and theme.

To create the 2026 Virtual Concept Home, Zonda teamed up with Fischer Homes, ranked No. 31 on the most recent Builder 100. The result is a home that is progressive, intentional, and lifestyle-driven.

The flexibly designed virtual home is a wellness haven for future homeowners looking for more.
“Wellness has become increasingly prevalent in many industries. Instead of niche applications, there is increasing support for wellness as a core lifestyle. Tapping into this movement, we designed a plan that pays special attention to the high-functioning spaces of a home. The thought being, to function well, lends itself to living well,” says Christina Bishop, Fischer Homes architectural design manager.

Special to this year’s home are two schemes of the floor plan, both with their own unique approach to well-being. The organic scheme follows a more holistic aesthetic with rounded forms, natural textures and patterns, and traditional details rooted in history, while the retreat scheme indulges in minimal detail and deeper earth tones that are introspective, focused, and soothing.

Together, the two schemes show that wellness is not one-dimensional. It can be quiet or expressive, social or private, and still or dynamic. “There is an age-old but modern architectural design principle where ‘form is to follow function.’ As home builders, this concept is sometimes lost, but the Virtual Concept Home allowed us to not only challenge this concept but also recognize the importance for our plans to perform well for our customers,” says Bishop.

The Fischer Homes team started with a straightforward, efficient structure to ensure scalable value, then collaborated to define a theme relevant across all markets and demographics. With the intention of adding the plan to their product offering, Fischer knew certain parameters regarding width and depth upfront, but challenged themselves to develop a program that can flex per buyer needs, is long-lasting, and feels customized.

“The 2026 Virtual Concept Home is not just about how a home looks or how the home functions, it’s about how it makes people feel. Every design decision was guided by the desire to create spaces that feel grounded, calming, restorative, and deeply connected to everyday life,” says Karyn Bonder, vice president, business development at Zonda.

Elevated Everyday Living

Some of the most powerful elements of the home are the everyday spaces that encourage indulgent experiences. The primary bath creates a spa-level environment for true self-care, while the mud room, a traditionally utilitarian area, is reimagined as a high-functioning hub with built-in storage, washing areas, drop zones, and pet-care stations.

Each scheme offers a different primary bath layout and kitchen layout. The primary bath can feature a calming infinity plunge pool with a therapeutic handheld shower system in the walk-in shower or a grand platform tub with massage features and a shower steam system for aromatherapy.

Kitchen layouts range from minimalist, with a clean slate for cooking, to highly detailed. “The kitchen includes a full-size butler’s pantry that can be optioned into a fully equipped scullery with a pass-through pantry. These are presented differently in each scheme. One is more open to the kitchen while one is hidden beyond the range wall by cabinets,” says Dan O’Connell, Fischer Homes director of architecture.

A hidden wet bar or wine display niche in the family room is an entertainer’s dream. Overlooking the pool and outdoor living areas is the outdoor bar and grill that foster social wellness. While the main pool is designed for entertainment and activity, the more private plunge pool and fireplace terrace also offer a calming and therapeutic refuge and connect to the primary suite.

Also on the main level, the fitness studio and wellness hall are designated for fitness and therapy. The studio can alternatively be used for study or mediation.

“While wellness will mean something different to each of our home buyers, the goal is always intentional. Whether it be spaces for self-care, pet care, in-home care, fitness, prep, or focus, options can be curated per customer and for optimal living,” says O’Connell.

The primary suite, generation or guest suite, and secondary bedrooms each have a designated recreational space, the Fischer Homes team points out. The guest suite connects to an inviting front courtyard outfitted with sensory amenities, including a fireplace or water feature, and the two second-floor bedrooms open to a large, shared loft space that can also serve as a full bedroom suite and a smaller loft option.

While each scheme offers distinct finishes, hues, and fixtures, current trends were considered when selecting materials for both. The Fischer team referenced PPG’s color of the year and forecast for color selections and turned to companies dialed into wellness products for insight into plunge pools, spa tubs, saunas, and plumbing fixtures.

Looking ahead to this digital home becoming physical, Bishop says, “The buyer for this home has intentions to maximize how the spaces are used. They may have a certain lifestyle in mind and find that this floor plan can perform for them and grow with them. With many options to choose from, the selected features will be intentional and therefore seemingly curated for this home buyer.”

Bonder adds: “Today’s buyers are seeking more than square footage. They want homes that support well-being, clarity, and connection. When you view this year’s Virtual Concept Home you will notice inclusions around retreat-style wellness that you will want to incorporate into your daily life. Truly a home that has restorative qualities. It gives fresh, elevated meaning when people say they’re ‘going home to recharge.’”