New Home has no Fireplace!

A lot of times when you go to look at new construction, you may be looking at a home that is partially completed and not notice some things. 

This was the case when we recently went to look at a new floorplan in Jenks, we did not notice that there was no fireplace  designed into this 2,000 square foot home!  We talked to the lady at the design center and she suggested a few places where we could have a fireplace built which we are considering.

The case for not adding fireplaces is that with the current trend toward tighter energy efficient homes, the fireplace as a functional element is almost obsolete because they are inefficient.  A lot of the modern ventless gas fireplaces are merely inserts and don't serve much more than a symbollic purpose.   

As a symbol, however, the fireplace is very important as a gathering place for the family and friends.  My feeling is that a home without a fireplace is going to seriously limit the number of people who would consider it when it comes time to sell.  It's quite possible that ten years down the road, homes with no fireplace will become quite acceptable, but I don't think we are there.  A house designed with no fireplace just resonates with cutting corners and cheapness.

With the current concerted effort to be more green and energy efficient, is the fireplace being revealed as an iconic dinosaur of the past?