Architectural Trends to watch out for

Architecture is all around us even though it is seamlessly blended with the surroundings, you don’t notice until somebody else draws your attention towards it. There are many ways in which the architecture industry might evolve and some trends that have been slowly developing might finally be on the cusp of going mainstream. Here are some architectural trends to watch out for;

Eco-friendly architecture

This trend is probably expected, since preserving nature is becoming more important by the day. Some of the most recent innovations include adding gardens and green rooftops, as well as indoor green parks and green walls to residential and businesses buildings alike.

Besides being eco-friendly, this is also a great way to introduce more nature into our daily environment. This is especially important for all the commercial buildings located in the middle of large cities with not much nature around them.

The reuse of recycled materials stands out as an innovative, highly effective, and artistic use of sustainable design and this year, recyclable materials will be used for everything, from furniture to skyscrapers. Most common building materials have recyclable alternatives. Concrete, metals, glass, brick and plastics can all be made using some form of the previously used material, and this process of production lowers energy requirements and emissions by up to ninety percent in most cases.

Open space designs

While large, open-space design that encourages mingling of cooking, entertaining, and family spaces has dominated residential architecture for the last few decades, the trend is undergoing some changes in both residential and commercial architecture.

At home, open spaces create an illusion of spaciousness, and they allow people to express their creativity by finding unique ways to both combine and separate different areas through décor.

At work, people want to communicate, share ideas, and be more engaged, in general, which is not really possible in small cubicles.

Architects and designers are becoming increasingly conscious of defining the various segments of these open spaces, both to prevent vast rooms from looking flat and uninspiring and in order to designate different living or working zones.

To accomplish this, designers incorporate changing floor levels, shifts in surface colours and textures, islands for kitchen separation, furniture groupings, and lighting to improve the visual organisation of space.

Solar roof tiles

Even though solar panels are still a suitable option for creating your own energy source, solar roof tiles are taking this to the next level. One of the reasons for their popularity is the fact that they are less bulky, and they come in many different styles. This means that they are much easier to integrate with your chosen roof design, which makes them much more attractive. They are also cheaper than the conventional solar panels, which again makes them available to more people. The future is coming and its super exciting!

Sustainable architecture

Considering the impact of human activity on climate change, developments in architecture now seek to address the issue of sustainability.

The installation of water-filtration systems in new buildings is now a way for new buildings to alleviate the water crisis. Also, air conditioning, heating, and ventilation systems are now designed to conserve energy and reduce negative effects on the environment.

Furthermore, sustainability is also a top concern for home buyers. Consumers know the importance of reducing their carbon footprints, and want to make sustainable choices that fit with their lifestyles. Architects can meet these needs by ensuring the building envelope is well sealed and insulated and by including sustainable options such as solar panels or energy efficient appliances.

Visual identity

Architecture can also be used to showcase a company’s identity. For instance, incorporating nature, using recycled materials, and all the other design-related details can serve to represent a certain company’s values. Moreover, good branding design can not only increase a company’s sales but also motivate the employees to work better. It can remind them why they are working for that company. All of these things can increase that company’s reputation, which is why this is an architectural trend that’s here to stay.

Small designs

Due to the environmental impact of larger houses and their costs, many people are choosing to live in smaller but just as functional homes. Since the interest in such a lifestyle is growing, architects are doing their best to make small homes much more interesting, multifunctional, and perfectly suitable for more than one generation.

So, even though such a house is physically small, it’s definitely big in terms of ideas, comfort, functionality, and potential.

Today, with reduced budgets, many architects have turned to a more focused way of creating works that may be physically small, but are definitely big when it comes to trendsetting and ideas. Small but perfectly formed architectural designs are becoming a popular architectural challenge.