Architecture is all around us even though it’s often so seamlessly blended with the surroundings, you don’t even notice it until somebody else draws your attention to it. Moreover, like every other industry, it’s also developing and changing to suit our needs and preferences. With that in mind, here are a few architectural trends that are likely to become very popular next year.
1. Nature and recycling
This trend is probably expected, since preserving nature is becoming more important by the day. Therefore, you’ll soon be able to see more green rooftops, living walls, and indoor gardens. 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.
Furthermore, there will be an increase in the use of recycled materials. It’s a way to fight the climate change and reduce the effect of the production process on the environment; recycling glass, concrete, plastics, etc. is much less harmful to the environment than making new materials.
2. Open-space design
The open-space design has been dominating both commercial and residential buildings for a while now. At work, people want to communicate, share ideas, and be more engaged, in general, which is not really possible in small cubicles. 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.
Besides the many benefits, architects are still looking for new ways to define those segments of open spaces. They want to prevent the transitions between living areas from looking flat and dull. One way of doing this, for instance, is by incorporating changing floor levels, so there would be a clearer visual border between different areas.
3. 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.
4. 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. As challenging as creating such homes can sometimes be, many architects are rising to the challenge.
5. 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.
6. Sustainable architecture
Another way to preserve the environment is by making architecture more sustainable, and this is exactly what 2019 will be about. So, you might see water-filtration systems in commercial buildings that should help preserve water. Also, all the usual appliances that are meant to make our lives more comfortable – like AC units, space heaters, and ventilation systems – will be designed in a way that will reduce their energy consumption. As for the residential buildings, they will be built with much better insulation, water-saving fixtures in the bathroom, and energy-efficient appliances in the kitchen. All of these things will reduce the carbon footprint of the home. Good insulation also means less energy wasted on heating and cooling the home, which is another sustainable aspect.
Architectural is a field that can often be unpredictable since it’s affected by many other fields, from technology to the economy. However, some trends are here to stay, like eco-friendly materials, sustainable architecture, and using architecture to represent a company’s brand. Some trends, on the other hand, depend on the current generation’s preferences and financial limits, like open-space designs and smaller homes. Nevertheless, they will definitely dominate the next year – and probably many years after as well.
(via Living Space)