In the last decade, we have seen some of the most innovative and cutting edge uses of materials, shapes, and structures in the residential and public architecture industries. From the meshing of green technology and home design to the use of 100% recycled materials in office buildings and cultural institutions, we’ve seen it all in the last few years.
But which architectural styles are really pushing the boundaries of innovation to shape the industry for good? Here’s just a few that we already see taking the industry by storm and some of the amazing architects to seek inspiration from on your home renovation or build.
1. Green Architecture
We can see the rise of green architecture all the way back in 2004, when the Economist first announced its presence in the world, and even farther into the 90s when architects started to take notice. But since its induction, and the emergence of new environmentally conscious technologies, we’ve come even farther to disrupt the housing markets with this innovative solution.
Green architecture brings together several elements to claim itself as environmentally friendly. From using recycled materials for the entire build to ensuring energy efficiency in the lighting and electricity choices throughout the home, it ensures the reduction of its carbon footprint.
The aim is to create the least amount of environmental impact in the long-term, and ensure that as we grow on this planet, we are still treating it in the best way possible.
Some of the most innovative of the self-proclaimed “green architects” are Jean Nouvel, who designed the Arab World Institute in Paris, Ken Yeang, a “green” skyscraper master, and Renzo Piano, who brought us the garden roof of the California Academy of Sciences.
2. Wood Architecture
Just as green architecture, wood architecture is nothing new. In fact, it was the choice of many a long time ago. However, with the shift towards steel and concrete interiors especially in large commercial architecture, we saw a long period where no one was building entirely with wood.
There’s a lot of amazing benefits from constructing an entire building from wood instead of metal or concrete. First, and perhaps most surprisingly, it actually reduces the carbon footprint of a build. Steel and concrete can generate up to 137 tons of CO2 per build, while wood has the opposite effect as it actually absorbs carbon.
Second, it is a cost-effective option which many cities have sought out to cut down on tax payer money. Lastly, it’s easier and more effective to assemble and maintain than the alternatives, making it a great option for builds that need to be finished in half the time.
So far, we see the UK and Australia leading the charge with 100% wood constructed buildings, such as the Stadhaus by Waugh Thistleton, that even has elevators made of wood.
3. Interactive Architecture
We’ve all heard of the story of the interactive advertising by companies around the world, where an ad on the street talks to you or says your name. But what about a building that interacts with you?
Interactive architecture is defined as a type of design that creates a building that can engage and be responsive to it’s environment. They’ll use things like projectors or programmed materials in the wall to change the pattern or basic form to interact with a person or space, or just reflect an aesthetic.
As it’s in it’s early stages, it might seem kind of ludicrous, but if you think of the sci-fi we’ve been writing since the 50s, this is pretty much the stuff of childhood dreams.
We see the early stages of interactive architecture with the use of kinetics, where buildings move and change shape for either aesthetic or functional purposes. One great example is the One Ocean Pavilion that was built for the 2012 Expo in South Korea. The outside wall opens and closes to create a wave-like feeling throughout the day.
4. 3D-Printed Architecture
So not quite a style like the previous two, but just as disruptive. As we see technology develop and improve at an exponential rate, we see the amazing new things that architecture can benefit from different uses of it.
An amazing idea comes from the use of 3D-printers to one day build homes from scratch in half the time
3D-printed homes are not too far off the horizon, in fact, with almost every major country developing a team of architects to explore the possibilities. The idea is to print individual parts of the house and construct them similar to a modular home. The method is not only easy and efficient, it’s also extremely cost-effective and could be a solution for low-income housing.
So far, we’ve already seen a massive accomplishment in San Francisco, where a company managed to print an entire house in less than twenty-four hours. The possibilities are endless, and with it’s efficiency and speed, it could be a reality very soon.
So, whatever the future looks like, we know that the architecture and home design industry is being changed every day with innovations like we see above. What style do you think will disrupt the industry? Let us know in the comments!
