Upcoming Architecture

Upcoming Architecture

“As an architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for the future which is essentially unknown”  -Norman Foster

Architecture has always strived to perform for timelessness. The evolution of architecture goes hand in hand with the evolution of our species. The journey from nomads in caves to established residents in sky-high apartments has been prolonged and inventive. We are going to need architecture as long as humans exist on this planet or any other for that matter. While we think about the future of humans, it is obvious to question the future of architecture. 

Future of Architecture

With increasing population, decreasing land, global warming, increased pollution, higher standards of living, and a falling economy, architecture has become more challenging than ever before. It is presumed that the future should bring solutions to all these problems. With given advancements in technology and innovations of new materials every day, the future is supposed to hold majestic structures that have already eliminated all the current issues faced by people. There is shown a glimpse of how future architecture will look in certain movies like Inception, Blade Runner, Tomorrowland, and Love Story 2050 but will reality match the reel movies? 

Ways in which architecture will evolve in the coming future:

. Improved materials 

The Discovery of improved and better materials will make the structures more cost-effective and easier to construct. Advanced materials like self-healing materials, 3d printed materials, and nanotubes will revolutionize the way of architecture, opening the doors for such vast possibilities and creativity. Inventions of sustainable materials for sustainable structures will be a non-optional choice.

. Smart buildings

Due to growing awareness of Artificial Intelligence (AI), soon enough AI will play a major role in designing a building with better interconnectivity, security, movement pattern, optimized energy usage, and crowd monitoring which will lead to smart and intelligent buildings. AR and VR will play significant roles by allowing users/designers to experience before even constructing it. This will help in more accurate and collaborative designs.  Smart buildings will soon lead to something as immersive as smart cities. 

. Universal Design

Architecture that caters to everyone from kids to the elderly, the disabled, and all kinds of humans. Designing a space that is flexible, equitable, simple, tolerant, and has no physical error. Entering the future with so many variety of people having different needs therefore a designer needs to create a space that is accessible to all ranges of people. 

. Climate Resilient

Considering current climate conditions, buildings in the future will have to focus on adapting to climate change. Buildings will be prepared to respond to and recover from the impacts of hazardous climate effects. Designers will prioritize energy efficiency, sustainability, energy generation, and energy integration. Reuse, Recycle, Renew will be a principle that will be ingrained in the design process itself. In this era, sustainability and design will go hand in hand. 

. Versatile Spaces

Modular construction methods and advancement in materials will pave the way for flexible spaces that are designed to have multi uses. While the primary use of a house is for resting, with current trends people have started introducing spaces like a gym, drawing room, and work spaces in their houses. The lockdown has helped people realize how a good house co-relates with a good mind state. Therefore, future buildings will respond more aptly to these evolving requirements and enable efficient use of space.

. Unfamiliar shapes

There are already existing buildings with such quirky shapes that it makes us wonder about the construction process. Take Dubai buildings, for example, study Zaha Hadid to never disappoint when it comes to buildings with distinct shapes. One can only imagine the shapes that buildings will take with all the help of advanced technology, AI, and improved construction methods. A lot of high-rise constructions are predicted due to a shortage of ground coverage. UAE is working on a project called 'The Line' which gives a glimpse of how extraordinary the design ideas are going to be.  

. Biophilic designing

Increasing awareness of mental and physical health, architects will have to incorporate biophilic spaces. They include being close to nature and adapting natural colors, shapes, patterns, and light. This focuses on the human-nature relationship and benefits the occupants by reducing stress levels, increasing productivity, boosting creativity, reducing pollution, and healthier work environment. Biophilic spaces are going to be one of the vital aspects of designing concerning increasing urbanism, work stress, pollution, and pandemics. 

Personal Note

The future is going to bring new world problems like overpopulation, poverty, global warming, shortage of natural resources, increased urbanism, confined spaces, etc. The problems are incalculable. This will demand architecture to be more versatile, smart, lasting, sustainable, unique, and innovative. Futuristic problems are going to require futuristic solutions. 

An architect's role is going to change undeniably. Architecture is going to transform abruptly and architects will have to keep up with it, evolve as times change, and be ready for all the new challenges that the future will bring. No one can predict how the architecture will look like years from now so let's just fasten the seat belts and look forward to the coming architecture. 

References:

·         HMC Architects (2019) How does Architecture impact society? [online] Available at - https://hmcarchitects.com/news/how-does-architecture-impact-society-a-high-level-look-2019-10-18/#:~:text=The%20Importance%20of%20Architecture,a%20part%20of%20our%20culture.

 

·         Space Refinery (2023) Everything you need to know about Biophilic designing [online] Available at - https://www.spacerefinery.com/blog/biophilic-design-101

 

·         Progressiveae (2023) Universal Design [online] Available at - https://www.progressiveae.com/expertise/universal-design/#:~:text=Universal%20Design%20is%20the%20idea,size%20fits%20all%20for%20humans.

 

·         Archisoup (2023) What does the future of architecture looks like [online] Available at - https://www.archisoup.com/future-for-architecture-and-architects

 

                                                                                                                              By Isha Mutha

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