10 Hottest Architecture Trends Shaping Our City

As we are aware the growing entropy of the human population is creating greater complexities that require technological interventions to fix the adverse effects associated with them. It is the in-built de-facto aspiration of humankind to work with or sometimes against the environment to build something out of it for our use. It is the same human aspirations that brought development and growth at the urban level. For the micro-environment level, it can be collectively true that spaces are capable of influencing human behavior but in context to the macro-environment level, it is the human aspirations and problems generated by those that kind of drive the template of living. That is why we plan and it is very much before the formalization of academics and professions, the general intentions being sustaining life forms, accommodating the needs of the growing human population, and curbing the entropy associated with that. In context to this, the future of architecture seems to be dominated by technology.

 However, other factors like community sentiments and government interventions can also play an important stake in the future of architecture, expanding on the above-stated conclusions following are the trends that could shape the future of architecture. Throughout history, architectural materials have evolved to meet human wants and aspirations. 

These trends would surely affect the way one measures an architect's market value How do you Evaluate the Market Value of a Freelance Architect?

Below is the list of emerging trends that are responsible for shaping the city in today’s era:

1. Sustainability - Sustaining the Artificial Habitat we will be Creating 

Green signifies sustainability which is the need of an hour. As we all are aware of the rising AQI levels around the globe. It is prominent to develop and grow around nature and use it in an effective way that not only saves our ecosystem but also prolongs human existence. Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In addition to natural resources, we also need social and economic resources. Sustainable practices support ecological, human, and economic health and vitality. Sustainability presumes that resources are finite and should be used conservatively and wisely or in easy words, the efficient use of resources left. 

To capitalize on this trend 8 Eco-Friendly Ways to Make your Home More Sustainable

2. Biophilic Architecture - Blending the Outside Nature with Inside Living 

Biophilic architecture uses nature as a form that encourages the efficient use of resources and its design aspects. The design is a construction industry concept that uses direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place variables to improve occupant connectedness to the natural world. It is believed that when used at both the building and city scales, this concept provides health, environmental, and economic benefits for building occupants and urban surroundings, with minimal negatives. Although the term was developed recently, well it’s not an alien thing in architecture signs of biophilic design may be found in architecture dating back to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. 

Even Mario Pei once said ‘good architecture lets nature in.’

3. Iron, Steel, and Glass - The Trident of Modern Architecture 

With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, material innovation and research play an intriguing role in transforming the cities and their architecture. Iron and steel came like messiahs in architecture. Its ability to bear loads and to be produced in an endless variety of forms, in addition to its resistance to fire and corrosion, quickly encouraged architectural adaptations, first as columns and arches and afterward in skeletal structures. We can see the art Deco movement the way iron and steel have to facilitate the organic turns and twists, those floral patterns, and parallelly acted as structural members also. So, the way iron and steel balanced between ascetics and hardcore structure gave birth to the new age of architecture of experimental forms and it is still one of the go-to materials when it comes to experiments in design.

Iron and steel production today has become an indicator of the growth of infrastructural development of a country, for example, China is the leading producer of pig iron with 131 corer tons followed by Japan with 105 corer tons. India stands 9th with 28 corer tons per year. 

Talking about glass the need for glass in the construction industry as per demand is increasing day by day. The market size of glass manufacturing is mammoth today. Now glass has also been experimented with as a structural member and guess what it was successful, for example, Apple’s headquarters.  Even in south Asia the has 40% of the total revenue share of the world.

Also read, Importance Of Glass In Architecture Design

The global glass manufacturing market size was valued at USD 106.44 billion in 2021 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.2% from 2022 to 2030. Rising spending on residential and commercial construction, along with the growing penetration of recyclable materials in the packaging sector, is anticipated to boost market growth during the forecast period. - Grand view research 2021

Check out 12 Modern Building Materials Every Architect Must Know

4. Minimalism - Less is More 

Minimalism can be reciprocated as the subtle way to present the world incorporating modularity to make the design more economical and conventional. If we were to summarize it in a single statement, we would say that minimalism is a technique for getting rid of life's excess to focus on what's important—finding happiness, contentment, and freedom. Minimalism originated in the arts, with artwork characterized by basic lines, a limited palette of colors, and precise arrangement of those lines and colors. The main psyche behind minimalism was the fact that there was a boom in population versus the limited available resources. As a result, the instant hike in the cost of the limited resources as the users were more, so this concept of making design and keeping things simple is successful in the forthcoming age.

It has recently come to reflect a lifestyle that seeks to eliminate clutter from all aspects of life.

5. Adaptive Re-use - The Circular Economy 

The process of reusing an existing building for a use different than the one for which it was originally built or planned is called adaptive reuse. It is sometimes referred to as recycling and conversion. Adaptive reuse is a powerful method for improving the operational and commercial performance of constructed assets. The methods adopted in adaptive reuse are primarily focused on the techniques and measures in which the structure can be used again in any manner that deems fit to the trend as well as ensuring its longevity and strength. For example, taking an old navy barracks and turning it into a high school or converting a palace into a hotel would be the process of adaptive reuse.

6. High-rise - Accommodating the Growing Population to the Skies 

An innovative way to use less space and more usage is what high rise is meant for. Since the land area is not enough to incorporate both agricultural and residential needs, the high-rise and multi-story structures can offer to exist both of these in the real world.

The interesting question is why a man wants to build to the sky. What is there about the desire for domination, to reach God, or for private pride — the Pyramids are an example of that, but the tall building is certainly another.— Skyscrapers Introductory Interview with Philip Johnson

Well going high up in the sky is not just the need of the hour but also a fancy to experiment and push the architectural limit which is changing the city skyline in volume. And with the concept of maximizing the usage of space concerning volume, the skyscraper is the answer. It is also an indicator of space left in a city to spread. We see a city with high population density has more no of skyscrapers, for example, Hongkong tops the list with a total of 551 skyscrapers followed by Shenzhen with 356 which proves the statement that high-rise is the answer. In India, we have Mumbai with 210 which stands 5th all over the world.

Generally, a high-rise structure is considered to extend higher than the maximum reach of available fire-fighting equipment. In absolute numbers, this has been set variously between 75 feet (23 meters) and 100 feet (30 meters) or about seven to ten stories (depending on the slab-to-slab distance between floors).

7. Automation - Reducing the Effort of Manual Labor 

Automation involves facilitation and a convenient approach to accomplishing any task. With automation, buildings have proven to be more secure and safe. Automation in architecture would be a revolutionary measure that will lessen the time used in building any structure. The automation will allow a non-interruptive and unhindered pace of work. Using innovative techniques and technology, the construction industry will change remarkably and allow the project to finish within the deadline. Automation will also smoothen the chaos of the city, self-driving cars, connected vehicles, automated carts, and carriages will change the movement on the road and will push the facility of infrastructure a city has to offer. Well, will it be a blessing or a curse also depends on users as in whole or the political will for the growth of the city?

Before you move ahead, we suggest you read Artificial Intelligence vs Architecture, Will AI Replace Architects?

8. Dynamic - Deriving Design from Dream Sequences 

Dynamic Architecture is the movement of a building and it incorporates a fourth dimension - time. The beauty of Dynamic Architecture is that the form and shape of the structure are continually changing, making it fluid and demonstrating the building's capacity to adapt to change. An extensively preferred criterion of designing a structure involves its ability to be adaptive and this can be achieved by techniques used to build a dynamic structure. Dynamic structures are the outcome of a decade of study into new building components that can interact with climate conditions and regulate energy flows through the building surface.

9. 3-D printing - Fast Modeling the Construction Practices 

3d printing has become a really powerful tool to not only develop prototypes of structures but also to develop them at a unified scale.  These printers have allowed and contributed to finishing up a project in a minimum time frame. They have also enabled engineers and the construction industry to handle many projects at once allowing greater modularity and more design templates as options for customers. It involves facilitation and mass production in lesser time incorporating the newer technique and machines which will help to accelerate the work speed.

10. Multipurpose - Providing Something More than one's Utility 

Multipurpose structures are proven to be the most conventional design since they involve efficient use of space and allow more opportunities for economic well-being as well. In general, a multipurpose building comprises a variety of purposes such as stores, shops, restaurants, and cafés, as well as a cinema, offices, and a bowling alley.

The multi-purpose building is the ideal facility for meeting the demands of all human groups. We require a multi-purpose building if you need a huge facility for a company conference or a place for your youth group gathering. It offers a place where people have fun, live, and work at the same time. This gives a scope of pushing the limits of space concerning function.

These are the major factors shaping the city. It is quite essential to know about the new trends and technology being developed to think about innovative ways to accomplish your task. Furthermore, these aspects lead the human habitat to exist with nature along with being able to tackle the climate concerns as much as possible. The list may be extensive but these are the most essential trends shaping the city.

Stay tuned with the Planndesign to know more about future trends that would shape our cities.

Lastly, take a read to the 10 Smart Ways For an Architect to Make Passive Income

and Importance of Architectural Skills in Building Construction