By Ar. Hardik Pandit – Director APICES Studio Pvt Ltd.
The purpose of architecture is to design a space which gives people a place to live in the real world. Architecture encompasses not just the physical world but also the cultural values and beliefs that shape our society. It represents our internal and external worldviews. Architectural design, which integrates artistic and scientific principles to create a space that serves its purpose while also being aesthetic, has the power to tell a story. The way we live and work today, as well as how we interact with each other and our surroundings, have all been profoundly impacted by architectural design throughout history. Future architectural trends and orientations will likely be influenced by factors such as new technological developments, environmental concerns, increasing societal demands, and alterations in cultural values. This article examines several new ideas that are shaping the field of architecture through green buildings, modular designs, smart homes, and community-based projects. The future of architecture is certain to be shaped by the following emerging trends.
Design thinking through Partnerships: Partnerships have the potential to dramatically change the role of architects in the future. At design studios, experts from subjects like environmental science and social anthropology will be working side-by-side on multidisciplinary projects. Therefore, it is likely that many current job profiles in the construction industry will be replaced by the emergence of professionals from a variety of sectors. According to experts, collaborating with system leaders is now not a nice to have but rather an absolute essential for satisfying complex design demands.
Green and Regenerative Design: By instituting mandatory standards for highly energy-efficient buildings, renewable energy, and even carbon offsetting as necessary, sustainable architecture is set to offer a significant opportunity to create considerable increase in zero-carbon buildings in the near future. Concrete, wood, glass, and metal are some of the components that architects will look to salvage and upcycle for reuse and repurpose in new construction projects by incorporating them with a fresh look through redesigned forms.
Redefined Minimalism: Considering all the commotion in the world, many find that minimalist spaces provide a welcome oasis of peace and quiet. Budgets are impacted and regarded as more frugal when designing a place with fewer objects and simple materials without complex structural ornamentation. Since there is less visual noise, it is easier to concentrate on the specifics. In a well-executed design, minimalism draws attention to what matters most to the user, creating an atmosphere that feels more organic and deliberate. Minimalism will be applicable not just in the indoor and outdoor spaces but also in the external appearance and building impressions through minimal façade designs.
Boutique/ Flexible space design: In place of the open floor plan that is so popular today, broken-plan or boutique dwellings simply divide larger rooms into several smaller, interconnected chambers is slowly taking shape. Without the use of physical barriers or other architectural interventions, open-plan indoor or outdoor areas can be divided into designated zones. A variety of smart, removable room separators, such as partitions, furniture etc. are employed to create discrete areas for various functions while yet allowing for the free flow of light and air.
Spatial Experience design: Architecture has the capacity to elicit an emotional response from its occupants. Skilfully designed spatial moments integrate architecture with experience design, an increasing demand in the experience economy. By sensory and intellectual stimulation, venues can foster a profound connection with their habitants, resulting in unforgettable experiences. Planned with the user in mind, spatial design is a conceptual discipline that values both form and function. While being a relatively new speciality, it is gaining in prominence because of its emphasis on putting people at the centre of the design process and going beyond creating beautiful settings.
Data integration: Every part of the building will be connected to some sort of data-driven system. Property managers are already using data to evaluate their buildings. Architects will need to make sure their buildings are set up to provide this vital data as more owners rely on it to boost their assets’ performance. Architects should be aware that their clients will use this information as a yardstick for their own performance. Sustainable building certification bodies are taking steps to assess building performance using actual data through energy matrices, within the Green Buildings. The designated authorities will need relevant data to demonstrate and also back up their predictions with real time data, in order to market projects rather than just relying on captivating visualisations.
Immersive VR: If clients can experience the influx of emotions through a visual ride within the designed spaces, before physically standing in the built stage of the project, it opens opportunities for satisfying the desired expectations of the client right at the design stage of the project. Virtual reality worlds aim to temporarily transport consumers to another reality, a well-designed environment using immersive VR that can transmit subtle things, such as emotions, feelings, and sensations. The use of VR in design is set to become a common trend that will re-shape architectural design with precision in building performance.
Architectural parameterisation: Parametric design is another hot topic in the architectural industry right now. Parametric design is a generative design system in which changing the parameters causes the computer to generate new kinds of outputs, including previously impossible shapes and structures. Our connection to the completed structure shifts as a result. What we construct is not a building per se but rather a form determined by a set of parameters. Architectonic designs of the future will incorporate equal parts of computer modelling and human ingenuity.
3D printing in robotics: 3D printing is becoming increasingly popular among architects for creating conceptual and structural models. By facilitating iteration and improving client visualisation, this technology helps architects save time and money. Models of any complexity, whether they be buildings or structural, may now be printed in a matter of hours rather than weeks or months. In the past, architects had to utilise cardboard or paper to produce tangible designs, which was a labour-intensive and time-consuming procedure. The potential applications of 3D-printed building materials and methods are enormous.
Biophilic architecture: The goal of biophilic design is to create spaces that allow people to feel connected to nature even when they are not in a natural setting, such as in a city or a high-tech structure. It incorporates features like natural lighting and ventilation, living walls, and green landscapes to bring people closer to nature. There is a growing body of research that indicates a correlation between the use of natural components, colours, textures, shapes, and geometries in building construction and a wide range of positive effects on human health. The building acts as a conduit between its occupants and the outside through mechanisms like daylighting, cross ventilation, natural landscaping, and environmental controls.
