Future of Architecture
We define our lifestyle, and our lifestyle redefines architectural progress. The human race who once lived in barbaric caves now views the earth from outer space. That’s how vast the technology has upgraded us. But are we loyal to the global needs? Does our lifestyle impact the global crisis? Can the future of architecture redefine itself for earthly needs?
Deforestation is skyrocketing more than ever. As per Brazil’s national space research institute, deforestation in the first two months of 2022 was twice their average for the last 10 years. How will the future handle such massive depletion?
Thanks to experts and innovative minds, architecture is evolving.
Read on as we discuss the architectural advancements in the past few years and how they have improved our lives towards a sustainable future.
Vertical Cities and Skyscrapers
Hybrid towers revolutionized architecture. The vertical spread of buildings saves more space than horizontal ones. It is phenomenal how these hybrid towers can holistically cater to all human needs. The evolution of these towers urges architecture toward a sustainable trend.
Combat overpopulation
Vertical cities are also an excellent solution to overpopulation and crowd management. It can be overwhelming to confine people within a complex. Yet, it’s practical to address all their physical, functional, and intellectual needs.
Environmental Benefits
The sustainable impacts these complexes provide are exceptional. Living, working, and playing within the same complex saves time and resources. We can save fuels and reduce carbon emissions by reducing their need for regular commutes.
Conserving the existing vegetational resources is critical as overpopulation is already threatening food production. Vertical cities allow us to save agricultural lands from depletion. The concept of vertical cities also encourages hydroponic gardening and cultivation- an alternative agricultural practice.
Community Benefits
Let’s not forget leisure and recreational spaces within these vertical cities and skyscrapers. Including common parks and recreational spaces within these towers can promote community wellbeing. Designers often add infinity pools to enhance the user’s experiences with breathtaking views.
Imagine growing your food in the same building where you stay and work. How convenient and self-sufficient it can be! A great practice to redefine the future of architecture and sustainable living.
Biophilic Architecture
Biophilic designs connect humans with built spaces and their surroundings. It merges the barrier between nature and artificial spaces. Humans have always related shelter with nature. Be it the caves or the tree shades; nature was always involved. However, things started to change as our lifestyles adapted to building-bound living. No wonder vitamin D deficiency is so common nowadays.
Biophilic designs are here to alter the negative effect of these changes. It incorporates greeneries, natural sunlight, ventilation, and water resources within the building complex.
Result?
A healthy and efficient human lifestyle. The biophilic architecture rejuvenates all our senses, from visual to spatial orientation. Perhaps biophilic isn’t just the future of architecture. It’s much more significant in our physical, mental, and psychological well-being.
Sustainable Architecture
The practice of sustainable architecture revolves around the optimal use of building materials, their construction method, and our lifestyles in cohesion. It aims to meet the current generation’s needs without compromising future needs. Sustainability consists of three core aspects,
- Environment aspect
- Economic aspect and
- Social aspect
Aspiring architects specialize in sustainability to redefine the future of architecture. Some of the sustainable architectural practices are as follows.
- Recycling building materials
- Preserving the historical buildings
- Protecting the vegetational lands
- Using alternative renewable building materials
- Incorporating water and solar resources
Technology and Material Innovations
Tech is everywhere, and architecture is no exception. The impact of technologies in our lives has altered our lifestyles and upgraded our needs to a whole new level. Architecture implements these advancements into innovative material formulations and construction techniques. High-tech materials save natural resources, energy, time, and costs.
Technologies are helpful while curating problem-specific design elements. Most of the time, these technical gadgets are incorporated into the building’s components. Technical innovations have also curated new materials as alternatives to conventional ones. These materials are either recycled or made from renewable resources.
The futuristic architectural approaches have predominant usage of metals and glasses as their building material- a perfect choice for zero waste construction. The main aim of these futuristic approaches is to control the depletion of existing resources and the carbon footprint. It also covers aspects of sustainability and innovation as a combat mechanism.
Some examples of technologies in futuristic buildings are as follows,
- Solar panels or photovoltaic cells – It’s used to convert solar energy into electrical energy
- Nanotechnology in materials- It’s used in glass to control the energy consumption
- Interactive materials like paver tiles- Works based on light and movement sensors.
- Dynamic facades- These façade materials serve the functional need of sunshades and other responsive services.
- Self-healing concrete- These concrete blocks specialize in automatic crack healing mechanisms.
Conclusion
Understanding human needs and environmental problems are vital to initiating these innovations. However, due to its high-end tech involvement, these futuristic materials cost more than conventional materials. On the positive side, initiatives have already begun. Researchers are indulging in curating cost-effective versions of these materials. Thus the futuristic approaches are feasible for all grades of projects regardless of their budgets and demographics.
By implementing sustainability in architecture, we holistically encourage highly efficient building modules. These practices eventually reconstruct the future of architecture into a brighter tomorrow.
By Hajara Banu
Hajara Banu is a professional architect, content writer, and strategist. She is on her journey to share her love of architecture, design, and content creation. Besides writing, Hajara loves coffee and often experiments with cooking and organizing in her free time.
