“As an architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for an unknown future.”-Norman Foster.
Yet, we humans have a propensity to be concerned and overthink the unknown—often known as “our future,” with some planning for the near future and others for the far future. We tend to save and prepare for rainy days in the same way that ants do. When asked about the future of architecture, about buildings that create more power than they use, urban corridors of biodiversity, resilient designs that can withstand extreme weather, and designs that maximize the use of space that will soon begin to emerge, this kind of critical thinking will create the change we need to regenerate our world while making it fairer and healthier for humans, plants, and animals alike. The presence of many critical environmental issues such as global warming, climate change, population explosion, and unaffordable housing is a major concern. Other than that, these are essential to the well-being of humankind. Because of this, wellness would become a major focus for us when we design homes that blend indoor and outdoor spaces. While the difficulties are on everyone’s mind, it pushes all architects to broaden their horizons to find a solution and conquer the obstacles that stand in the way of a better life, because, as the saying has it, “where there is a will, there is a way.”
Evaluation towards Future
Looking forward to the future, when the population will be on the move, and there will be less space to accommodate a growing population and migrating people, we must reconsider three critical factors: material, energy efficiency, and location. These challenges would be the primary considerations that we would test when we planned and sought future building or design. While the future allows us to widen our views, it also limits our resources such as energy, construction space, and so on. One approach is to use sustainable architecture. Only by focusing on the economic aspects of architecture can we expect to safeguard our future surroundings and climate. One of the primary principles underlying this approach is the reduction of trash and recycling space. This involves both physical space and limiting energy waste. Biopolymers, biocomposite, and graphene are upcoming materials that can reduce climate pollution and environmental destruction. By focusing on these key areas and taking a more comprehensive approach, you can make sustainability a part of mainstream design.
The most critical driving factor for us in moving forward would be the more efficient use of space. The epicentre of architectural design and development has always been innovation, with some of the most exciting advancements in the world occurring as a result. From eco-skyscrapers with spiralling gardens to research into how a glass home can better mimic circadian rhythms, which city dwellers find disrupted due to a lack of exposure to natural light, the industry is pushing the envelope, which so has led to the never-ending fight of a sun-facing apartment – for which rotating skyscrapers as rotating lifts can work well. To be more friendly and to improve a place’s lifestyle, we would also need to shift our perspective from demolition to renovation. This would likewise preserve a place’s original essence. The future of architecture will not rely on dynamic structures but also on how sustainable the buildings are.
People’s perspective
For many people, the future would be a beautiful dream, with homes for the poor and clean air to breathe. A place where public areas are not far from people’s residences, where their health is not jeopardized, and a gleaming world where transportation is on-demand, clean, efficient, and safe. Where pedestrians control the streets, freight trucks are silent, and long-distance excursions are easy. In the foreseeable future, we will be able to put into practice the idea of sustainable houses and cities, which are based on sustainable urban development. These smart cities are designed to meet the demands of institutions, businesses, and their residents. They emphasized renewable energy, transportation solutions, efficient home energy management systems, complete access to health care, and public service analyses. Smart city development will allow architects to better use resources, cut energy consumption, and build more efficient communities. Big data is critical for understanding how people move in cities, how energy is used, how different components of infrastructure interact, and much more.
Present changes – towards Future
Designers and architects are already contemplating more sustainable urban design, particularly resource use. These innovative materials are characterized by their fluidity and ability to adapt to changing urban needs. Paris Habitat, the capital’s largest owner of social housing, uses the body heat from the Paris Metro to heat buildings. Buildings like the BIQ house with a bio reactive facade, which was erected as part of this year’s International Building Exhibition (IBA) in Hamburg, are powered by bioprocesses. WSP’s ideas for seasonal ponds in Jaypee City, India, to deal with water storage begin to address the variations that occur as the seasons change. Cities are being envisaged that question the durability and inertness of construction materials, and we are likely to see a shift in our perception of cities because of augmented realities – a new way of seeing through our smartphones and Google Glasses.
Omit perspective
All the signs show that in the future, architecture will move towards significant technical sophistication in the search for material comfort. It could be asked whether this method for improving human conditions in built spaces is the only option because it seems to me that another possibility is taking shape. A tendency which would invest in man, his emotions, a search for enhanced sensory comfort, and in a finer adaptation of space to its psychological and emotional needs.
In my view, future architecture would be a better place for us humans to survive.
References:
- https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20130624-architecture-for-a-changing-world
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337366446_future_of_architecture
- https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/future-of-design-2019
