Today’s generations are witnessing, living, and embracing one of the most damaging eras: Simply, the era of commercialism, where values are aesthetic-driven, and missions are just wealth and show-off.
Indeed, it is hard to say or even accept that all industries are on the decline. Everyone can give themselves titles and recognition. We are seeing that hundreds of trainers, coaches, and entrepreneurs are gaining titles and recognition just from social media and virtual communities, but above them all, some designers are torturing architecture. A few years ago, architecture was the power of change, but now, a wide group of practitioners are sketching its fall by favoring trends over values and meanings. If we stay watching silently, accepting this change, and living with it, Architecture will turn out to be Archi-torture.
Trends and Architecture
In simple words, trends are like a direction of development, evolution, or a change that humans and industries are following. Architecturally speaking, trends could be perceived as good and decent when used in the right way. However, in some cases, trends are visually boring, lacking sustainability, and as if they are somehow outdated.
Talking about trends in Architecture raises a crucial question: Are trends and Styles the same? Some see sustainability as a trend when it is a need. The same applies to how people are treating steel structures as styles when they are a construction and structural strategy. To avoid confusion, an architectural trend is defined as what is popular at present, and it is temporal (Cancella, 2025). When it comes to architectural styles, they are described as a collection of characteristics and features, making any structure identifiable in terms of time and history (Afreen, 2023).
TikTok and Pinterest Accreditations
Neither the futurism of Zaha Hadid, nor the experimentalism of Steven Holl, nor even the brutalism of Tadao Ando is required from today’s designers. But for sure, what is not required too is the copy-paste strategy from TikTok and Pinterest. It is understandable if clients are inspired by these platforms, but what is not acceptable is that designers are taking the lead in such an inspiration strategy!
What goes viral on social media platforms and search engines defines the trends of today. It is sad to see how architecture is perceived at present: replicas ready to be outdated.
How will users react or comment on a realized and executed TikTok-based design? How will they save it? Is it like a Pinterest thing? Will they repost it as they do on Instagram?
These questions will never have answers because what people see on screens is way more different than what they experience in real life.
Social media and commercialism are both going against sustainability. Every trend is seen and promoted as sustainable. For example, social media is promoting trendy finishing materials as sustainable architecture, where in fact, sustainable architecture is way more than materials and finishing! It is a full course of architectural practices instead.
Where Are People’s Needs?
KENYA COLLAGE OF INTERIOR DESIGN mentioned that “the prevalence of
Scandinavian-inspired interiors in warm tropical climates often prioritize aesthetics over practicality. Similarly, the rise of monochrome, minimalist exteriors may not always align with the rich, textured, and historical architectural elements native to a particular region”. Is this the Archi-torture? Of course, yes! We are all living in an era of aesthetics, where places are no longer the aim, and where spaces are the annual catalogue of what social media claims to be a trend.
The 3D-empty Canvas
When trends are trying to take over architectural practices, it is clear that the architectural mass itself is not affected, at least for now. Color of the year, this season’s theme, wood and marble look materials, ask ChatGPT, and many more useless hooks are making designed spaces look like a 3D canvas full of stuff, but with no meaning. Is it not the time to go back to when Architecture meant to be timeless? Technically, clients are paying thousands of dollars for nothing but looks and claimed solutions – commercialism. Imagine yourself painting your room blue because someone said that this is the color of the year, will you keep on repainting it yearly?
Welcome to Archi-torture
This is our last call to action; otherwise, current and future generations will open the door for Archi-torture to invade what remains of spatial values and professional practices. The unique solution is seen if designers stay true to themselves.
Have you ever thought about how designers can help usher in a new era? So yes, there is a three-dimensional solution.
First, keep in mind that Architecture is storytelling. Each zone, corner, and even a single tile has stories to tell. Don’t be afraid of being out of the trend game because creative minds are never to follow, they are to be followed.
Second, remember that Architecture is there to solve problems, not to create them, so favor the act of learning from others’ mistakes rather than copying their already copied design.
Third, architecture should be life-lasting and speak for itself. Rethink your approach, and reshape your concept over and over! Assess every material functionally, not visually. The eye loves what respects the experience and function, and not the contrary.
References:
Cancilla, J. (2025, August 15). These micro trends look good Online—But designers say you’ll regret them. ELLE Decor. Available at:
https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/trends/a65667239/interior-design-microtrends-to-avoid/
Afreen. (2023, April 5). What is Architectural Style? Portella. Available at: https://portella.com/what-is-architectural-style/
KENYA COLLEGE OF INTERIOR DESIGN. (2025, February 20). The impact of TikTok and Instagram on architectural design trends: Are we losing authenticity? Available at:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/impact-tiktok-instagram-architectural-vohrf/
List of Images:
Young House Love. Color of The Year [Diagram]. Available at:
https://www.younghouselove.com/2025-color-of-the-year-guide/
KIBITEC. Exterior Options. [Image Collage]. Available at:
https://kibitec.com/construction-and-finishes/building-finishes/
Orient Bell. Modern Trendy TV Cabinet. [Image]. Available at: https://www.orientbell.com/blog/tv-cabinet-designs-for-living-room/
