The field of design and technology has increased over the past few decades and residential projects have benefited in several ways. Innovation has aimed to make human lives more comfortable and convenient. These innovations, as they become day-to-day tools, become trendy. More and more professionals start marketing them, and users start incorporating them into their routines as they make their lives better. Not only technology but different materials are also being explored in construction and interior design fields. Holistically, people and designers are trying to make choices that are sustainable, green, and economical.
Currently, innovation in the construction and material field has brought considerable changes. The construction has sped up thanks to technology and new and hybrid materials are providing new aesthetic palettes. Also, tiny homes and relocatable homes are becoming more and more convenient. Everyone is talking about green building and incorporating environmentally friendly measures. The planning-wise function has become the priority over beautification. The majority of people prefer minimalist interiors over a cluttered lifestyle. Smart homes and the Internet of Things(IoT) have started settling in and people are curious about it. The introduction of Artificial Intelligence in daily life and gadgets has opened up a vast ocean of knowledge and experiments. The curiosity in people is a leading factor here where people are open to trying new things which makes their living spaces more comfortable and their life easier.
Sustainable Approach
One of the important elements of a sustainable residential project is energy efficiency. This includes siting of the building, orientation as per sun and wind direction, use of solar panels, and passive design strategies to maximise natural light and ventilation to reduce consumption of heating and cooling systems. All of this combined helps reduce the carbon footprint of the residential building.
Architects and clients have started prioritising design, materials, and methods that cause minimal harm to nature. Architects are exploring construction materials that have less impact and are recycled or upcycled to minimise the depletion of resources and create healthier built environments. Water conservation is also a crucial aspect. Incorporating rainwater harvesting systems, greywater recycling, and minimising water wastage can contribute to saving the natural resource.
The Pirouette House designed by architect Vinu Daniel is built with upcycled wood and rat trap bond brick masonry which is quite unconventional. The kiln-fired bricks are placed vertically in this bond creating a cavity within the wall increasing thermal efficiency, allowing passive cooling, and reducing the number of bricks needed.
Biophilic Design
Biophilic design is about the connection between the built environment and nature. This can be done by integrating natural light in the built space, using natural materials, adding vegetation and plants, water bodies, having living walls, and incorporating urban farming and vertical plantation. Also, the siting and orientation of the building can be such that it opens up towards natural views. The presence of natural elements can have a profound impact on health and well-being.
The Planter Box House is designed by Formzero architects in Kuala Lumpur. It has planter boxes in different sizes and shapes on each floor by the extended balconies. They house edible plants of various types. The couple owning this house themselves grow the plants. The house has a remarkable nature to human-made environment connectivity. Apart from that split bamboo which is a locally available material, has been used for concrete shuttering which gives a natural touch to the concrete building.
Planning
Planning plays a crucial role in meeting the growing needs of owners, and their lifestyles. Providing flexibility and adaptability in spaces makes the design highly functional. It ensures that occupants are accommodated to varying needs and activities and caters to different occupants over time. Open floor plans, movable or changeable partitions, and portable/convertible furniture provide the flexibility to occupants to adjust spaces as per their needs and occasions. Multifunctional spaces serve contemporary work culture and lifestyles better. On the other hand, adaptable spaces serve the evolving needs of occupants such as expansion of family, change of homeowners, multi-generational living, ageing, and different mobility needs. It has to be thought of at the early stages of planning so that the spaces can cater to the varying dynamics of habitats. The Modular approach is one of the ways to achieve flexibility as it gives users the freedom to change and adapt the configuration of the furniture as needed.
The Van B Residence project designed by UNStudio in Munich offers flexibility and adaptability by allowing change in space configuration. The partitions and furniture are planned in a way that there are variations which can be done as per need whenever needed. The elements are placed in a grid where one element shifts towards the other and one space is created. Likewise, permutations and combinations can be done to achieve the needed space configuration.
Tiny Homes
The concept of a tiny home has captured the attention of people wanting a simpler and more efficient way of living. It is an innovative approach in housing, fairly recent and relevant. It has the potential to offer a sustainable and affordable housing option compared to conventional ways of construction. Many see it as a viable alternative to traditional housing considering the increasing need for housing and the rising cost of conventional residential schemes. It is designed and made as an optimum item. It meets all the basic needs with optimum space requirements and equipment. One of the main benefits is the minimal environmental footprint. It consumes significantly less space, construction material, and energy compared to a traditional standard house. Tiny homes, being compact and just optimum, motivate the user to reduce the wastage of resources and bring awareness to the intention. It is an encouragement to prioritise the essentials and opt for a minimalist lifestyle, fostering a green way of life.
Designing tiny homes has its own set of challenges. It takes more creativity to efficiently maximise the utility of the available compact space. It should not only be aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional. Even though it is compact, it should not feel cramped from the inside. Making it sustainable by installing energy-efficient systems and incorporating eco-friendly solutions without compromising on comfort adds another layer of complexity.
This house is converted from a container by architect Marillia Pellegrini. The choice of a container was focused on sustainability and reusability. It takes considerably less time for the house to be ready than conventional construction. It also shows that grandeur doesn’t necessarily come from spaciousness. Compact and optimum space utilisation can also provide luxury.
Minimalistic Interiors
Following the philosophy of “less is more”(Mies Van Der Rohe), minimalistic interiors in residential projects speak of elegance, sophistication, and tranquillity. It projects a sense of focus by using clean lines, geometry, and harmony between form and function. Minimalistic interiors allow for making space functional, aesthetically pleasing, and uncluttered. Strategic use of neutral, warm, earthy colour palettes, textures, and full-height glass windows makes the space airy and spacious. Including green elements like indoor plants, and natural materials adds another flavour of sereness and warmth. There are styles of interior design based on colour palettes and the use of materials focusing on minimalism like Japanese style, industrial style, bohemian, etc.
Scandinavian interiors’ characteristics are bright and airy spaces with ample amounts of natural light, a neutral colour palette, clean lines, use of geometry, minimal furniture, and accessories creating a warm and cosy environment.
The Japanese style of interiors is inspired by Zen philosophy. Its characteristics are uncluttered spaces, natural materials, a subdued colour palette, minimal decor, and multifunctional furniture creating a serene and relaxed environment.
The industrial style of interiors is raw in terms of visual impact. The use of materials like bricks, concrete, and metal in their exposed form gives an industrial or factory vibe. A mainly monotonous, grey, and muted colour palette is used. It gives utilitarian aesthetics. It gives a sense of urbanity and modernity.
Organic style is based on the use of natural materials, indoor-outdoor connectivity, indoor greenery, use of natural materials, natural colour palette, ample natural light, and eco-friendly practices.
Smart Homes and IoT
The integration of smart technologies in residential projects provides a wide array of services adding to the functionality and comfort in day-to-day chores. Lighting solutions, security and surveillance systems, and energy-efficient systems offer such convenience that people can save a lot of time and energy in their regular tasks. One of the biggest advantages of integrating such technologies is that it seamlessly connects all the systems in the house and makes a functionally cohesive environment. By installing IoT(Internet of Things) into the home, all the systems become responsive to the occupants’ needs and offer customization and control as per individual requirements.
Artificial Intelligence, Metaverse, VR and AR
Artificial intelligence is coming into use in almost every field and profession. In terms of design, it provides immediate answers to architects as well as clients. Designers can utilise AI-powered software to compare multiple designs, enhance energy efficiency, and optimise the functionality of the space. AI is also enhancing the functionality of smart home and IoT devices. Through automated machinery and robotics, AI can help streamline the construction process and phases.
Metaverse, which is a collective shared virtual reality, has the potential to bring revolution to how people perceive and interact with the living spaces. The most significant impact it makes is through virtual home tours. Homeowners can interact with the design before it gets built in reality. It gives them a comprehensive understanding of the space and its scale proportions.
Similarly and innovatively, Virtual Reality(VR) and Augmented Reality(AR) are also making it easier and more convenient for architects and clients to visualise the design beforehand. VR helps create three-dimensional simulations of the designed spaces with the provision of a walkthrough. Through this technology. architects can get early feedback and make design decisions and changes in the design stage itself. VR technology helps designers experiment with furniture, lighting, tiling layouts, and materials in real-time. It allows dynamic changes, and instant visualisation, and shows overall impacts which help in making more informed decisions.
On the other hand, AR technology allows virtual elements to be superimposed on physical spaces. It can be used on smartphones or tablets to overlay virtual products onto the physical space to get an idea of the esthetics, scale, and proportion, and its integration with the context. Beyond the design phase, these technologies have a role to play in marketing also. They help architects to better sell their designs and give better visual representation to potential buyers and investors.
References:
Gupta, S. (2023) With ‘dancing walls’, Kerala eco-friendly home remains naturally cool even in Summers, The Better India. Available at: https://thebetterindia.com/309798/architect-vinu-daniel-pirouette-house-dancing-walls-stay-naturally-cool-cut-cement/ (Accessed: 02 October 2024).
Jon Astbury | 22 December 2018 Leave a comment (2018) Planter box house by Formzero is a concrete home covered in edible plants, Dezeen. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2018/12/22/planter-box-house-formzero-concrete-kuala-lumpur-edible-plants/ (Accessed: 02 October 2024).
(No date) Unstudio introduces a new flexible urban living concept in the van B residences in Munich | archdaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/956877/unstudio-introduces-new-flexible-urban-living-concept-in-the-van-b-residences-in-munich (Accessed: 02 October 2024).
Container House: Marilia Pellegrini Arquitetura: Media – photos and videos (no date) Archello. Available at: https://archello.com/story/67823/attachments/photos-videos (Accessed: 02 October 2024).
Albao, by Marie (2023) 5 types of minimalist interior design, Satin and Slate Interiors. Available at: https://www.satinandslateinteriors.com/5-types-of-minimalist-interior-design/ (Accessed: 02 October 2024).
