The ongoing global pandemic of 2020 has made all of us question everything and out of which one of the important questions is that “What will be the future of Architecture?”. We all know how important architecture and its role in society are. It is one of the basic needs of human beings and has been evolving since the beginning of mankind. It started as a shelter to protect oneself and has grown into a choice of use such as luxury, recreation, institutional, industrial, and much more.
People look forward to creating spaces according to not only the user’s physical needs but by considering their mental and emotional needs as well. And reasons such as overpopulation, rising sea levels, deforestation, pandemics like Covid-19, and more have made people question their lifestyle and realize the importance of designing space according to its users in the best way possible.
To overcome issues like overcrowding, land depletion, and global warming, architecture proves to be a necessary solution. The fast-emerging technology in this field has proved to be helpful for people to come up with innovative construction techniques and materials that are environmentally friendly.
Considering the above issues of today and tomorrow we have short-listed the latest fields of architecture that are crucial and upcoming interests of the millenniums.
Sustainable Architecture
Global warming is one of the pressing issues today and adapting sustainable measures in our economic lifestyles is the way to an environmentally rich future. The concept is to meet the requirements of today without hampering the resources for future generations. It is about reducing wastage of resources and using them efficiently like implementing the 3R’s- Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle in our daily lives.
To save our home planet, many architects and experts are designing structures that enhance sustainable living. Strategies such as energy efficiency, adaptive, and climate responsive design, renovation over demolition, and much more are coming up in our field of architecture.
Green buildings are buildings whose design creates a positive impact on their surroundings and nature. They can be energy efficient, self-sustaining, and might also help generate extra energy for others to consume. Some examples of green buildings are Bosco Verticale (Milan, Italy), Suzlon One Earth (Pune, India), Parkroyal Collection Pickering (Singapore), Pixel building (Melbourne, Australia), Museum of Tomorrow (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).
Floating Architecture
Floating architecture also known as water architecture is the design of structures that are partially immersed in water and are floating whilst habituating humans according to its function. This type of architecture emerged since the beginning of humankind that needs to survive near water bodies. People initially came up with houseboats and now with the help of technology and materials, it is possible to design and construct huge structures as large as a whole city.
Architects like Koen Olthius and Bjarke Ingels are designing habitable floating communities to fight rising sea levels and flooding issues. These are carefully planned considering the best possible sustainable strategies that can have minimum impact on the ocean life and otherwise help conserve marine ecology as well.
Virtual Reality
Also known as Immersive architecture has been worked on to give clients options to look at and get a better understanding of the space designed for them. Architects use BIM- Building Information Technology to optimize the design process, presentation and create realistic models. This is a fast-growing field of 3D virtual design with rapid developments in architecture and construction. There is a possibility of people experiencing virtual spaces on the real scale of the project.
Parametric Architecture
Parametric design is kind of an emerging movement as a style of architecture. It has different definitions; from Wikipedia: Parametric design is a process-based no algorithmic thinking that enables the expression of parameters and rules that, together, define, encode and clarify the relationship between design intent and design response.
Parametric design is a paradigm in design where the relationship between elements is used to manipulate and inform the design of complex geometries and structures. Geometric structures and patterns starting from simple to complex are created by coding using various programming languages.
One of the most used plugins is Grasshopper which is a software extension of Rhino. It helps in modeling challenging 3D shapes that a human can imagine.
Modular Architecture
The Modular architecture is about designing separate precast modules that can be assembled on-site to create a unit or building. This allows for variations in scales and reuse of models allowing endless possibilities for architects to explore. This can be any minor or major element of the structure that can be similar or can be interlocked hence, it is open to different styles.
Inclusive Architecture
Nowadays architects and engineers are facing challenges to create spaces that are socially inclusive of all age groups, genders, mobility, culture, and health to obtain maximum interaction whilst eliminating architectural barriers. This can be complex as it involves creating universally accessible spaces that include public, semi-private, and private areas.
The areas designed have to be safe, flexible, convenient, friendly, and accommodative of all people. Hospitals are the best example of inclusive architecture.
References
CNN staff (2020). Green buildings: 18 examples of sustainable architecture around the world. [online]. (Last updated: 25 April 2020). Available at:
Green buildings around the world: 18 examples of sustainable architecture – CNN Style
[Accessed date: 15/05/2021]
Immersive Design: Transforming Architecture with Virtual Reality. [online]. Available at:
Immersive Design: Transforming Architecture with Virtual Reality | Autodesk University
[Accessed date: 13/05/2021]
Parametric design. [online]. (Last updated: 03 May 2021). Available at:
Parametric design – Wikipedia
[Accessed date: 15/05/2021]
Sara Steckelings (2019). Modular Architecture – It’s the Future. [online]. Available at:
Modular Architecture Today – Examples of Modular Design + The Future (architecturequote.com)
[Accessed date: 16/05/2021]
Darnell Technical Services Inc. (2021). Inclusive Architecture: What It Is and How to Achieve It. [online]. Available at:
Inclusive Architecture: What It Is and How to Achieve It – Darnell Technical Services Inc.
[Accessed date: 16/05/2021]
