Design has always been a crucial aspect of any entity, be it a building or a home. And architecture started thousands of years ago with a single motive, the motive of survival. All these factors define our development. But are these developments eco-friendly? Because it’s not worth it if the future itself doesn’t last forever. Architecture can play an important role in solving complex global problems by joining hands with all the other professions working for a better future. The future, therefore, would be what we want it to be. We are the creator of our future, and it’s on us.
What does our imagination say about Architecture?
One thing humans have is the ultimate limitless power of the mind to imagine beyond its capacity. Imagination can be surreal and a doorway to step into a bizarre abode. Anything that was once impossible to even think of as a possibility has now become our identity. All these technologies are shaping us. And it will shape our future as well. When we think of living in the future, we think of some science fiction cityscapes, and we are even closer to achieving that because some structures have already been constructed that look like a fantasy world of their own. The structure of the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel in Colorado is beautifully designed with exceptional sci-fi style. It was designed by Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings, and Merill (SOM). The building was commissioned in 1954 and was completed in 1962. No doubt why Dubai is an outstanding example of great modernist architecture. It’s changing the world, and the world needs it to change for good.
The future will be a dream where bridges won’t only serve as just a transportation facility but will be a great artwork for society. There will be no more static buildings but rotating skyscrapers so people won’t have to fight for east-facing apartments and offices. The green belts would be an indoor open space covered by high pavilions—a complete Tomorrowland movie version. We are currently living in a world of diverse architecture—all the architectural innovations under one cover.
The need of building Smart Cities
With the growing population and global climate hazards, the need is to analyze how people interact with the buildings, how they move across a city, and what are the pain points about architecture in their lifestyle. As we know, the liveable space on earth is on the decline, which raises the need to go vertical. A lightsome feeling should breeze through a person who walks the streets of a smartly designed cityscape. Urban life should be cheerful, full of energy, socially sprinting, and promoting wellness and brotherhood. In the next 50 years, extreme urbanization would take place to inhabit millions of people. We need to build as many buildings in Africa in the next 15-20 years as have been built in Europe in the last 200 years. Something like this is impossible to achieve, but with technology, professionals are working hard to develop every corner of the world.
Due to the frequent changes in our lifestyle and environment, a building should be flexible to undergo modifications if necessary and accept changes of function with limited structural interventions. A user of a flex- building should easily be able to adapt itself to the surroundings. The need is to not only urbanize every place but to be eco-friendly as well. A design should be more inclined towards nature and sustainability. The future lies in conservation, and our generation has realized the fact that we need to practice green architecture to mitigate the effects of construction on the environment if we wish to survive freely on earth. Elastic materials can be used that can shapeshift to produce energy providing energy-efficient environmental skin for buildings. Sustainable materials should be the first and last priority to be used in construction, like bioengineered bricks and derived eco-friendly variants of other common materials.
Futuristic vision
With the use of technologies and environmental science altogether, one can create effective interactive spaces, and the fact that people can see and observe those spaces with the help of virtual reality before it’s even built makes them more magnificent. Nowadays, robotic arms have been in use for 3d printing structures that comprise a geometric programming language. This is present-day technology, and we know that we won’t stop here. The innovations are always ongoing to satisfy the human need to explore. Architecture and programming are growing closer, and soon there will be an army of robots to support the construction process. Unlike ancient understanding of professions to be an isolated field, the world is collaborating everything to make use of technology to fulfil the global dream of prosperity and a better future. The future is not just about urbanization; it’s about people who are going to live in those cities. The world will be defined by its architecture, and the buildings of the future will be shaped by you.
References:
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- Kennicott, P. (2020, July 13). Designing to Survive. The Washington Post Magazine, [online]. Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2020/07/13/pandemic-has-shown-us-what-future-architecture-could-be/
- Space Shapers Architects (2019). What will the future architecture look like. [online]. Available at: https://www.spaceshapersarchitects.com/future-architecture/ [Accessed date: 24/June/2021].
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- Think Architecture (2019). 5 trends that could shape the future of architecture. [online]. Available at: https://www.thinkaec.com/5-trends-that-could-shape-the-future-of-architecture/ [Accessed date: 24/June/2021].
- Free Documentary. (2021). Flexible Building: The Future of Architecture. [YouTube video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw9zpH717ts . [Accessed: 22/ June/ 2021].
- Digital Trends. (2017). The Future of Architecture. [YouTube video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrEzo6ZKVMU . [Accessed: 25/June/2021].
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- Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The U.S.Air Force Academy- Cadet Chapel [online]. Available at: https://www.som.com/projects/us_air_force_academy__cadet_chapel [Accessed 25 June 2021].
