The post-pandemic era of architecture is going to change the way we look at designing a structure. Not only the pandemic but global warming and climate change as well are affecting the strategies of planning and designing. The rising sea level is making the cities vertical and vertical cities are making for less public green spaces as more area is opening up for infrastructure.
Many trends are coming up in regards to the future of architecture. While discussing these trends, consciously being aware of what is required for us to plan and execute a structure, how the world will look like in the future and what issues need to be overcome to change the face of architecture should also be taken into consideration.
Architecture is likely to change in a couple of years and architects will more apparently have to recognize the role of the future; Inching towards a sustainable and green infrastructure along with energy-efficient buildings to help the environment.
Nevertheless, the pandemic has led to a major change in commercial architecture and co-working spaces. The spatial planning and layout of the design will transform the room into a safe working space.
Sustainability
To protect the environment and climate, sustainability has become the most crucial form of architecture today. Practicing sustainable architecture not only helps in reducing waste but minimizes energy loss as well. Considering the ecological impact, opting for energy efficiency will override the concerns to design better.
The three main concerns while designing are, the materials used for construction, the energy efficiency of the building, and the location of the building. Since sustainability is being practiced on a large scale now, the need for eco-friendly and green architecture has increased.
Vertical forests, vertical farmlands, green walls, green roofs are being designed to minimize the ecological impact and reduce the emission of CO2.
Smart cities have been emerging that aim to make more efficient use of resources, lowers our energy consumption for maximum efficiency. With a greater focus on renewable energy, transportation solutions, smart energy management systems, smart city development will help architects to make more efficient use of technology. Big data is essential to understand how various aspects of infrastructure interact with each other.
VR and Immersive Technology
Virtual Reality technology can transform the way we look at a structure from designing to execution to the final product. It has already transformed the engineering and architectural industry and has been a huge leap in the conceptual stage.
Another technology that will flourish in the coming years is 3D printing. The large scale of 3D printing can accomplish what could not be done till now; the visualization process of a project in a fast and articulated capacity. It will also help in analyzing the actual limits of the design and help solve the structural resilience and material problems that might occur while construction.
Vertical Cities
With increasing population and limiting resources, there is a need for going vertical in every aspect of life. Vertical cities are being built in metropolises to counteract the need for more space and more infrastructures. Hence, public open spaces and green spaces are decreasing in number.
To counteract this, buildings are being designed with green roofs, green walls, vertical farms, and vertical forests. To recreate the urban fabric, and connect it with nature, architects need to rethink the concept of inculcating agriculture into our daily lives.
Vertical cities might take the high-rise urban dwelling to a completely new level; not only with residential and commercial infrastructure but can turn them into multi-tier communities.
Penda designed the Farmhouse as a way to reconnect the people with agriculture by developing a concept of modular housing where people can produce their food by vertical farming. The prefabricated modules of the frames are made from Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) as means to create a sustainable living space.
Parametric Architecture
Parametric design is based on algorithmic thinking that enables the expression of parameters with visual coding tools to design complex and adaptive structures. Parametrics can be used in the designing of buildings as well as product designing.
The computational design of the 3D modeling software allows you to define the shape of the structure while operating the user interface. Programming has become the second language of architecture and will flourish more in the upcoming years to create new contemporary forms.
Besides parametric architecture, robotic construction will drastically change the architecture industry. Assisted robots where robots and humans work together to direct the construction process will soon be a primary source of productivity.
The future of architecture will shape the world into a more environmentally positive experience along with a hope to protect the environment and climate. A holistic approach to significantly reduce the impact on the ecosystem will prevail in architecture.
The increasing infrastructure will address not only the user’s needs but will also aim to incorporate a habitual space to share palpable values in the neighborhood. With new technologies emerging, it is possible to design a wide range of services for large developments.
