The Future of Architecture: 7 Challenges and Trends
Three architects fill us in on the big questions that will challenge the industry in the coming years
Where will architecture take us in the coming years? Which trends will influence the housing construction sector? We posed these questions to Gonzalo Pardo of Spain-based Gon Architects, an associate professor of architectural projects at the Technical University of Madrid; Guillermo López, from MAIO architecture studio, with offices in New York and Barcelona; and architect Manuela Fernández Langenegger from Arnouva Elanández, based in Milan, Italy. They talked to us about sustainability, inclusivity and public space.
Today, we see an increasing awareness of building techniques. “We think about an architectural project from a thermodynamic point of view more often, seeking to reduce energy consumption,” says Pardo.
New buildings will incorporate water-saving systems, energy-efficient appliances and better insulation. “Strategies to do with the understanding of primitive factors, such as sunlight and wind direction, will be taken into account,” says Pardo. All of this will be done in order to reduce the carbon footprint of our buildings.
New buildings will incorporate water-saving systems, energy-efficient appliances and better insulation. “Strategies to do with the understanding of primitive factors, such as sunlight and wind direction, will be taken into account,” says Pardo. All of this will be done in order to reduce the carbon footprint of our buildings.
2. Recycling and reusing: cradle-to-cradle design
The principles of the circular economy are also starting to be implemented extensively in architecture. The aim is to decrease the environmental impact of building: construction and demolition produce between one-third and one-half of the solid waste of developed countries.
The principles of the circular economy are also starting to be implemented extensively in architecture. The aim is to decrease the environmental impact of building: construction and demolition produce between one-third and one-half of the solid waste of developed countries.
Up until now, the model followed in construction was a linear one: produce, build, use and throw away/demolish. This meant extensive energy and natural-resource consumption, and the production of massive amounts of waste.
The circular economy operates on “a model based on cradle-to-cradle (C2C) design,” says Pardo. “The base principle of this model is taking advantage of and reusing everything that is considered waste, and being efficient with resources in all phases of construction.”
The circular economy operates on “a model based on cradle-to-cradle (C2C) design,” says Pardo. “The base principle of this model is taking advantage of and reusing everything that is considered waste, and being efficient with resources in all phases of construction.”
Many manufacturers already offer building materials with a circular life cycle: finishes or coatings made out of recycled materials, such as tyres or glass; insulation panels made of crushed cork waste; and materials made of waste cellulose from the paper industry.
Building with natural materials such as straw or adobe also generates less waste because these can be recycled and reused, which means less consumption of energy and resources.
What is Passivhaus Design all About?
Building with natural materials such as straw or adobe also generates less waste because these can be recycled and reused, which means less consumption of energy and resources.
What is Passivhaus Design all About?
3. Preferring renovation over demolition
Old or disused buildings can be turned into avant-garde structures, given new life or transformed into contemporary homes. This year we are seeing the principles of recycling applying more and more to building rehabilitation.
“Rehabilitation policies gained momentum as a result of the economic crisis,” says Pardo. “The reason is financial in many cases: instead of buying a new house, people have opted to renovate the one they already have.”
Old or disused buildings can be turned into avant-garde structures, given new life or transformed into contemporary homes. This year we are seeing the principles of recycling applying more and more to building rehabilitation.
“Rehabilitation policies gained momentum as a result of the economic crisis,” says Pardo. “The reason is financial in many cases: instead of buying a new house, people have opted to renovate the one they already have.”
In a society used to destroying rather than preserving or transforming, this change of mentality entails a double challenge for architects, since the recycling of spaces implies not only conservation and renovation work based on respect for tradition, but adding new value to buildings and adapting them to contemporary needs.
Manuela Fernández Langenegger of Arnouva Elanández, a Milan-based architect who has also lived in Stuttgart, Germany, for several years, defines renovation as “a way to approach construction from a more ecological and sustainable point of view”.
“There isn’t much space left, and we are becoming increasingly aware of how precious a piece of land without buildings is,” she says. “In Germany, for example, the direction is to make an already-built space more dense, changing the parameters of buildable space, re-qualifying spaces or creating more houses of smaller dimensions. That is, making cities more dense rather than expanding them.”
“There isn’t much space left, and we are becoming increasingly aware of how precious a piece of land without buildings is,” she says. “In Germany, for example, the direction is to make an already-built space more dense, changing the parameters of buildable space, re-qualifying spaces or creating more houses of smaller dimensions. That is, making cities more dense rather than expanding them.”
4. Focus on the local: a return to the vernacular
Besides industrial materials and technology, building techniques based on local traditions and resources have become increasingly prominent. “Chefs talk about ‘kilometre zero’ – the concept of purchasing ingredients directly from producers within a radius of less than 100 kilometres – and architects have come up with their own interpretation of it. Today it’s unthinkable to propose a project that does not take into account the origin of materials and the ecological future of the site over the medium- and long-terms,” says Pardo.
Besides industrial materials and technology, building techniques based on local traditions and resources have become increasingly prominent. “Chefs talk about ‘kilometre zero’ – the concept of purchasing ingredients directly from producers within a radius of less than 100 kilometres – and architects have come up with their own interpretation of it. Today it’s unthinkable to propose a project that does not take into account the origin of materials and the ecological future of the site over the medium- and long-terms,” says Pardo.
“This return to tradition and local resources has been mainly motivated by the economic crisis,” says Langenegger. “Also, from another point of view, it has arisen as a reaction to globalisation.”
5. Inclusive architecture
Architecture should have a social function, adapting to everyone’s needs. “Among the youngest architects, there is a major awareness of problems facing the elderly,” says Pardo. “Old age, reduced mobility, and factors such as vision loss or loneliness, for example, are offering new challenges for architecture.”
How Do You Design for an Ageing Population?
Architecture should have a social function, adapting to everyone’s needs. “Among the youngest architects, there is a major awareness of problems facing the elderly,” says Pardo. “Old age, reduced mobility, and factors such as vision loss or loneliness, for example, are offering new challenges for architecture.”
How Do You Design for an Ageing Population?
Inclusive architecture means more than universal accessibility and the elimination of architectural barriers. It means designing friendly environments that can adapt to the various needs and limitations a person may experience. To do this, it’s necessary to design different spaces for adults, seniors, mothers, babies and people with disabilities, as well as spaces that encourage interaction.
6. Emotional architecture and valuing quality over quantity
The new luxury in architecture will be the quality of the space, rather than the floor area. Due to the rising cost of housing and the increasing tendency for people to live in large cities, residential architecture must provide small-scale spatial solutions for small budgets. “Traditionally, luxury has been linked to the material aspect of architecture. Luckily, this concept has been shifting towards other variables that have more to do with what is atmospheric, spatial, flexible and perfectable,” says Pardo.
The new luxury in architecture will be the quality of the space, rather than the floor area. Due to the rising cost of housing and the increasing tendency for people to live in large cities, residential architecture must provide small-scale spatial solutions for small budgets. “Traditionally, luxury has been linked to the material aspect of architecture. Luckily, this concept has been shifting towards other variables that have more to do with what is atmospheric, spatial, flexible and perfectable,” says Pardo.
The lifestyle of the younger generations, who value versatility and experiences, will influence architecture to create transformable open spaces that can be adapted to different life situations. In turn, this will create comfortable environments. This means that small houses can be big in comfort and functionality.
The Rise of Architecture That is Good for You: Biophilic Design
The Rise of Architecture That is Good for You: Biophilic Design
7. Recovering public spaces
The 20th century developed cities centred on the personal car. In the 21st century, however, there is a push towards an era of the recovery of public space. “We can see this in many cities’ new transportation policies: the car is being banished in favour of recovering public spaces for people,” says Pardo.
“Cultural, social and technological changes, as well as those related to advances in infrastructure and transportation, are inviting us to rethink the way in which cities are developed, and to propose new responses based on a pragmatic analysis while avoiding clichés,” says Guillermo López, architect and co-founder of Spain- and USA-based MAIO architecture studio.
The 20th century developed cities centred on the personal car. In the 21st century, however, there is a push towards an era of the recovery of public space. “We can see this in many cities’ new transportation policies: the car is being banished in favour of recovering public spaces for people,” says Pardo.
“Cultural, social and technological changes, as well as those related to advances in infrastructure and transportation, are inviting us to rethink the way in which cities are developed, and to propose new responses based on a pragmatic analysis while avoiding clichés,” says Guillermo López, architect and co-founder of Spain- and USA-based MAIO architecture studio.
“More and more buildings are being designed with common spaces and collective domestic services, such as kitchens, daycare centres, laundry rooms, et cetera,” says López. “These models seek to establish relationships between neighbours and promote communication, socialisation and increasingly profitable space.”
The challenge for architecture lies in creating urban spaces for coexistence and leisure where one can walk, play or simply enjoy the open air.
Tell us
Which of these seven principles would you like to see embraced in today’s architecture? Tell us in the Comments, like and share this story, save the images and join the conversation.
The challenge for architecture lies in creating urban spaces for coexistence and leisure where one can walk, play or simply enjoy the open air.
Tell us
Which of these seven principles would you like to see embraced in today’s architecture? Tell us in the Comments, like and share this story, save the images and join the conversation.
Climate change is currently one of the most interesting and pressing challenges for society and, of course, for architecture.
New European guidelines mandate that all homes built in Europe after 2020 consume almost zero energy. “Although architecture got on the green bandwagon late, measures seeking to make it a sustainable part of society are now being put into place,” says Pardo.
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