2016 is still young, but the trends for the year are evident to anyone that has been following the world of architecture. As climate change continues to weigh down on the world, and social structures continue to shift, architecture is changing as well to accommodate these new needs. Here are just a few of the top architecture trends for 2016.
Joint Towers
Instead of just building tower complexes, it seems architects are linking together their towers via some type of ‘bridge’. For example, the roof top terrace might have a bridge filled with greenery that crosses over to the tower next door. In London, India, and Paris some new building proposals even include swimming pools. Essentially, the design maximises the empty roof top space, to turn it into an entertainment centre, or mile-wide park system. Just don’t look down.
The New Nuclear Household
In many cultures all over the world, the nuclear family is pretty much a thing of the past, which means that architects need to stop building homes with the premise of living room, dining room, bedroom, bathroom etc. New groups of people and lifestyles are emerging, and spaces need to accommodate these. Communal spaces in apartment buildings are one way to do this, as are larger shared spaces that have their own partial walls, sliding partitions, and private nooks. Even for the “typical” family, more and more focus is being placed on creating a hub which incorporates the kitchen, living, and dining space into one.
Floating Homes
Not simply a yacht, floating homes are exactly what they sound like. This has been a popular idea in Asian culture in places such as Thailand, but it is becoming more mainstream, as architects are beginning to think about how they can capitalise on space on the water. There are two reasons for this; there’s not much building space left, and global warming is increasing the threat of rising waters. Creating a colony of floating homes that line a canal, lake or river is not quite as far-fetched as it seems.
Crowd Funded Projects
In today’s social media-obsessed world, it should come as little surprise that architects are getting into the joy of creating online as well. Many architects with what seem like outlandish ideas are now using Kickstarter to get the support they need. It seems to be working, as massive architectural feats are being accomplished across the world. In 2011, a huge pool was proposed, floating in the Hudson River, which would filter the river water and providing a swimming facility. In Rotterdam, the ZUS studio has just completed a pedestrian bridge that runs across roads, railways, and even the floor of a building to create a path that links up three parts of the city. Expect more and more projects to come to life in this manner.