The beauty of architecture lies in its scope of creativity. Only creativity can turn an establishment into aesthetic. Forms of architecture are not limiting the construction methods or materials anymore. Anything can inspire architecture, be it natural phenomena or hi-tech engineering. Further, standout shapes and materials, pastels, vintage designs, holographic effects, vibrant gradients, etc are changing the definition of aesthetic over time. Moreover, unexpected materials are painting a creative and absorbing future of design. Let’s take a look at the material trends of the year.
Reclaimed Wood
The list of current material trends is incomplete without woods. Architects look up to wood-based products for beautification and environmental reason. Reclaimed woods are mostly timbers and decking rescued from old barns, warehouses or factories. Sometimes they come from the coal mine, wine barrels or boxcars too. Unlike other materials, the appeal of these woods does not depend on their looks. Reclaimed woods come with their unique beauty with an interesting history.
Accordingly, reclaimed woods has its own charm. Since they are not farm-grown it’s more environment-friendly. Although it came from a tree still it is better than chopping off another one. Also, it has a story and character. They cannot be fabricated. Besides, there are many species of woods that are no longer available. But those rare species are available in reclaimed woods. Hence, reclaimed woods serve the purpose of beauty without causing any more damages to the environment. It is somewhat similar to recycling. Be it the floor, walls or furniture, everything can be made out of reclaimed woods. They add a vintage flavor to the product thus making the reclaimed wood architect’s pick.
Bioplastic from Algae
Plastics are threatening the well-being of the planet but we still can’t avoid them. Public authorities are taking measurements for eliminating plastics from daily life. Metals, woods, and paper to some extent replaced them but not entirely. A new replacement of plastic came up when Dutch designer Eric Klarenbeek and Maartje Dros created a bioplastic from algae. The result of their 3 years of effort finally got recognition. Eventually, bioplastics became the savior. The algae polymer can be used in making everything that is made of plastics.
The bioplastic made from algae captured the attention of the architects. These are not harming the environment like oil-plastics. Therefore an eco-friendly solution entered the scenario of designing. Bioplastics are used to make daily necessities starting from simple bottles and bins to bags and gadget covers. Bioplastics do not contribute to global warming and serve the purpose of synthetic plastic. Thus, they made a place in the list of trending material of the year.
Photovoltaic Glass
Construction sites are investing in Photovoltaic Glass. The beauty of this glass lies in its capacity to transfer the light into electricity. Think about a building that is capable of making the required amount of itself from its exterior. The PV glass transparent semi-conductor based PV cells. In other words, these glasses contain the solar cell. The solar cell is placed in between the sheet of glasses. They are transparent yet effective.
The construction technology is growing fast. With the introduction of smart buildings and artificial intelligence, the storyline of construction is changing. The photovoltaic glass is another step towards the IT Age. Engineers and architects welcomed the PV glass with open arms. By using PV glass a green building without compromising the beauty is possible. PV glass can decrease the consumption of energy by 40%. This is more beneficial than the Solar cells. While solar cells are capable of 10% Internal rate of return (IRR), the PV glass can achieve up to 65%. The best thing is, all these come without compromising the safety. It generates free and clean energy with the most stringent safety standards.
Biomimetic Insulation
Building insulations are necessary objects for construction. Basically, they are any objects that are used for the purpose of insulation in a building. The thermal purpose is major among them. Thermal insulations are necessary for achieving thermal control, especially in the cold countries. The insulation materials are mostly made of cellulose, glass wool, polystyrene, urethane foam etc. All these materials are harmful to the environment. They create pollutants that destroy the nature. They are harmful yet necessary. The answer for building a heat resistant or sound resistant with synthetic insulation materials is biomimetic insulations.
Biomimetic insulations are organic and harmless. They do not release harmful particles like CFC, CO2, etc. The Biomimetic insulations are mostly made from animals. Also, some of them are made from organic wastes like banana fiber, mushrooms, etc. They work just as efficiently as the synthetic insulations without causing damages to nature. Therefore, biomimetic insulations successfully draw the attention of engineers and architects towards them. Biomimetic insulations became the pick of those who care for the environment.
Flying Robots
Zoological biomimicry is inspiring the robust growth of robotics and drone technology. A few decades ago no one thought about flying robots can save efforts. And a few years ago no one imagines construction work can use drones. But the technology never fails to surprise us. With the growth of artificial intelligence and information technology, we see new miracles every day. Flying robots are one of those gifts.
Using drones in construction can save time and energy in an effective way. Real-time monitoring and keeping tracks of progress are easier with drones. Flying robots can reach the inaccessible places. They are capable of overcoming the drawbacks of humans. Capturing every angle, gathering up all the important data, etc are possible with flying robots. Further, construction sites are accident prone. All these are possible without risking any lives.
Say yes to a safe and eco-friendly tomorrow
Over the years, environmentalists are blaming technology for destruction of nature. However, these material trends turned the scene upside down. Now the technology is not destroying nature. Rather it is showing a way for an eco-friendly tomorrow. Artificial intelligence is no longer detaching the humans from society. They are connecting the people with the environment. The field of architecture is not lagging behind either.