The past twenty years has been an important period for the field of architectural design. The movement towards computers that began in the previous two decades has taken over the industry. There are many changes in materials used and design forms. But there has also been a shift in philosophy. These developments have made the architectural design field more dynamic now than they have been at any point in the industry’s history.

Sustainability

Sustainability is arguably the most important philosophical shift in architectural design. Professionals attempt to integrate sustainability into nearly every aspect of the building process. In some instances, this need is implemented by law. A myriad of laws regarding materials usage and environmental impact have been established throughout the United States over the past few decades.

Builders have to make sure that they are keeping water usage as low as possible. They can only build in certain areas and must take into account the effects of their structure on erosion and groundwater. These government restrictions have worked closely with the restrictions that companies have placed on themselves. Companies have made an effort to use less waste and to become carbon neutral.

Recycling has become standard in practically all new home construction and design. There are more and more companies that take advantage of biodegradable materials, composting, and other beneficial practices.

According to Bennet Schwartz Sydney, sustainable companies are introducing more deals and negotiated contracts that allow builders and architectural designers to purchase their material in bulk. Sustainable design and construction is becoming cheaper every year.

Carbon fiber

The past two decades have seen dozens of developments in the materials used to construct homes. Wood has made a comeback in the building of homes. It is often sustainably harvested and can be put in much more cheaply than its alternatives. There is also a growing understanding of the importance of carbon fiber in home construction.

Carbon fiber is a relatively new material that uses relatives of graphite to strengthen and modernize homes. This material is practically fireproof and can be some of the strongest synthetic material on the planet when utilized properly. It is much less heavy than metal and can avoid the issues that metal construction has. Many houses with metal construction have problems with static electricity. They can also greatly reduce the effectiveness of electronic devices because they can act as Faraday cages.

Bennet Schwartz Sydney argues that carbon fiber avoids practically all of these issues. The greatest barrier to using carbon fiber in more and more homes is price. Every year, carbon fiber prices decrease. Houses are able to use more and more carbon fiber in their designs because they know they will be able to easily replace the material if it becomes damaged or needs work. Carbon fiber also works alongside the other goal of sustainable design. It is a natural substance which does not leech any chemicals into the environment and is relatively light on carbon needs for manufacturing and distribution.

A nod towards energy

Energy considerations are key to today’s homes. Nearly every homeowner has some understanding of the way their homes use power. They want to mitigate that usage wherever possible. New homes have a number of architectural features that help keep energy costs low. Many make use of passive solar concepts. They have wide, sloping roofs that provide shade at critical points. Some homes are oriented in such a way as to minimize the amount of light coming in at important times. They may be built in a particular orientation to keep heating and cooling costs down as well.

In addition to these passive applications, there are also active architectural design concepts that one can utilize as well. One of these is alternative forms of energy. More and more homes built today are implementing aspects of green energy into their designs. They are often built along with solar panels and wind turbines. These generators are placed on a house for maximum efficiency. They are connected to the house and the power grid. On sunny, windy days, these homes are able to sell a significant amount of energy back to the power company. In addition, there are geothermal systems which use heat from the earth to warm water and to aid with the HVAC system.

Any architectural design professional wanting to work today needs to stay up to date on all of the latest trends and developments. They need to become familiar with the most modern technological applications. Designers need to know about the nature of solar power and the importance of sustainability. They also need to be familiar with all of the materials that are used today. This familiarity will help a design professional gain more clients and remain successful over the next decade and beyond.