If anything shows the history and evolution of civilizations, it would undoubtedly bearchitecture:buildings, monuments and houses and the materials and techniques used to construct them. Buildings change with the passing of time. Comfort for the citizens that use them has been what determines these changes. However, for some time now, other factors have intervened, such as sustainability and respect for the environment.

During the past few years, advances in construction and usabilityhave been implemented in avant-garde cities like Dubai, where an office building was constructed in just two weeks with 3D printing technology, which is gradually making its way to the rest of the world. We look forward to embracing new trends in building that await us in the future.

Eco friendly

This aspect is probably the main challenge in construction. Nowadays, contamination, climate change, etc. are the main problems on a global level, and any company that makes changes to landscapes is responsible for taking these problems into account. Saving energy, recycling and durability of materials, and regulation and development of renewable energies using solar panels, wind power generators, biogas or purification and re-use of water are all on the list of things to doin construction.

Steel Framing

During the past few months, this innovative building system has been the choice for various construction companies. Steel framingis a building technique that creates a structure of cold-rolled galvanized steel sheets that make up the skeleton frame of the building. In addition to giving the building a strong infrastructure, steel is a material with environmental benefits due to its low corrosion and high durability, and it is easy to recycle.

3D Printing

As in the case of Dubai mentioned above, 3D printing is poised to revolutionize the construction industry. Although some aspects still may need some work, especially in the quality of the final result, there are already projects that opt for futuristic construction. Advantages of 3D printing include facilitating the construction of models with higher precision, integrating sustainable materials like bioplastics, and reducing the need for human labor.

Passive Systems

Passive systems allow for efficiency in energy consumption by maximizing the use of the building’s surrounding natural sources. It is a kind of architectural Aikido in construction that uses techniques, such as optimal orientation to let in natural light for as many hours as possible during the day, working with site landforms for a better distribution of space, or using natural ventilation systems, and many other techniques.

Modular structures

The main advantage of modular structures is to be able to build on practically any surface. Build the unbuildable. As these buildings are assembled through prefabricated cubicles or modules, they can be set up on almost any surface, at a low cost and in very little time. The modules can be put together like puzzle pieces. Although they have only been used in small projects until now, these techniques are already being considered for more ambitious plans, such as a football staduim for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

In addition to techniques directly related to construction, buildings of the future integrate other aspects like automation or Internet for everyone. Innovation is inherent in construction, and even if we don’t know exactly what is yet to come, we can be sure that any novelty must look to create a more habitable planet, both indoors and out, but more importantly, outdoors.