New Technology Is Changing The Face Of Construction And Interior Design
Photo by Stephan Bechert on Unsplash
The smart home market is estimated to reach $16.4 billion dollars by the end of this year, with research conducted by Swedish research firm, Berg Insight, indicating that in some highly industrialized countries, over 60 million homes will qualify as ‘smart’ by 2022. From cameras that let us keep an eye on our pets while we're burning the midnight oil at the office to entertainment systems that connect up from room to room and can be programmed on a mobile device, technology will be making our lives easier, cooler, and more design-centered. For homeowners wishing to take the leap beyond the addition of Siri to their living spaces, the question of construction and design comes to the fore. What major forces will be shaping the way people build and style their homes in the near future?
Making The Most Of Space
The Baitasi House of the Future is showing the full extent to which architects may soon be experiencing a major paradigm shift in the way they plan living spaces. This house, located in a neighborhood in Beijing known for its narrow alleys and small homes, is built on a tiny plot that was previously home to a 30m² house and 80m² courtyard. Today, a smart device controls furniture in the bedroom, hiding beds away so that the space can be turned into a home office. The walls themselves move, enabling dwellers to live in a flexible, personalized space that serves them instead of forcing them to adapt to rigid surroundings.
Integrated Entertainment And Security Systems
Imagine one master control that allows you to pre-determine (or remotely control) everything from the sound played in each room to the programme played by a TV, the number of speakers that should play at a given time (and their volume), or even the alarm. The modern penchant for connection is extending into entertainment and security systems at a fast pace, indicating the extent to which cybersecurity experts and entertainment/interior designs will have to work together more closely. Home automation may make the designer life more accessible to the average home dweller, but creating unhackable home security and entertainment systems will need to be a priority. Teams will have to work on features such as WPA2 wireless encryption as much as they will on seamless installation and integration of TVs, speakers and computers.
Smart Sustainability
Sustainability these days means much more than relying on efficient energy systems or lowering water consumption through programmed technology. Across the globe, we are seeing pretty amazing exponents of cutting-edge architecture, with some houses undergoing a constant state of ultra-slow rotation so as to make the most of the sun’s powerful rays. The use of this rotational system, combined with specific building and insulation materials, can cut down electricity costs by almost 70%. The house essentially rotates on its own axis with a movement that is imperceptible to dwellers and only fully appreciated when filmed and placed on fast-forward.
Changing spaces, integrated entertainment, and innovative ways of harnessing natural energy are just three ways in which architects and designers can embrace the best that technology can offer. There are many more - including the use of electronic louvres that rotate in line with the sun, or programmable underfloor heating systems that can be controlled from any smartphone anywhere in the world. Times are changing, but for architects, builders and designers who are ready to take the leap, the future is more exciting and sustainable than ever.