There have been a lot of different trends in architecture, and all of them have been revolutionary in their way. The vast, awe-inspiring flying buttress of the gothic period, the colours of romanticism, and the environmental awareness of the past decade – they have all been defining features of their time.

The environmentalist and “green” movement has been on the rise since the early 2000s and has reached its pique in the past decade. There have been numerous different innovations in the field of architecture; most of them are cantered on improving the way we live.

Pollution, power consumption, and habitat destruction are all severe issues that will ultimately leave us extinct. Architecture works to battle these issues by the green architectural movement, which utilizes environmentally-friendly solutions.

Some of the most exciting solutions architects have included within their worksheets in the past decade are.

Renewable Energy Systems

Renewable energy has been a topic of discussion ever since its introduction many years ago. Can we genuinely produce clean energy and fulfil all of our energy consumption needs? The short answer to this question is yes; we can!

The UK is currently leading the world in renewable energy. The UK is very windy, making it ideal for wind-powered turbines. These turbines harness the power of the wind to produce clean, renewable energy.

But the wind is not the be all end all of the renewable energy. Architects have been including miniature turbines and large solar panels in their designs, to power the buildings in question. It’s an excellent solution to a never more significant problem.

Did you know that a lot of renewable energy upgrades might even qualify you for specific tax credits, deductions, and other incentives? You may need a tax calculator to determine the impact of those tax incentives. Ultimately, you're more than likely in for hefty savings.

Environmentally Friendly Building Material

It’s not a surprise that refining metals, producing bricks, and making other building materials is significantly impacting our environment in a negative way. The sheer amount of energy that is needed to produce building materials is a pollutant in itself.

When we’re thinking of environmentally friendly materials, the first thing that pops into mind is stone. Stone can be refined into anything we like; it’s sturdy and reliable. But the thought process doesn’t end there.

Architects have been using environmentally friendly materials produced by companies that minimize the pollution process. We can’t make the best sofa in the world out of sand and stone, but we can utilize the services of a green company that minimizes pollution.

Storm and Rain Management Systems

This is one of the newer additions to the environmentally friendly architecture movement and deals with water. When water falls onto a building or the sidewalk, it can create dangerous puddles, nasty mud, and generally winds up unused and as a nuisance.

Storm and Rain management systems that are being integrated within ambitious buildings are revolutionizing the way we use this natural occurrence to the best of our ability. Rain collection helps preserve rainfall, and further, send it to a water treatment plant.

It not only preserves our natural resources, but it also recycles otherwise hazardous materials into one of nature’s most precious resources. Not that water is dangerous in itself, but a slippery sidewalk surely is.

Landscape Integration

This might change the way we view cities and live in general. In the past, if a patch of nature has been destined to become a buzzing new city, it would be bulldozed to the ground, covered with a concrete sarcophagus, and built upon.

The new landscape integration movement takes a different approach to this issue. Instead of basing the nature around us, we’re going to base our needs around us. The new change in architecture is going to integrate housing and buildings with minimal disturbance of the nature around us.

It also has innumerable health benefits. Forests are known to help with many cardiological and pulmonological issues, and having more of them in our surrounding area is sure to improve our health.

Reforesting

The modern cityscape is pretty boring and pretty depressing, especially when colour is concerned. No one is a fan of a concrete grey cityscape, and with all of the cars around, it can get tough to breathe. Emissions are being cut down every day by stricter regulations, but how do we tackle the greyness of the everyday cityscape?

Reforestation, of course! Many new buildings and areas are being projected to reserve as much nature as possible. Existing neighbourhoods and cities are going to get many more trees and urban parks, as current foresting areas have become a priority for most cities. Trees don’t just produce oxygen; they take out all the harmful particulates commonly found in the air.

We’re not only going to be way healthier, but we’re also going to see a greener, more natural cityscape in the future.

Building Recycling Centres

Recycling has been a big part of life ever since the ecological movement has garnered so much attention and clout. Recycling centres are all around us, but sometimes we don’t have the option to recycle our trash.

Well, that’s going to change pretty soon, though, as many new buildings come with mini recycling centres or hubs built into them. These are the places where all of your recyclables will go to later be collected by a recycling company and made into fun new things.

Who knows what the future holds for this new feature of our lives. Two garbage shoots, two garbage disposal units? The possibilities are endless. Such technology is in its infancy and is only expected to rise in popularity and sophistication in the following years.

Vertical Gardens

These magnificent gardens might not help us in the long run when it comes to conserving nature, but it makes for some exciting and unique landmarks.

Vertical gardens are blocks of nature that we’re going to see all around our towns. They’re gorgeous sights and make for some pretty picturesque opportunities.

Vertical gardens are significant when it comes to raising awareness in the general populace. One of the most popular vertical gardens is located in Madrid, Spain. Madrid is a gorgeous city with a rich history, but it’s very Gray in its colour palette.

The vertical garden reminds Spain's residents that there is more to cities than just concrete and asphalt.

Spreading awareness in this way is going to pave the way for more radical environmentalist changes to existing cityscapes.

Sustainable Design

Sustainable design is all about durability. Passive strategies to sustainable design are cantered on the building itself. It considers everything from climate, climate change, the sun’s orientation, to improve the living quality of the resident, ultimately connecting them with nature.

By using nature’s resources and natural occurrences, sustainable design is going to change the way we live. Natural ventilation, heat, and cold preservation and emission is going to drastically cut down on how much power we need to live a happy life.

The next time you’re going to turn up the thermostat, consider if your windows are open. The next time you’re going to turn on any applicant, find a more natural, sustainable solution.

If there are no natural solutions available, don’t fret! You can still be green while using applicants, as architects have been integrating greener appliances into their buildings.

The environment is fully protected without hindering any of your needs. Efficient HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems are made to provide the most bang for both your and nature’s buck.

Improved Windows and Roofs

One of the essential parts of sustainable design is windows and roofs, to which we have dedicated a whole solution. Improving ceilings and windows has quite a lot of benefits that you might not even consider when you’re thinking about them.

Windows and roofs have historically been constructed out of wood, which is an excellent thermal insulator but is a little bit outdated. High-quality, environmentally friendly ABS plastic is the future and is much better of thermal insulation than people might think.

It is in every way superior to wood and will keep your house warm in winter while keeping it cold in the summer. It’s the be-all-end-all of sustainable, smart building design.

Conclusion

It’s essential to think about our environment when we’re building up our future. If we don’t think about our environment, environmental disasters, climate change, and mass extinction are going to be a massive issue.

Luckily, we’ve become much more environmentally aware in the past couple of years. Architectural trends are going to revolutionize the way we live and the way we see our cities.

These solutions are only evolving, and are helping us live life to the fullest without hindering our daily comforts in the slightest. Who knows what the future holds for environmentally friendly architecture?