With the current rate of urbanization, land in many major cities becomes limited and therefore expensive to buy. However, often an urban grid includes many under-utilized extra-small lots that could increase the supply of affordable housing for a diverse range of lifestyles, if approached in a creative way. Seeking to unlock the development potential of such tiny vacant sites, architects design functional and flexible skinny houses that overcome the constraints of the small plots of land they are built on.

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One of the oldest building materials known to man, bricks are perceived today in a new light. Architects take this humble and eco-friendly material to create a new contemporary aesthetics. Visually, intricate brickwork produces an ever-changing geometric pattern of light and shadow on the walls and floors. Simultaneously, perforated brick façades make the building more sustainable and energy-efficient, as they allow air flow in and out to regulate temperature within the home keeping harsh sunlight, noise and dust from entering the living spaces.
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The ski chalet is an architectural typology seemingly untouched by time – and for good reason. Originally little more than simple converted barns, these archetypal structures feature gabled roofs to keep the right amount of insulating snow on roofs, while their interiors are kept minimal to be easily transformed for people or supplies. Certain features, like wood finishing or a fireplace seem to be integral parts of the typology. However, modern architects do their best to take the traditional alpine lodge into the new era blending elements of many architectural styles to create something that is uniquely contemporary.

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Over time, buildings often stray from their original programs and develop lives of their own. It is only natural, that garage conversions abound in areas where real estate is expensive. Plus, reuse, preservation, and renovation of the existing building instead of demolition and rebuilding a new house seems to be the most sustainable approach to architecture.

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Despite coordinated efforts to prevent and end homelessness across the world, there is still not enough support for this extremely vulnerable population even in the developed countries. In the cities, homeless people often have to live in unsheltered locations, such as tents, cars, or sidewalks. Designers and architects collaborate with social workers and activists to develop emergency shelters and transitional housing programs, aiming to empower the homeless to break the circle of poverty.

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Just like an eloquent pause in a conversation, thoughtfully placed negative space in architecture can play a key role in the overall functionality of a space. Without it, buildings would have no rhyme and, often, identity. When it comes to the structure and layout of a building, negative space isn’t always a negative thing.

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You can never get enough of compact prefabricated cabins. Factory-made homes have been a major trend lately, in the times of coronavirus crisis with all its social distancing limitations. Reducing damage to the site and the carbon footprint to a minimum, these prefabricated structures also minimize building time and make a great sustainable choice for construction in remote places.

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Raw concrete is perceived by many as a too cold and uninviting material for home interior. However, subtle touches of its brutalist aesthetics can help create a feeling of a trendy loft-like space. Concrete lighting fixtures can become such a statement detail shedding some warmth and glow to your place. These designs may seem inconspicuous, but they do feature some unusual details that won’t remain unnoticed.

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Apart from its functionality, concrete has been appreciated by designers and artists for its brutalist aesthetics that can present itself in many guises. The material can take the shape and texture of whatever surface it is cast against, offering the potential to create elegant straight lines or complex geometries. The surface of exposed concrete inspires designers of various disciplines to replicate it in totally new and unexpected ways.

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Natural world is a constant inspiration for architects. A honeycomb design with its perfectly symmetrical hexagonal pattern is appealing to most people thanks to the associations with the sweetness of honey and happy buzz of Nature. Architects use its crystallized yet organic appearance to create iconic façades for the buildings, no matter what their application is.

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