2015 trends in architecture

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2015 trends in architecture, urban planning and real estate By Felino A. Palafox Jr. No one can accurately predict the future, but in our professions where we plan, design, and engineer future communities and cities, we are always on the lookout for the latest innovations that will propel our professions and designs forward. Here are our expected and continued global trends in architecture, planning, and design: Focus on the behavior of Millennials and Baby Boomers Almost all major businesses are looking thoroughly into the preferences and behavior of these two generations as they become the major consumers and users of new spaces. These two generations may present, at first glace, unequal and diverse requirements, but essentially, their needs and preferences are quite similar. Today’s millennial generation have been raised into adulthood by the baby boomer generation, so things like economic mobility, continuing education, preferences for urban-like places, use of public transit, and prime modes of transportation like walking and biking have all been observed in both generations, which will continue to influence how the built environment is planned and designed. Multi-family housing construction More people (especially those from the millennial generation) are moving into the city because of their proximity to their places of work all around the world. And these have propelled architects and planners to design developments that would answer the projected saturation of the housing market. A direct result of the changing family size and dynamics have spurred developments in multifamily housing in the Philippines. Multifamily housing ranges from low-rise apartments to high-rise condominiums, and they will continue to be a popular choice for consumers in the next decade. FUTURE TRENDS IN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT | 1

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Page 1: 2015 Trends in Architecture

2015 trends in architecture, urban planning and real estateBy Felino A. Palafox Jr.

No one can accurately predict the future, but in our professions where we plan, design, and engineer future communities and cities, we are always on the lookout for the latest innovations that will propel our professions and designs forward.

Here are our expected and continued global trends in architecture, planning, and design:Focus on the behavior of Millennials and Baby Boomers

Almost all major businesses are looking thoroughly into the preferences and behavior of these two generations as they become the major consumers and users of new spaces. These two generations may present, at first glace, unequal and diverse requirements, but essentially, their needs and preferences are quite similar. Today’s millennial generation have been raised into adulthood by the baby boomer generation, so things like economic mobility, continuing education, preferences for urban-like places, use of public transit, and prime modes of transportation like walking and biking have all been observed in both generations, which will continue to influence how the built environment is planned and designed.

Multi-family housing constructionMore people (especially those from the millennial generation) are moving into the city because of their proximity to their places of work all around the world. And these have propelled architects and planners to design developments that would answer the projected saturation of the housing market. A direct result of the changing family size and dynamics have spurred developments in multifamily housing in the Philippines. Multifamily housing ranges from low-rise apartments to high-rise condominiums, and they will continue to be a popular choice for consumers in the next decade.

Mixed uses and vertical, compact developments will continue to increase economic valueCompact, mixed-use developments provide economic benefits to developers through higher property values, marketability, and quicker sales and leasing, especially among baby boomers and millennials. The resurgence of urban development through vertical urbanism is helping provide more compact, high-rise residential housing for key workers.Based on the data provided by Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) on the number of under construction and proposed buildings in the Philippines, the number of residential and office/residential buildings still dominate the list and all of them are conveniently located in the cusp or within walking distance from each of the major central business districts in Metro Manila. Efforts made by private developers to help proliferate vertical urbanism in order to minimize suburban sprawl, decrease the country’s carbon footprint, and save more space for the development of green open spaces hopes to inspire future developers and leaders to help shape a more conducive cityscape.

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Sustainable, resilient architecture will be a big thingNew York, Singapore, Hong Kong, and other progressive cities are adapting sustainability and resiliency into their future plans, now that climate change has made its presence felt all around the world. Typhoon Haiyan was a grim reminder that the country’s existing crisis management systems and adaptive capacities is in dire need of re-framing to generate new and long-term alternatives. Each city varies enormously in terms of adaptation and vulnerability, two important factors that determine a city’s resiliency. Just like societies, a city’s adaptive capacity is dependent on governance, institutions, technology, wealth and the propensity to plan. A city’s resilience must be looked at from the business context and the human context.

Retail-tainment will remain a big real estate playerIncreasing spending power equals to more diversified choices. Thus, expect more retail developments in the Philippines that will cater to an overall retail experience. Our commercial centers and shopping malls are slowly turning into small cities with integrated mixed-use and multi-use developments. Shopping malls have now expanded to include hotels, offices, residential spaces, and bridges to transportation

More focus on health and wellnessWalkable cities are livable, healthier cities. This has become a global advocacy by architects, designers, and planners. The US, for example, have taken the issues on health and wellness to a macro scale through infrastructure developments, improvements and government policies that promote people to walk, bike, or take the public transit. However, there is a knowledge gap between research on human health and wellness with implementation in the built environment. Well-designed and well-planned buildings and spaces lead to better health outcomes elsewhere in the world and the principles that the Philippines can adapt to.

3D printing will change how designers and clients see their designs3D printers have revolutionized how we view tangible things. It makes an architect and designer’s visions one step closer to reality and in turn, help clients better visualize their visions that computer renderings and animations might not be able to convey accurately. Architects and designers can now test each structural element of their designs and improve design efficiency early in the design process. This significant advancement in technology will drive the practice and change the design process for the better as 3D printers continue to evolve in size and capacity. Down the road, we might be able to print building components to scale.

With the Asean integration becoming a big game changer this 2015, expect more architecture, planning, and design firms being more exposed to different Asean and international projects. Contrary to the belief that a borderless practice might be detrimental to the job economy, I believe this will provide a more interdisciplinary, integrated quality in our architecture and designs.

Urban regeneration through adaptive reuse

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While demographic adjustments from rural-based to industrialized economies may be inevitable, they place an unbearable strain on older cities and their outmoded infrastructure which are unable to cope with the massive influx of population. According to the Urban Land Institute (ULI), urban regeneration is the tool that cities use to challenge their deficiencies, correct their missteps, and remake themselves. Moreover, urban regeneration projects help generate more international investor interest by intensifying land use.

Transit-oriented developmentTransport-oriented developments (TODs) will continue to play a big part in our future developments, especially now with the increasing number of vertical, compact, mixed-use developments sprouting all over our cities. TODs must be located along or near an existing or planned segment of a trunk transit line, feeder bus network, or any form of major transportation mode. This is best exemplified in Hong Kong, where real estate and transit are intentionally linked. By developing land around its stations, the Hong Kong transit system has been able to achieve exceptional transit service, compact land use patterns around the city, and profitability.

Sense of entry design and pride of placeAs more commercial and mixed-use spaces develop, many developers are putting a lot of careful thought into designing memorable, identifiable, and unique sense of entries in their projects. Government incentives in the US for example, have started to reward public space in exchange for additional allowable heights, resulting to design changes, among them the inclusion of large atrium spaces. One can see this type of design dedication in Philippine shopping malls, where each major holiday or season is amplified through creative representations in their atrium.

Demand for more functional spaces and roomsFlexible spaces and rooms suited to the homeowner’s needs will continue to become in demand this coming years. First-time homeowners and renters all around the world prefer developments that have home offices, laundry rooms, and for the high-end user, saunas and game rooms. As more people telecommute from home, office space remains a top and must-have space for renters and buyers. Moreover, customization in the form of specialized storage, from special touches to functional features, are some of the requests from Filipino home buyers. Given the increasing land prices in the city centers, getting the most out of their bought spaces is of prime interest.

Energy-efficient homes through use of new and old technologyGoing green is all the rage now in the real estate industry. Developments, whether small or large-scale ones, now need to implement design elements and processes that promote energy efficiency to reduce ecological and carbon footprints. Technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, vertical gardens, rainwater harvesting systems are just some of these elements. According to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) foresight survey for 2013-2014, new materials that mimic natural properties and use of biological elements in structures promise greener, self-healing buildings.

Open-Plan living will continue to be a popular design

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Walls are being torn down as transparency and maximizing spaces become a defining factor in new and renovated homes and units. Larger kitchen spaces with islands incorporating the living, family, and dining rooms promote greater togetherness. Places with high levels of social isolation has been known to correlate with declines in well-being and lead to higher health costs. Humans are social creatures in nature, and a home that engage and provide spaces that allow sociability and the feeling of openness can do wonders for the spirit.

Designs that encourage outdoor livingGiven the urban problems of our metropolis, some may say that providing for nature in the metropolis is low in the list of priorities. However, it is precisely because of the urgency of the urban problems of congestion, blight, and slums that the provision for open space, or breathing space within the metropolis becomes critical. Pockets of greenery and clusters of shrubs placed from the periphery of the metropolis towards its center serve as air sheds to disperse pollution, bringing in cleaner and cooler air. Green spaces also provide the city’s children with places for play, and their families respite from the concrete jungle which surrounds them.

It’s an extremely exciting time to be in the architecture, planning, and design professions for the built environment and urban development in the Philippines as new technologies and preferences make subtle and major changes on how we interact with our environment.

Are tiny houses and micro-apartments the future of urban homes?

New designs for dwelling and fixtures aim to inject efficiency and comfort into ultra-small living spaces for rising urban populations

1The Fab Tree Hab – a conceptual micro-dwelling – is a “living graft prefab structure” designed so that the structure will grow from and into the surrounding environment. Image: Courtesy Terreform ONE

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With an eye on urbanization, population growth and efficiency, tiny spaces were a big theme at this summer’s Dwell on Design conferencein Los Angeles. Designers from around the world showcased housing and products for living small – from transformable furniture and pre-fab trailers to 3D printed interior objects. Often their strategies sought to reduce the human footprint on the environment and save energy as well.

Urban housing supplies are already straining worldwide with 54% of the global population of 7.2 billion living in cities, according to the United Nation’s World Urbanization Prospects 2014 report. By 2050, that number is expected to rise to 6.33 billion, or 66% of a forecasted world population of 9.6 billion.

In North America, about 82% of the total population – roughly 473.8 million people – lives in urban areas. The number of single-person households is rising, although housing has not kept pace with demographic change. Many of the new units being built are getting smaller and smaller, challenging municipal housing codes and zoning regulations.

Micro-apartments tricked out with scaled-down, adaptable furniture and decor could make urban dwelling more compatible with the way people increasingly live now – and help cities as they attempt to absorb more people in the future. The challenges include how to do so affordably, comfortably and with enough privacy to make these spaces homes as well as housing.

Compact New York

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Cities need to move beyond old-fashioned ideas of what they think people need, and look into alternatives such as micro-units for single-person households and legal shared housing, according to Sarah Watson, deputy director of Citizens Housing and Planning Council (CHPC). “There’s a very fixed idea of what an apartment needs to be”, she said. “Who you expect to live in the unit will affect the design.”

CHPC, which hosted the Making Room exhibition on tiny living at the Museum of the City of New York in 2013, has found that 47% of New Yorkers over the age of 25 do not live with a spouse or partner. Many singles share apartments that were designed for families, with large master bedrooms and smaller rooms for children – a layout that doesn’t make sense for adult roommates. “It’s a real crisis because it ends up being hugely dysfunctional in the housing market,” Watson said.

The disconnect can also lead to dangerous situations. After a series of deaths fromfires in illegally subdivided apartments in 2011, city officials vowed to step up regulation of these unregulated conversions. But weighed down by its established housing codes (pdf), the city is taking longer to respond to the changing demographics when it comes to new construction.

In 2012, then-mayor Michael Bloomberg launched the adAPT NYC competition to spur new designs for one- and two-person households. The mayor waived some zoning regulations so that construction of the winning proposal could start on a city-owned lot on East 27th Street in 2013.

Still under construction, the new complex will feature 55 micro-units ranging between 250 to 370 sq ft. Around 40% of the apartments will be affordable housing units priced below market rates. To “optimize

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space and maximize the sense of openness”, the design team integrated features like high ceilings and small “Juliet” balconies, refinements often neglected in low- and middle-income housing.

Adult tree houses

Mitchell Joachim, a New York University associate professor and co-founder of Terreform One, aims to create a wholly new concept for micro-dwelling by rethinking the interaction of ecology, botany and design. This version of the childhood dream hideaway is not a house in a tree, however; instead, it’s a house made of living trees.

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Among Terreform One’s recent designs are tree spheres called Willow Balls. They are living treehouses just 8 feet (2.43 meters) in diameter. Joachim considers them semi-permanent, and says they can be used as seasonal spaces like gazebos or other outdoor recreational spaces. They’re made by growing ficus trees over a scaffolding frame similar to what gardeners do when they use pliable living plants to create archways. Once the fast-growing ficus trees cover the sphere, the scaffolding can be removed and re-used with another set of plants.

While the living-plants portion of the sphere is natural, Terreform One will manufacture the scaffoldings in Brooklyn out of wood or metal. Terreform One is currently taking orders for the scaffoldings – priced at $8,000 – and expects to put them on sale in early 2015.

The goal is to “nudge nature in its place into a geometric shape that is usable by people”, Joachim said. The design challenges the traditional idea of forestry because instead of growing trees, chopping them down and milling them into lumber to build houses, the trees transform into a house as they grow.

Re-thinking the toilet

The greater Tokyo area is the world’s most densely populated metropolitan region with some 38 million residents packed into about 5,200 sq miles. So small sinks and showers are nothing new in compact Japanese bathrooms. TOTO, the Japanese bathroom fixtures and plumbing company, showcased micro-toilet design for bathrooms as small as 9 sq feet (0.84 meters) at the Dwell on Design conference.

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One of TOTO’s newest tiny toilets conserves floor space by hanging suspended from the wall with a thin high-efficiency water tank hidden from view within the wall. According to TOTO, it is 9 inches shorter in length than the average toilet.

The design also carries the EPA WaterSense label, averaging a lean 1 gallon per flush. This “saves a family of four more than $90 annually on their water bill, and $2,000 over the lifetime of the toilet”, said TOTO USA’s Lenora Campos.

Convertible furniture re-imagined

To furnish a micro-apartment comfortably, Resource Furniture has re-imagined the old Murphy beds and folding tables of yore with sophisticated book shelves, desks and sofas that can convert into beds. Drawers pull out from under stairs. Storage space is cleverly hidden within walls and pushed up to ceilings.

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Another trend on view at Dwell on Design was decor in vertical layers to help use every inch of available space from floor to ceiling. A sleeping layer might include a platform bed with a desk or closet space underneath, for example. The living space layer could host an elevated couch or lounge as well as small kitchen. Closets could be squeezed between kitchens and bathrooms, and storage spaces have been created by adding an extra layer near the ceiling or under an elevated floor, leaving no space left underutilized.

http://www.manilatimes.net/2015-trends-architecture-urban-planning-real-estate/153832/

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http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/aug/25/tiny-houses-micro-living-urban-cities-population-newyork-hongkong-tokyo

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