2021 Trends in Architecture

You’re just at the start of the concept for your perfect residential property, and you’re looking for something that’s new, exciting, and different from the typical residential home approach. Perhaps you’d like something more modern, or on the cutting edge of architectural design? Coincidentally, you’re reading the blog of an architectural team thoroughly interested and invested in eco-friendly design with cutting-edge architecture planning! Our team makes eco-friendly design a priority as we go, in order to make an impact on the world around us as we build it up!

These architectural trends are on the rise for 2021, and we’re more than happy to share them with you. Take a look below:

Building ‘Green’

Going green is more than just focusing on recycling when it comes to architecture, green architecture design is situated around using sustainable materials with strategies to cut down on transportation costs and energy consumption. One way to make an architectural project ‘green’ is by focusing on utilizing local materials which also adds an extra layer of personality to a build because it’s created from the area it will live within. For Charleston for example, a great example of this would be our famous oyster shell mixture for ‘coastal concrete’. Architects, builders, and designers have creatively built with ‘tabby’ for generations, and it’s a great way to cut down on material cost while also giving a coastal feel to your new property.

Tabby is made up of lime, sand, water, and oyster shells and though history is not sure exactly how long this mixture has been around, it’s believed to date back to the Spanish explorers in Florida during the 16th century. The history of this material is deeply rooted within the South as well. The availability of slave labor at the time made this a popular building choice then as it was labor intensive work to create the special combination. Tabby is essentially the same mixture as stucco, but without the large, whole chunks of shell. Today, tabby is often used as an accent material to tie a home to the coastal region and historical roots. When people see that classic combination of oyster shell and stucco, they think of the Lowcountry.

Wide Open Spaces

A residual effect from the pandemic has created an interest in being reconnected with nature! How does this coincide with architecture? A current trend for 2021 and new architecture design lies in wide, open spaces that provide more sunlight and energy. This inspirational transition provides properties with larger windows for more light, spaces for greenery, and a focus on sustainability. It’s time to throw open those windows and let the sunlight and breeze through, cabin fever is a thing of 2020’s haunted past.

In addition to this, with a focus shifting to a better well being and increased quality of life, a new focus is emerging to building passive homes. This puts more of a focus on energy efficiency and conservation, with a spotlight on natural lighting.

Natural, Raw, & Exposed Materials

In addition to seeking a stronger reconnection and relationship with nature after being tucked inside for over a year, the concept of bringing outdoor materials as they are naturally into our homes is making headway. It’s not an entirely new architectural or design trend, but it does come more ‘naturally’ after time periods of mandatory, cordoned, or ‘safe’ living.

Do you remember the time-tested trend of ‘exposed brick’? It’s a design trend that’s very prominent in historic buildings (when safe of course) because it gives someone the opportunity to momentarily share the space with a piece of history. Many Charleston shops, buildings, and homes have exposed, historic brick from events long passed, and the style they evoke to a space is complementary to our coastal aesthetic!

Other examples could be exposed natural beams, exposed brick or tabby in accent spaces, or rough stone and natural shapes used for architectural designs throughout the building itself. This gives many interior designers the natural color palette they crave to work with expanding on distinct natural textures in flooring and walls, to natural wood or stone forms for furniture. Combine that with the wide open windows we discussed before, and you have a home that’s focused on sustaining a connection to the natural world inside.

Additionally, if a historic building has been repurposed and renovated, there are oftentimes opportunities to save or set aside aspects of the original environment and utilize them in the new creation. A great example of this is the Parker Mill lumber mill in our sister state, North Carolina. This building was originally a lumber mill for the area tucked up and away in the North Carolina mountains, but it’s been repurposed in recent years to an event and wedding venue. The hard steel cart track for the lumber that originally ran through the building has been purposefully left behind as a tribute to the mill's history. The original concrete floors have been polished, and the historic wooden beams have been cared for and reused throughout the building. These natural materials keep the spirit of the mill and its history is perfectly set within its home in the mountains.

Minimalism Makes A Reappearance

Minimalism seems to exist on the back burner; we all know it’s there but it doesn’t come front and center often. With the pandemic shifting focuses for many onto what’s truly valuable to them and their lives, a new advance in minimalism is making headway within the architectural field. What does this mean for designs? If someone is seeking a minimalistic approach to their new residential or commercial property, you can expect to see suggestions of simple concrete framings, thick parapets, simplistic roofing and structural design, and consistency in materials.

You may also see pure geometric shapes or designs, plain materials organized in neat components, orderly repetition, and significant open spaces. Sounds familiar again, doesn't it?

“Architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, theorised that minimalism gave maximum power to architectural space” and with the mental shift to spend more time outside or reconnect with nature, it all makes sense as it comes together why these trends are impacting architectural design! At the end of the day, our homes are what we come back to to rest and prepare for the next day’s events. If we seek our homes as a place to settle into, it will tend to have ornate decoration and extra character or personality designed into it! If we see our homes as a place we are required to stay within- such as during the early days of the pandemic before much was known about COVID- it will tend to be less decorative. Our focus has shifted back out into the world, and upon reflecting that many are discovering what the natural world means to them and their individual lives.

Were you impacted by the pandemic with an itch to start a new project or redesign your home? Cabin fever is known to make someone want to do literally anything they can to be outside of, or at the very least change, their home environment and it’s fairly safe to say that many of us may have experienced our own fair share of it within the past two years. When it comes to architecture trends, just know that whatever interests you and your passions in life can be reflected in some way to make your new residential build as unique and personal to you as possible! You don’t need to adhere to any of the trends we’ve described here today!

We wanted to review and take a deeper look into these architecture trends for 2021 that are making headway because it does seem to reflect how individuals have felt towards their homes in recent years and that's incredibly fascinating, don’t you think? It goes to show that outside influences really can make a difference in how buildings and structures are designed throughout history, and that truly is the beauty behind architectural design.

If you’d like to see some of our past builds and projects, please explore the rest of our website for more information and examples. We’ve created our site to be a digital portfolio displaying some of our favorite projects and concepts for your viewing pleasure and consideration!

If you are interested in having your own residential property designed to your specifications, whether your wants have been described or not, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team here at Architecture Plus. We would be happy to customize an architectural build for you based on your plans and needs, all you have to do is reach out to get started!