Trend that will influence architecture in 2020

It is, once again, the time of year where we look towards the future influence architecture in 2020 to define the goals and approaches that we will take for our careers throughout the upcoming year. To help the millions of architects who visit ArchDaily every day from all over the world, we compiled a list of the most popular ideas of 2019, which will continue to be developed and consolidated throughout 2020.

Over 130 million users discovered new references, materials, and tools in 2019 alone, infusing their practice of architecture with the means to improve the quality of life for our cities and built spaces. As users demonstrated certain affinities and/or demonstrated greater interest in particular topics, these emerged as trends. 

Below, we present the trends that will influence urban and architectural discussions in 2020, with the year-over-year growth rates (YoY) that compare to the statistics of searches from 2018 to 2019.

1. Ways of Living: Greater Interest in Small Scale Homes

The tiny houses (+75% YoY) concept emerged strongly at the beginning of 2018. Whether it is a movement in response to influence architecture in 2020 ideological or financial situations, architects have become more involved in the development of Practical and innovative solutions for small places. We can also include the interest for- living in dense urban centers, leading to the challenge of designing basic housing programs for spaces under 40 m2.  (Searches related to Small Apartments increased by 121% in 2018).

2. Inclusive Architecture: First-Rate Design for Diverse Populations

Accessibility (+108% YoY), Universal design (+116%) and Inclusive Architecture (+132%) were some of the most searched concepts on ArchDaily in 2018. In previous years the focus was mostly on architecture for children and reduced mobility, whereas this year we saw more searches related to architecture for the elderly  (+78%YoY) and different capacities related to mental health (Architecture & Mental Health +101% YoY; Space Psychology +210% YoY) and visual impairments (Architecture for the Blind +250% YoY).

3. The Middle-East: Underrepresented Territories in Evidence

Just as we saw influence architecture increasing interest in emerging practices in Latin America (+103.82% YoY) in the last two years, in 2018 we also saw an increase in searches related to the Middle east(+124% YoY). The conflict in Syria (+93% YoY) placed the architects’ focus on Rebuilding (+102% YoY). In addition, global events piqued the interest of architects due to the magnitude of the structures involved. Both the city of Dubai (+104% YoY), which will be the host of World expo 2020 and Qatar (+220% YoY), which will host the next soccer 2022 world cup increased considerably in search queries. Hashim Sarkis  (+236% YoY), the Lebanese architect who was appointed curator of the Architecture Exhibition for the next Venice Biennial (2020), was one of the most searched persons during 2018.

4. Construction Industry: The Digital Future of Infrastructure

Work within Construction Sites (+378% YoY) is changing rapidly due to influence architecture & the implementation of new technologies that improve productivity and efficiency. The influence of bim systems (+50% YoY), Modular construction (+75% YoY) and prefabrication (+99% YoY) allow for the realization of controlled processes Off-Site (+200% YoY). Meanwhile, 3D printing +70% YoY), Automation (+118% YoY) and Artificial intelligence(+234% YoY) make us think, without astonishment, of a future in which construction sites will be free of humans.

5. Gender equality: A Major, Ongoing Moment of Public Debate

Architecture is inextricably linked to the social and political contexts in which it resides and as influence architecture in 2020  the participation and visibility of women were ever more strongly positioned in public debate, searches linked to Gender Equality (+244% YoY) and Women in architecture  (+70%) in ArchDaily throughout 2018 increased considerably. The discussion of Gender (+128% YoY) in recent years has openly incorporated the concept of sexual identity, which in a way has had an impact on the field of architecture, increasing the number of searches for the term Transgender (+95% YoY) in our search engine.