Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 462,450 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,242 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,984 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,242 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,984 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,213 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 462,450 cutting edge ideas.

Breezy Masonry Innovations

These Cool Bricks Keep Home Interiors Cold in Hot and Dry Climates

— February 18, 2015 — Eco
The invention of these Cool Bricks is a reminder that there are plenty of possibilities surrounding passive house design. Air conditioning is not the only solution to warm and stuffy interior spaces; resourceful and scientific thinking has produced masonry that can actually make a home refreshing in a scorching climate.

Virginia San Fratello and Ronald Rael have developed their eco-friendly Cool Bricks with inspiration from old Muscatese evaporative cooling windows. The lattice-like structure of the 3D-printed material is porous, keeping condensation inside, and enabling that to gently cool the air that passes through. Furthermore, the meshy facade of each block causes shade of fall on a great portion of the surface area, minimizing the sun's direct contact. The Cool Bricks thus keep themselves chilly as they softly pass fresh air to the inner sides of their irregular interlocking forms.
Trend Themes
1. Passive House Design - Opportunity for innovative masonry materials that provide energy efficiency and comfortable interiors in hot climates.
2. Evaporative Cooling Technology - Potential for advancements in 3D-printed materials to create porous structures that cool the air through condensation.
3. Eco-friendly Architecture - Growing demand for sustainable building materials that contribute to energy conservation and comfortable living environments.
Industry Implications
1. Construction - Opportunity for builders and architects to incorporate innovative masonry materials into passive house designs.
2. 3D Printing - Growing market for 3D-printed materials capable of creating porous structures for evaporative cooling applications.
3. Green Building - Increasing focus on eco-friendly architecture drives demand for sustainable materials that improve energy efficiency and indoor comfort.
4.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness