Eco Architecture Consumer Insights

Tube-itecture
Architects use cylindrical shapes for a curvier aesthetic
Implications - Architects have traditionally used polygonal shapes in building design, creating structures with straight lines and little to no curved surfaces. However, more architects are experimenting with curvilinear shapes -- in particular, cylinders. The tubed shape of a cylinder offers an interesting contrast to the typical cube or rectangular prism, and it may also mean that less material is required (and therefore, less waste) to manipulate into a structure.
4.6
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Candy-Colored Schools
Candy-Colored Schools
The Chalmers Campus Lindholmen Makes Learning Fun
The Chalmers Campus Lindholmen is a candy-colored university building that features dynamic geometries and angular construction. The stunning structure pays homage to the Italian Renaissance taking... MORE
Modular Mountaintop Shelters
Modular Mountaintop Shelters
Living Ecological Alpine Pod Provides Comfort without Eco Expense
The majority of those with a passion for discovering Earth's most breathtaking landscapes aim to minimize the environmental impact of their activities based on a compassion for the planet. The Living Ecological… MORE
Revolving Cylindrical Abodes
Revolving Cylindrical Abodes
The 'Roll It' Experimental House Offers a Fresh Take on Modern Homes
The 'Roll It' Experimental House is probably one of the strangest and most interesting homes that I've ever seen. Students Christian Zwick and Konstantin Jerabek from the University of Karlsruhe in Germany… MORE
Stacked Barrel Resorts
Stacked Barrel Resorts
The TuboHotel by T3Arc Features a Clever and Inventive Design
The TuboHotel by T3Arc is a cleverly designed resort that features tube-like structural forms as its main visual accents. Designed by the Mexican architecture studio, the hotel is made up of a number of… MORE
Cylindrical Sandbag Shelters
Cylindrical Sandbag Shelters
Nader Khalili's Temporary Earth Shelters are Cheap and Durable
Nader Khalili is an Iranian poet and architect who builds low-cost housing out of bags filled with Earth. Khalili's Earth bag housing is designed to provide shelter in a pinch for those who need to pinch… MORE
Petite Lodging
Rise in more compact and minimalist hotels & accommodations
Implications - While many consumers still love to be pampered when they go on vacation, others are preferring practicality over luxury. Hotel owners and designers, in response, are developing minimalist and compact establishments that provide a comfortable stay without going over the top. This keeps costs low for both the hotel and the customer, while at the same time saves space and provides environmental benefits through minimized waste.
5.2
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Geothermal Design
Sustainable energy is being integrated into modern lifestyles
Implications - Thermal energy is completely sustainable, making it appealing to modern consumers looking to mitigate the effects of global warming. The architecture field has particularly taken a shining to geothermal energy and incorporated it as a key element in several modern designs. Looking forward, this method of energy could be used in a variety of settings.
4.8
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Scaled Sustainability
Residential homes shrink to better accommodate the modern family
Implications - As family sizes continue to shrink, modern architecture is moving away from opulent, large-scale homes towards smaller, more minimalist designs. This simplified approach offers comfort, aesthetics and status to the modern consumer in a more sustainable form. Instead of space and luxury, this shift suggests that the next generation of families are more interested in reducing their footprint both in terms of square footage and consumption.
Workshop Question - How well does your company cater to the changing needs of modern families?
6.4
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Enclosed Garden
Indoor gardening in homes and building emerges to satisfy eco aesthetics
Implications - Public and residential architecture is seeing a widespread incorporation of indoor gardens as consumers become more invested in both the health and sustainability of their environments. This continued blurring of indoor and outdoor spaces speaks to the influence of the eco movement in determining aesthetic preferences, as well as the desire for enhanced quality of life.
Workshop Question - How could your industry benefit from embracing emerging the Millennial norms that spark small-space living and indoor gardening?
5.9
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Urban Escapism
Modern structures include quiet spaces for consumers to reflect
Implications - Consumers are seeing the widespread integration of natural interior spaces designed to facilitate moments of tranquility in chaotic urban settings. Often designed to filter out distractions and allow one to connect with their thoughts, such spaces highlight the relationship between one's environment and overall well-being, as well as the need to take dedicated breaks from the connected world in the pursuit of self-preservation. In addition to highlighting the modern emphasis on mental wellness and its relationship to functional design, this progression speaks to the desire to "unplug" in a world of constant connectivity.
Workshop Question - How could you embed an oasis, so to speak, within consumers' experience with your brand?
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Efficient Consumption
Designers consider alternative forms of energy for the sake of cost
Implications - As consumers become more conscious of their consumption, they increasingly consider certification when it comes to purchasing a home. Passively powered or energy-neutral residences are not only more socially responsible; they are also more cost-effective, and it is the reduced expenditure that is driving consumer interest in both clean energy services and eco design. The widespread adoption of new techniques in energy efficiency speak to the rising cost of living and maintenance.


Workshop Question - What barrier to entry does your consumer face and how can you ease that pressure?
4.9
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Upcycled Quality
Brands are creating high-quality products using upcycled materials
Implications - Millennials are more environmentally conscious than any other generation, gravitating toward sustainable brands. They are also inherently competitive and status-driven. Products that are upcycled, yet high quality, satisfy both needs. These products also act as ethical status symbols, showcasing that the consumer is not just better, but a better person than their peers.
Workshop Question - If your brand was to focus on sustainability, how would you market it to the consumer?
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Pavilion Perspective
Architects seek to make environmental statements with interactive structures
Implications - Whether it is creating meditative spaces or ones that directly interact with their surrounding environments, the pavilions that architects are designing provide immersive environmental experiences. These sanctuaries can be seen popping up in both urban and natural landscapes and are a reactionary response to the era of climate change, where there exists an increased desire among consumers to engage with nature as both a personal responsibility and for peace of mind.
Workshop Question - How could you create a more immersive experience for your consumer?
4.7
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Sustainable Sidewalk
Downtown sees a shift towards environmentally beneficial infrastructure
Implications - Drawing energy from bustling city hubs, urban infrastructure is seeing a transition towards roads and sidewalks that can channel the power from huge concentrations of people towards making positive impacts on the surrounding environment. This impending shift is coming at an opportune time alongside the emergence of eco-conscious vehicles, ensuring that the cities themselves will also be up-to-par with the new wave of environmental technologies.
Workshop Question - How is the environment of your consumer evolving and how does that impact your branding or messaging?
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