Top 100 Architecture Trends of 2012

From Enchanting Fluid Architecture to Modern Hobbit Homes

— January 19, 2013 — Eco
From dirt wall abodes to pixelated panel interiors, the best architecture trends of 2012 showed a wide range of innovative designs.

2012 was also a year for homes inspired by pop culture. The Hobbit in particular was a popular theme leading up to the movie's release in December, resulting in architecture with a seemingly earthy feel. It appeared that consumers were open to new designs with this eco look, and some even welcomed homes made mostly out of dirt. Compared to some of the more modern chic abodes on the market, designs such as these proved the public were still willing to buy homes with a minimum amount of grandeur.

Trend Hunter's Architecture Trend Report explores the implications of these designs in much more detail, and can help businesses looking for ideas in this area.
6.7
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
99
Grand Cityscape Silhouettes
Grand Cityscape Silhouettes
Claire Harlan Photos Captures Urban Minimalism
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98
Snaking Staircase Architecture
Snaking Staircase Architecture
Ten Arquitectos' Eco-Friendly Mercedes House is Uniquely Tier
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97
Secluded EMS Homes
Secluded EMS Homes
The Ambulance Garage House by Doepel Strijkers is an Orange Haven
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96
Giant Sheathed Domes
Giant Sheathed Domes
iGuzzini Headquarters by MiAS Architects is a Spectacular Structure
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95
Wood-Clad Angular Abodes
Wood-Clad Angular Abodes
The Stereoscopic House by Pencil Office Features Sharp Accents
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94
Hieroglyphic-Like Parking Lots
Hieroglyphic-Like Parking Lots
MEI Architecture's Block 11 is Cultural and Eco-Conscious
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93
Prehistoric Cartoon Architecture
Prehistoric Cartoon Architecture
Dick Clark's Flintstones-Inspired House in Malibu is ip for Sale
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92
Bio-Glamour Architecture
Bio-Glamour Architecture
Architect Ephraim-Henry Pavie Creates an Aesthetically Eco-Friendly Home
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91
Candy-Colored Hotels
Candy-Colored Hotels
The Saguaro Hotel in Palm Springs Lets You Experience the Rainbow
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90
Logogram-Inspired Lodgings
Logogram-Inspired Lodgings
The Ampersand Hotel is Inspired by the Cultural District It Resides in
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89
Retro Beach Abodes
Retro Beach Abodes
The House in Palabritas Beach by Metropolis is 60s-Inspired
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88
Paper Fan-Like Architecture
Paper Fan-Like Architecture
The Green Solution House Takes Sustainability to Another Level
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87
Flat Field-Inspired Abodes
Flat Field-Inspired Abodes
The Harvest Pavilion Takes Architectural Cues from Agricultural Land
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86
Exquisite Couture Temp Stores
Exquisite Couture Temp Stores
Louis Vuitton Pop-Up Shop Opens for Cannes Film Festival
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85
Parasitic Cabin Installations
Parasitic Cabin Installations
The Manifest Destiny! Project Encourages Unorthodox Dwellings
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84
Paper-Thin Architecture Captures
Paper-Thin Architecture Captures
Xavier Delory's Urban Forms Series Critiques Modern Buildings
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83
Sharply Swirling Abodes
Sharply Swirling Abodes
The ‘Mop House' by AGi Architects is Full of Lines and Curves
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82
Underwater Webchitecture
Underwater Webchitecture
Aquaria Floating Pavilion Behaves Like Coral Amidst the Swell of the Sea
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81
Chromatic Chasm Architecture
Chromatic Chasm Architecture
This Istanbul Disaster Prevention Center Has a Vibrant Volcanic Form
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80
Stacked School Structures
Stacked School Structures
The Basque Culinary Center is Simple Outside and Spicy Inside
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79
LEGO-Inspired Architecture
LEGO-Inspired Architecture
Turkish Company Designnobis Presents the D-Eco Brick
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78
Fantastically Folded Architecture
Fantastically Folded Architecture
The Jameson House Mixes the Old with the New
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77
Playful Portuguese Interiors
Playful Portuguese Interiors
The Remodeled 227 Flat by OODA Merges Acrobatics and Architecture
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76
Skinny Paneled Abodes
Skinny Paneled Abodes
The SIP Panel House Was Impressively Built in Just 10 Days
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75
Unorthodox Urban Condos
Unorthodox Urban Condos
The Kariouk Associates 'Redeveloper Apartment' is Space-Efficient
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74
Retractable Abode Exteriors
Retractable Abode Exteriors
The Sliding House by drMM Architects is Statically Mobile
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73
Volcanic Island-Inspired Abodes
Volcanic Island-Inspired Abodes
Planning Korea's Cocoon House is Architecturally Sculptural
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72
Floating Lotus Cabins
Floating Lotus Cabins
Fiorella by Hyun-Seok Kim is Like a Whimsical Picnic Spot
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71
Starry Shoe Shelving
Starry Shoe Shelving
Sergio Rossi Store in Casablanca is a Remarkable Space
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70
Winsome Warehouse Interiors
Winsome Warehouse Interiors
The Appartmento AL Takes Industrial Chic to the Minimalist Extreme
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69
Dirt-Wall Abodes
Dirt-Wall Abodes
The Caterpillar House by Feldman Architecture is Made from the Ground It Sits On
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68
Prodigious Accessory Pavilions
Prodigious Accessory Pavilions
Beijing World Jewelry Expo is an Epic Edifice to Exhibit Tiny Items
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67
Adorable Architectural Jewelry
Adorable Architectural Jewelry
The Archetype Z Studio Pieces are Inspired by Buildings
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66
Minimalist Sci-Fi Athenaeums
Minimalist Sci-Fi Athenaeums
The Vennesla Library and Culture House Belongs in the 22nd Century
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65
Multi-Faceted Hillside Homes
Multi-Faceted Hillside Homes
The Casa Playa Las Lomas I-05 is a Designer's Dream
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64
Curving Cumulus Cottages
Curving Cumulus Cottages
The McBride Charles Ryan Cloud House is Whimsical
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63
Mobile Minimalist Hotel Rooms
Mobile Minimalist Hotel Rooms
The Hypercubus by Studio WG3 is Self-Sufficient and Compact
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62
Snow Shelter Resorts
Snow Shelter Resorts
The POD Hotel by Robust Outdoor Brands is Comfy and Compact
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61
Sky-Surfing Blimp Abodes
Sky-Surfing Blimp Abodes
The 'Wolke 7' Flying Home Sets Eyes High for Future Housing
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60
Rickety Modern Cafes
Rickety Modern Cafes
The Noorderparkbar is an Odds and Ends Building
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59
Boxed Interior Abodes
Boxed Interior Abodes
The Melander Architects Design Maximizes Living Space
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58
Plywood-Clad Cottages
Plywood-Clad Cottages
The Stealth Barn Minimizes Its Material Palette for a Modern Look
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57
Underground Seaside Restaurants
Underground Seaside Restaurants
The Summer Cave is the Most Romantic Place to Dine in the World
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56
Fairytale-Inspired Shop Interiors
Fairytale-Inspired Shop Interiors
Betulla Store by Carola Vannini is Fit for a Princess
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55
Scattered Stick Cafes
Scattered Stick Cafes
The Starbucks Tokyo by Kengo Kuma Features A Bold and Dynamic Design
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54
Pixelated Panel Interiors
Pixelated Panel Interiors
G Clinic 7F Features Contemporary Partitions for Patient Privacy
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53
School Book Sculptures
School Book Sculptures
Liu Wei Reinvents Educational Tools into Eye-Catching Cityscapes
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52
Structure-Wrapped Interiors
Structure-Wrapped Interiors
In House Wing, Architecture and Furniture Design are Uniquely United
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51
Frosted Glass Eco Homes
Frosted Glass Eco Homes
The Cube Court House is a Secluded Paradise for Green Living
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50
Solitary Tundra Residences
Solitary Tundra Residences
The Reykjavik House is a Cozy Retreat Amid an Icy Landscape
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49
Hovering Arboreal Architecture
Hovering Arboreal Architecture
The HP Tree House by mmp Architects is Easily Maintained
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48
Stunning Shoreline Fortresses
Stunning Shoreline Fortresses
The Beach House Q has Stress-Free Surroundings
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47
Heavy Hovering Dwellings
Heavy Hovering Dwellings
The Casa en Pocafarina Seems Impossibly Suspended in Solid Concrete
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46
Exaggerated Open-Concept Homes
Exaggerated Open-Concept Homes
The Ridge Road Residence by StudioFour Displays Minimalistic Design
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45
Candy-Colored Schools
Candy-Colored Schools
The Chalmers Campus Lindholmen Makes Learning Fun
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44
Outdoor Suspended Sleeping
Outdoor Suspended Sleeping
The Tentsile Provides Above Ground Shelter for Campers
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43
Stilted Cabin Retreats
Stilted Cabin Retreats
Endemico Resguardo Silvestre is Environmentally Conscious and Luxurious
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42
Grid Retail Spaces
Grid Retail Spaces
The Sumit Shop by M4 Design Features Linear Design Elements
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41
Curvy Pristine Restaurants
Curvy Pristine Restaurants
Busride Design Studio Creates Interior for The Smokehouse Room
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40
Open-Concept Box Abodes
Open-Concept Box Abodes
The H.2 Residence by 314 Architecture Studio is One Modest Home
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39
High-Tech Greenery Offices
High-Tech Greenery Offices
The Microsoft Vienna Headquarters by INNOCAD Architektur is Lush
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38
Digitally Distorted Architecture
Digitally Distorted Architecture
A Wayward World of Surreal Structures by Philip Dujardin
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37
Open-Plan Garage Abodes
Open-Plan Garage Abodes
Harley in da House Lures Vehicles into the Living Room
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36
Transparent Pod Lodgings
Transparent Pod Lodgings
The Attrap Reves Hotel Allows Guests to Stargaze in France
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35
Building Block Cafes
Building Block Cafes
The Starbucks Amsterdam Rembrandtplein is Dynamically Designed
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34
Freight-Hauled Homes
Freight-Hauled Homes
The Patrick Partouche 'Container House' is Modernly Made of Eight Pieces
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33
$21-Million Apartments
$21-Million Apartments
'The House' in Tokyo is the World's Most Expensive One-Bedroom Apartment
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32
Man-Made Waterfall Architecture
Man-Made Waterfall Architecture
The Shore Vista Boat Dock is Serenely Sweeping
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31
Faux Candy Bar Shops
Faux Candy Bar Shops
The 100 Percent Chocolate Cafe Will Make Your Mouth Water
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30
Imaginative Recreational Workspaces
Imaginative Recreational Workspaces
The LEGO Denmark Office Has a Slide and Building Stations
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29
Rustic Cavemen Hotels
Rustic Cavemen Hotels
The Caves of Civita Hotel in Sextantio Italy Offers Primitive Luxury
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28
Pre-Made IKEA Abodes
Pre-Made IKEA Abodes
Aktiv Provides Users with a House From the Retail Giant
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27
Minimalist Cubed Havens
Minimalist Cubed Havens
The Gomez Residence by Marta Gonzalez Architects Has an Open Concept
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26
Individualized Hilltop Hideaways
Individualized Hilltop Hideaways
Intimate Architecture by David Garcia Studio Overlooks Vineyards
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25
Wooden Geodesic Pavilions
Wooden Geodesic Pavilions
The Peoples Meeting Dome Has a Geometric Organic Aesthetic
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24
Rustically Reassembled Furnishings
Rustically Reassembled Furnishings
Recycled Collection from Kann Design is Sustainable
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23
Enchanting Fluid Architecture
Enchanting Fluid Architecture
Get Swept Away by the Beauty of the Dagmara Obluska SWING House
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22
Earthy DIY Eateries
Earthy DIY Eateries
Viet Hoa Mess Offers Patrons an Underground Dining Experience
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21
Exposed Concrete Mansions
Exposed Concrete Mansions
The Ipes House was Designed by Marcio Kogan's StudioMK27
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20
Magnified Modern Hobbit Homes
Magnified Modern Hobbit Homes
These BAUEN Luque Residences are Scaled-Up Sophisticated Hill Houses
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19
Spiraling Auto Garages
Spiraling Auto Garages
The Car Park Tower by Mozhao Studio Wins Hong Kong Design Competition
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18
Cubbyhole Sleeping Quarters
Cubbyhole Sleeping Quarters
This Menuires Ski Resort Apartment Compartmentalizes its Occupants
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17
Magnificent Moat Mansions
Magnificent Moat Mansions
The Cadas Architecture Itaipava Residence is Lavish and Rustic
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16
Luxury Camping Pods
Luxury Camping Pods
Simon Laws' 'Drew House' Offers Opulent Way to Enjoy Nature
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15
Shipping Container Workspaces
Shipping Container Workspaces
The Sugoroku Office by Daiken-Met Architects is Stacked Cargo Boxes
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14
Creativity-Charged Cafes
Creativity-Charged Cafes
BASE camp by Nest One is a Cutting-Edge Workspace
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13
Portable Wooden Huts
Portable Wooden Huts
Robust Outdoor Brands' POD Houses Make for Eco-Friendly Camping
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12
Portable Crate-Like Cabins
Portable Crate-Like Cabins
The Whangapoua Sled House is Designed for Adaptable Beachside Living
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11
Fully Functional Garage Homes
Fully Functional Garage Homes
The Michelle De La Vega 'Mini Home' Makes Use of Unusual Space
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10
Effortless Prefab Retreats
Effortless Prefab Retreats
The Coodo 'My Home' Residences Come Furnished and Poised for Placement
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9
Spectacularly Asymmetric Cottages
Spectacularly Asymmetric Cottages
The 'Wintergreen' by Balance Associates Architects is Gorgeous
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8
Cantilevered Wooden Cabins
Cantilevered Wooden Cabins
Utriai Residence Holds an Impossible Position Lifted Up from the Lawn
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7
Floating Balcony Pools
Floating Balcony Pools
The Aquaria Grande is Sculptural and Luxurious
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6
Multi-Purpose Outdoor Homes
Multi-Purpose Outdoor Homes
Broadhurst Architects Inc.'s 'The Crib' is Versatile
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5
Weather-Resistant Mini Homes
Weather-Resistant Mini Homes
The Leaf House Sits on Four Wheels and Can Fit a Family of Four
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4
Small Prefab Shelters
Small Prefab Shelters
The Mini House 2.0 by Jonas Wagell is Compactly Contemporary
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3
Rustic Industrial Restaurants
Rustic Industrial Restaurants
Cocotte Presents a Gritty Interior Design
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2
Cardboard Box Pop-Up Shops
Cardboard Box Pop-Up Shops
Naver App Square is a Cool Temporary Store by Urbantainer
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1
Optical Illusion Structures
Optical Illusion Structures
The Reframe Art Installation Features Multiple Perspectives
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