# Hexagonal Building Raincoat Prototypes Sidewalk Labs Showcases Protective Layers for a Smart City By Kalin Ned | Published 2019-03-13 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/building-raincoat References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/11/building-raincoat-prototype-sidewalk-labs-toronto-smart-city/) & [sidewalklabs](https://www.sidewalklabs.com/) Sidewalk Labs is currently testing out the concept of building raincoats for the smart city in Toronto. Debuted earlier this month, the prototype collection boasts ideas from various firms — including Toronto-based [Partisans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/canvas-house) who collaborated with "Canadian environmental engineering company RWDI and Italian firm Maffeis Engineering." The idea of building raincoats stems from the search for a viable solution for Toronto's harsh weather. As winters can get pretty cold and the climate is generally quite windy — especially in areas like the Harbour Waterfront where Toronto's smart city is planned, this seems like a worthwhile endeavor. In addition, the building raincoat prototypes offer the opportunity for customization, adding a unique quality to each design through awe-inspiring shapes, as well as a canvas for [interactive artistic projections and installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rain-experience). Photo Credits: [David Pike](https://davidapike.format.com/) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.5/10 - Popularity: 49% | Activity: 49% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Building Raincoats for Cities:** Opportunity for new materials and design solutions to offer improved weather protection for smart cities in extreme climates. - **Customizable Building Design:** Opportunity for architects and engineers to incorporate unique design elements that also provide functional benefits, such as weather protection. - **Interactive Building Facades:** Opportunity to incorporate projection and installation art onto building facades, making them interactive and visually appealing. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture and Engineering:** New opportunities for architects and engineers to develop innovative building materials and designs that combine form and function. - **Smart City Technology:** Potential for new businesses to create innovations that improve the functionality of smart city designs such as weather protection, making them more habitable for human populations. - **Art and Design:** Artists and designers can harness the combination of technology and architecture to create visually stunning public installations that enhance the urban environment. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Essential Weather-Resistant Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pieces-for-rainy-days.md) - [Flying Umbrella Prototypes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flying-umbrella.md) - [Wearable Poncho-Style Tents](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onetigris-tentsformer.md) - [Rainproof Wheelchair Shells](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mobidry.md) - [Typhoon-Resilient Shelters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seoul-wing.md) - [Office Building Rainbow Facades](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vertical-rainbow-office.md) - [Hybrid Poncho-Transformed Tents](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nrg-metamorph-poncho.md) - [Rain-Collecting Skyscrapers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bpas-architects.md) - [Body-Mapped All-Weather Parkas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/weatherproof-parka.md)