Autumn Design and Building Trends 2022
Gunlake Group
12 May 2022What to look out for in Autumn and beyond 2022
Have you nailed your upcoming design plan proposals?
Will it contribute to society and be admired as an iconic masterpiece for years to come, or will it date quicker than a shag rug?
The Gunlake Group are a proudly Australian owned family company spanning four generations in the quarrying and concrete industry. At Gunlake Group, we understand the importance of working closely with clients to innovate continually and develop solutions for their building projects.
Over the years, we have seen many trends come and go. To separate the “wheat from the chaff”, you need an eye for actual trends and hype. That comes with years of experience. Being RELEVANT in a dynamic industry has been a primary focus at The Gunlake Group.
Now let’s take a look at what’s on the horizon for design and building trends this year.
From architecture with smooth curved walls to functional homewares! Expect a twist on pre-loved classic designs, creations born out of a newfound love for the home and more elegance within interior and exterior architectural designs.
There’s been a creative outcome from the pandemic, shall we say! Over the past two years, the extended amount of time spent at home has hugely influenced the upcoming design and building trends. Some are here to stay, revolutionising the building scene for the better and evolving beyond a fad to a way of life.
Artisan Handcrafted Concrete Homewares
Functional yet straightforward concrete artisan objects are the pick of the bunch this year. Non-functional elegant homeware – think random structures and sculptures – have been re-assessed.
After spending more time in our homes than anticipated over the past few years, the decision is that sophisticated homewares still have a place as long as they serve a practical purpose and are built for longevity.
Concrete artisan objects will always have the underlying multi-purpose of a doorstop or a paperweight. Expect to see,
- Cone-shaped concrete ring holders
- Concrete side tables or plant stands (that are not so easily knocked over)
- Outdoor concrete eskies
- Textured concrete drink coasters
- Smooth curved fruit bowls and vases
- Outdoor fire pits and more
Still can’t picture it– check out Concrete Homeware – From Sydney with love. Let’s face it, non-functional homewares will never truly disappear. We all have that one piece that pulls us in for no apparent reason, that we intuitively place in a focal point within our home. Something that the rest of the family may or may NOT love.
Textured Walls
We’re not talking fury walls here; we’re talking floor to ceiling grandeur centrepieces at home entry points, living rooms, outdoor living areas (around the fire pit), the main bedroom or where you feel it would work best in your home.
Yes, they are back! Textured walls using bricks, wood, concrete, slate, or if you want to make a bold statement, the “wow factor”, a genuine stone accent wall, will do just that.
The thing about textured walls is you can get creative with them. The sky is the limit – from limewash brick to natural marble basalt herringbone tiles. Be proud of it for years to come. The return of this trend is another influence of the pandemic. We all spent more time in our homes with our families than ever, inspiring us to create cosy spaces with an energetic feeling of reassurance.
Vogue Homes captures the resurgence of this trend nicely, “We have been forced to slow down and spend time in our homes- this drives the desire to create a space that reflects both visually and affectionately what it is we are feeling.” Remember that design can create energy.
Arches and Curves
An architectural trend we will see in 2022 is more arches and curves in the interior design of homes and buildings. We’ll see this in exterior structures as well. Envision big smooth concrete curved walls complementing the construction of your home or building.
A stunning example of this is the Huntingtower Road Project, in Armadale, Victoria created by developer Orchard Piper and architect firm, Jolson. This spectacular building boasts great arched doors and windows engulfed by gardens creating an ever enchanting feel. A perfect example of what is to come in 2022 in terms of more arches and curves as part of the exterior structures. A design ahead of its time and one Orchard Piper and Jolson should feel pleased as Punch about.
Sculptured and curved furniture will also make a comeback. Manufacturers from high-end to budget are integrating soft lines, arcs, and curves into their furniture designs. Arches and curves are all about elegance and offer feminine vibes balancing out our modern masculine world.
Geometric Patterns
Some impressive building and styling trends are coming out in 2022. All seem to capture that feel-good space. This next one is taking that to a new level. Geometric patterns in glass features and earthy pastel colours are set to be incorporated into the interior and exterior of home and building designs.
Geometric patterns ground a design. Bringing a sense of the here and now into a space. We could lend the emergence of this trend to the biopic design movement, which is inspiring us to add nature’s natural architecture into our builds and spaces.
Keep an eye out for reeded glass in bathrooms, soft colourful pastel or earthly toned geometric patterned splashbacks, and dramatic geometric compositions in architectural designs. Geometric architecture classics such as the Louvre Museum and Lotus flower temple in India may have some competition on their hands in the not so distant future.
It will be interesting to see the unique takes on this as designers and architects embrace it. A trend very pleasing to the eye. We hope it is here to stay.
Sustainable Architecture
I know what you think sustainable architecture designs have been on the list in Australia for some time now. BUT this trend is set to come leaps and bounds in the next 15 years. There have recently been significant technological developments in the building and construction industry.
For instance, an advancement in nanotechnology has allowed for a substantial increase in the number of solar cells per panel. As well as, the Thermablock is approved for residential use, a lightweight, high insulation material development by NASA (İşmal and Paul, 2018)1.
Sustainable architecture will transform from a mere building feature or reduction element to buildings that fundamentally operate as efficiently and beautifully as nature’s natural architecture. Think of water tanks frequently included in suburban homes and commercial buildings, still an excellent sustainable option (one could argue its tokenistic) VS the Council House 2, in Melbourne, built from the ground up to mimic the principal functions of a termite mound.
Australia’s plan to reach net zero by 2050 under the Morrison Government (Angus Taylor MP, 2021)2 and the UK’s Net Zero Strategy – Build Back Greener (GOV.UK, 2021)3 will greatly increase the momentum towards revolutionising the building environment even more.
Sustainable architecture is more than a trend; it’s here to stay and, in our lifetime, will transform the building industry for good!
So which trends do you LOVE and which do you LOATH?
Collectively, this year’s trends are, for the most part, modern twists on classic designs with cosy, comfortable, warm vibes coming through in contrast to the minimalist, everything white trend now coming to an end. Sustainable architecture is set to dominate draftsman designs for the foreseeable future.