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The Why Factory (T?F) is a global think-tank founded in 2008 and led by Winy Maas, founding partner of MVRDV and Professor of Urbanism and Architecture at the Delft University of Technology. It explores possibilities for the future development of cities by utilizing innovative methods of production and visualization. It analyses, theorizes and constructs scientific and fictional city scenarios in order to tackle contemporary urgencies — both global and local, universal and specific. Since its inception, The Why Factory has organized an array of exhibitions, publications, workshops and panel discussions, in an attempt to foster public debates on architecture and urbanism.

That is the traditional (rigid) way of introducing such research groups; by stating their timeline, their goals, their process and their output. However, what is unique regarding The Why Factory is the primary question it asks: Why be visionary? and I would also add, why is it important to be a visionary architect in today’s world? In the Why Factory’s first publication, Visionary Cities in 2009, Winy Maas extensively discusses the need for and potential of visionary thinking in architecture and urbanism:

“A vision is, in a way, what happens between a question mark and a proposal. It asks the big questions and then paints an image for the future with its answer. Most importantly, it is a dream for the city and for its spatial translation that offers a long-term, cohesive, seductive, and strong perspective for future societies. It is part curiosity, part exploration, part fantasy, and part real problem solving. The role of the visionary is to guide, and direct and summarize the course for this increasingly urban world.”

The world, according to Mass, is currently caught between globalization and individualism. With the rise of technology and the internet, any human can now work, communicate and socialize through their own individual screen; their location does not matter anymore. Even the most secluded farm in the Highlands can have the same virtual access to someone living in a large metropolis. In parallel, country borders have faded. The world can be seen as one large city, dealing with crises (financial, environmental, etc.) which are no longer localized, but rendered as global challenges.

For Mass, the answer to those two ‘extremities’ — as he calls it — is vision. Frankly, the use of this word causes great scepticism and fear amongst people, often related to either too narrow-minded, too politically motivated and too bureaucratic or on the other hand, too extreme. Nevertheless, visions can uncover wider collective desires, still stemming from individuals but eventually pointing to wider goals that, in the case of architecture, create new spatial environments that look forward and stage a more optimistic future.

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Wego: Tailor-made Housing

The project starts with the hypothesis that by establishing a participatory process in housing design, where each resident can create their house based on their unique desires, then cities would achieve maximum density by optimizing land use, combating inequality as well as limiting the threat of urban sprawl.

The research was a joint effort between The Why Factory, the students from TU Delft and IIT Chicago, RMIT Melbourne and Bezalel Academy Jerusalem. Initially, students were presented with a challenge to convert density into desire, while following a restricted urban envelope with low energy consumption. Eventually, they developed a game that acts as a typological puzzle and pairs different clients, cultures and desires, resulting in a unique housing intensity.

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The Green Dip

The project investigates architectural strategies that incorporate plants into buildings by going back to the basic questions: ‘why green? What are its capacities? How does green perform? How can green be implemented to our cities? Can we create a database of plant species? Can we create a software to help us, do it? Can we invent a series of green elements to be implemented?’

Instead of designing a building, a park or anything else that speaks green, the researchers created a new software tool that combines the knowledge of buildings with the knowledge of plants, titled The Green Maker. The software includes a database of 4500 plants, outlining their water needs, total weight, maximum height, oxygen production and CO2 absorption, a catalogue of parametric elements that enables the placement of grasses, shrubs, and trees on any surface in and around buildings as well as additional biome data that ensures that only native plants are selected for each specific site.

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AnarCity: When Do We Need Our Neighbors?

The project investigates and designs the anarchistic city, i.e., a city without rules. It asks, ‘aren’t city’s overruled?’ claiming that in most major city’s nowadays, especially the highly dense ones, rules and top-down governance bodies restrict freedom, particularly when it comes to urban uniformity. By using an interactive generative process, tested on an abstract city model as well as in real cities, the project explores the relationship between density and anarchy, arguing that even though rules do provide solutions to societal conflicts, a truly advanced society would be the one where anarchy is not associated with chaos and danger but rather as a collective agreement to certain rules, enforced equally by city inhabitants.

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As a final note, I would like to point out that The Why Factory is an exemplary synergy between architectural practice and architectural education. Driven from both academic and professional perspectives, this research group tackles “architectural vision” in a way that bridges the gap between speculative thought and practical application, making The Why Factory not only a pioneer in architectural research but also a critical incubator for the next generation of visionary thinkers and practitioners.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletters.

Featured Image: Why Factory Tribune by MVRDV, 132, Julianalaan, Delft, Netherlands

The post The Why Factory (T?F) by MVRDV: The Potential of a Visionary Architectural Think-Tank appeared first on Journal.

The 13th A+Awards invites firms to submit a range of timely new categories, emphasizing architecture that balances local innovation with global vision. Your projects deserve the spotlight, so start your submission today!

In South Korea, there is a word on everyone’s lips: “honjok.” A combination of the Korean words for “by myself” and “tribe,” honjok literally translates to “the tribe of one” and is a way of life that celebrates solitude and autonomy. People who follow a honjok lifestyle will go about their days engaging in many activities alone and, notably, without fear of judgment. They take themselves for dinner, go to the movies solo, and even buy a home — alone.

For many young Koreans, honjok is a reaction to the relentless pace and pressures of modern life. Competitive workplaces leave little room for traditional relationship milestones such as dating, marriage or even living together. At the same time, a growing desire to push back against strict family expectations that often demand conformity, career success and parenthood play a role, too. In this environment, choosing to live alone becomes an act of rebellion as well as self-care.

While the word honjok may belong on the Korean Peninsula, the trend is far from unique to South Korea. Across the globe, solo living is becoming more desirable. In Europe, almost 40% of homes are single-occupancy, while in the US and UK, one-person households make up approximately 30% of the population — a figure that has more than doubled in the last 50 years.

Solo living is increasing for many reasons. In the UK, single women are one of the fastest-growing groups of homebuyers as financial independence and the ability to purchase and maintain a home alone has become a symbol of empowerment, a way of breaking from traditional domestic roles or expectations and a way to ensure personal and financial security. Even within traditional relationships, the notion of cohabiting is changing.

Increasingly, couples are choosing to live apart while maintaining romantic partnerships — a dynamic known as “living apart together” (LAT). For some, it’s about preserving individuality and prioritizing personal space. For others, the demands of dual-career households, often spread across different cities, make separate homes a practical solution. In other cases, blended and unique family units have required rethinking the family living arrangements most would regard as traditional.

Meanwhile, in countries where familial duty typically dictates that aging parents live with their children — Japan, for instance — smaller families and shifting cultural expectations have led to an unprecedented rise in one-person households among older generations. For these individuals, solo living is often about dignity, control and maintaining autonomy in later life.

For much of our history, homes were designed for families and communities. Shared functionality shaped everything from floor plans to furniture choices. Dining rooms, for instance, were a must for family meals, while multiple bedrooms and bathrooms to accommodate children, extended relatives and guests were a top priority. By the motor boom in the mid-20th century, the two-car garage became a staple of suburban family homes, and as family dynamics changed, open-plan living encouraged interaction and togetherness. Homes were designed to prioritize collective needs over individual expression. Privacy and personalization were secondary concerns, and compromises kept everyone happy.

However, the rise of solo living has turned things upside down. Architects, designers and even urban planners are being required to rethink the function of the home and consider how spaces designed to serve one rather than many can, like their occupiers, break from tradition and push boundaries.

Designing for a single occupant comes with a unique set of challenges. Unlike multi-occupant homes, which must often balance competing tastes and needs, solo living demands a space that aligns wholly with its inhabitant and their unique circumstances. For single dwellers, priorities vary and shift dramatically. Social spaces like dining rooms or expansive living areas might be necessary for someone who hosts a lot of social gatherings but not so much for someone in a location simply for work. Similarly, drastic career and lifestyle changes are more common in the life of a single dweller. When designing within these parameters, functionality becomes hyper-specific, becoming tailored to hobbies and routines. Pull up bar in the kitchen? Sure, why not? Standing desk in the bedroom? Go right ahead. But always consider the need for change and adaptability. Traditional boundaries and expectations can be thrown out the window to make way for complete personalization. The possibilities for interior designers and architects are intriguing and vast.

However, as much as solo living celebrates individuality, it also raises questions about connection and community. For many, living alone doesn’t mean a desire to actually be alone. With this in mind architects and planners are responding with co-living developments. These projects feature smaller, private units while making way for additional communal amenities like co-working areas, coffee shops, gyms and gardens.

By focusing on shared amenities and reducing the footprint of individual apartments, many co-living developments can offer lower prices for those joining the property market as single renters or buyers. Additionally, the reduction in space within the home makes areas outside the apartment, like rooftop gardens and shared courtyards, more valuable to the owner and encourages interaction with neighbors.

There is still a long way to go. Many traditional social housing models prioritize larger family homes, and governments and planners must address the lack of affordable, well-designed units for single occupants. A shortfall is commonly experienced by young professionals and lower-income individuals, for whom living alone remains an aspirational yet often unattainable goal.

Like most societal shifts, solo living is coming under scrutiny. The decline of traditional family structures has raised concerns by some about the breakdown of informal care networks and cultural continuity. Families once functioned as economic units, pooling resources and providing support across generations. Without these structures, some policymakers worry about economic strain as individuals reject or are unable to bear the burden of additional dependents in the home. In countries with low birth rates, solo living has been blamed—though not proven—for contributing to demographic challenges like population decline.

However, despite this, many cities are beginning to adopt promising models. By including affordable one-bedroom flats and studios in their public housing developments, they are ensuring that solo living can be both accessible and dignified. Elsewhere, modular housing and subsidized co-living spaces are emerging as scalable solutions.

As solo living expands, architects and designers face both challenges and opportunities. How do you create spaces that are deeply personal yet highly adaptable? How can homes for one address and not exacerbate the burgeoning loneliness crisis? And how can the choice of living alone be available and affordable for anyone who wishes to? These questions demand a rethinking of the home—not only as a physical structure but also as a societal structure.

The 13th A+Awards invites firms to submit a range of timely new categories, emphasizing architecture that balances local innovation with global vision. Your projects deserve the spotlight, so start your submission today!

The post Home Alone: Exploring the Architecture of Solo Living appeared first on Journal.

Ema is a trained architect, writer and photographer who works as a Junior Architect at REX in NYC. Inspired by her global experiences, she shares captivating insights into the world’s most extraordinary cities and buildings and provides travel tips on her blog, The Travel Album.

Architecture is often seen as the art of creating spaces, but at its core, it is also a profound act of storytelling — an interpretation of the cultural and historical essence of a place. Each design tells a story not only of its function but also of the people, traditions and environment that shape it. I believe that for architects, working on projects in unfamiliar and different locations can be as transformative as traveling. Both experiences demand an openness to the unfamiliar, a respect for local traditions, and a willingness to learn from the surroundings. They challenge preconceived notions and inspire innovative solutions, fostering a deeper connection between design and the diverse tapestry of human experience.

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Architecture as a Two-Way Exchange

Just as a traveler learns to navigate new landscapes, tastes and customs, architects immersed in foreign projects confront the subtleties of cultural expectations, site-specific constraints and regional craftsmanship. Designing a library in Tokyo, for instance, requires an understanding of Japan’s spatial philosophies and reverence for light and shadow, while constructing a community center in Mexico may draw deeply on vibrant colors and the centrality of outdoor living. These lessons — rooted in context and sensitivity — shape not just the final design but also the architect’s worldview.

In a way, architecture becomes a two-way exchange: the design adapts to reflect the spirit of its environment, while the designer absorbs lessons that redefine their creative process. The result is not merely a structure but a living testament to the dialogue between cultures. Like travel, such experiences leave a lasting imprint, enriching not only the places we create but also the people we become. Architecture, at its best, is a deeply human endeavor that bridges the physical world with the cultural, historical, and emotional layers of a place. Just as travel exposes us to new perspectives and enriches our understanding of the world, working on a diverse portfolio of architectural projects offers a similar transformation. For architects, engaging with projects in varied locations and cultures isn’t just about creating buildings; it’s about creating connections and learning lessons that shape both professional and personal growth.

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The Parallels Between Travel and Designing Across Cultures

Travel is often celebrated for its ability to broaden horizons. It challenges us to adapt to unfamiliar environments, embrace different customs, and appreciate new ways of living. Architecture, when approached with a similar openness, offers the same rewards. Designing for clients from diverse cultural backgrounds or creating spaces in vastly different environments requires an architect to step outside their comfort zone and approach each project with fresh eyes. For instance, consider the difference between designing a home in the dense, vertical cities of East Asia versus a sprawling ranch in the wide-open landscapes of the American Midwest. Beyond just technical adaptations, the architect must understand the cultural values tied to these spaces, such as the importance of communal living in Japan’s compact layouts or the celebration of solitude and vastness in the rural U.S. These insights are not just professional skills; they are cultural lessons that stay with an architect long after the project ends.

The House of the Big Arch by Frankie Pappas in South Africa demonstrates how architecture, like travel, thrives on adapting to and embracing unfamiliar contexts. Designed to weave through a private nature reserve, the house honors the land’s ecological and cultural significance, showing how architects can learn from and respect their environment. Much like understanding communal living in a dense city or solitude in rural landscapes, this project reflects South Africa’s ethos of environmental stewardship. By letting the site guide the design, it offers lessons in humility and cultural insight that extend beyond the project, proving that architecture, like travel, is a journey of empathy and discovery.

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Working With Diverse Clients: A Masterclass in Human Connection

Travel often fosters empathy by exposing us to diverse perspectives, teaching us to connect with people whose experiences and values differ from our own. Similarly, architects grow profoundly when working with clients from varied cultural and social backgrounds. These collaborations require more than technical expertise—they demand the ability to truly listen, adapt, and translate intangible aspirations into tangible spaces. Every project becomes a cultural exchange, where understanding the client’s traditions, values, and needs shapes the design’s authenticity. For instance, Camp Sarika by Amangiri in Canyon Point, Utah, exemplifies how architecture can thoughtfully balance universal appeal with cultural and environmental specificity. Nestled in a breathtaking desert landscape, the design embraces the raw beauty of its surroundings while delivering a luxurious experience. The camp’s tented pavilions blend into the rugged terrain, using natural materials and soft, earthy tones that echo the desert’s palette. Rather than overt cultural motifs, the design focuses on connecting guests to the natural world. Expansive views, minimalist interiors, and the careful positioning of structures allow the dramatic landscape to take center stage. This subtle approach respects the environment while creating a serene retreat for a global clientele seeking a deep connection to the land.

These experiences teach architects to navigate the delicate balance between universal design principles and cultural specificity. They develop a sensitivity that allows them to create spaces that resonate deeply with their users, reflecting not only functional needs but also emotional and cultural narratives. Ultimately, this cross-cultural engagement enriches an architect’s approach, turning each project into a journey of connection, discovery, and shared understanding.

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Learning From Local Contexts: The Architect as a Cultural Observer

Travelers often marvel at the details of a new place — the texture of cobblestones underfoot, the rhythm of daily life, or the interplay of light and shadow in a market square. Architects working in unfamiliar locations must similarly become keen observers, immersing themselves in the local context to inform their designs. Take, for instance, the use of local materials. In the sun-baked regions of Morocco, earth-based construction techniques like rammed earth walls naturally regulate temperature, offering both sustainability and cultural authenticity. In contrast, the wood-heavy structures of Nordic countries celebrate the abundant forests and connection to nature. An architect who studies and incorporates these local traditions gains not just practical knowledge but also a deeper respect for the ingenuity embedded in regional design practices.

Situated in the arid climate of southern Morocco, the Laayoune Technology School project draws inspiration from traditional Moroccan construction techniques and the desert environment, demonstrating a profound understanding of local materials and cultural practices. The architects utilized earthy tones and textures that harmonize with the surrounding landscape, creating a building that feels like a natural extension of its environment. The use of courtyards, shaded walkways, and thick walls is not only practical for managing the region’s intense heat but also reflects the spatial strategies found in traditional Moroccan architecture. These design elements ensure thermal comfort while paying homage to the cultural and environmental ingenuity of the region.

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The Professional and Personal Growth of a Globally Minded Architect

Just as travel changes the way we see the world, working on diverse projects reshapes the way architects approach design by pushing them beyond their comfort zones. Each new project presents unique challenges — different climates, materials, cultural norms and client expectations — that demand fresh, creative responses. This process not only sharpens an architect’s adaptability but also broadens their understanding of how architecture can truly serve human needs in varying contexts.

More importantly, this journey instills a deep sense of humility. Architects learn that they are not just designers but collaborators in a much larger narrative, one that includes the history, culture, and essence of a place. Every design decision becomes a conversation with its surroundings, ensuring the resulting spaces resonate with authenticity and purpose. This mindset transforms projects into opportunities for personal growth, as architects must listen, adapt, and immerse themselves in perspectives different from their own. This growth extends beyond the professional realm. Architects who embrace a diverse portfolio often find that their personal lives are similarly enriched. Lessons in collaboration, patience, and cultural appreciation influence how they approach relationships and interactions, fostering a deeper empathy and understanding of others. In this way, the act of designing becomes not just about creating buildings but also about building a more thoughtful, connected way of engaging with the world.

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Designing With a Traveler’s Spirit

In both architecture and travel, the journey is as important as the destination. Gaining experience working on projects in different locations, with clients from varied backgrounds, is a journey of discovery — one that mirrors the transformative power of travel. It’s about more than building structures; it’s about building connections, understanding cultures and leaving each place a little better than you found it. For architects, this approach not only enhances their designs but also shapes them into global citizens, capable of weaving the threads of diverse stories into meaningful spaces. Just as every trip changes the traveler, every project in a new place leaves an indelible mark on the architect, proving that the world itself is the greatest classroom for those willing to explore.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletters.

The post How a Diverse Portfolio of Architectural Projects Unlocks the Wisdom of Travel appeared first on Journal.

Ema is a trained architect, writer and photographer who works as a Junior Architect at REX in NYC. Inspired by her global experiences, she shares captivating insights into the world’s most extraordinary cities and buildings and provides travel tips on her blog, The Travel Album.

Picture this: It’s a crisp January morning in 2025, and the sunlight filters into your home through large, open windows. The room feels alive — not in the chaotic, cluttered way of a busy home, but in the way that warmth emanates from every surface. Your hand brushes against a soft, textured wall as you reach for a cup of coffee. The silver accents of your kitchen fixtures catch the light, glinting against the earthy brick backsplash. This isn’t just a home; it’s a sanctuary — a reflection of who you are and how you live.

This vision is at the heart of the 2025 design trends that are quietly reshaping the spaces we inhabit. For years, homes have been ruled by a stark, almost clinical minimalism — walls so white they felt like blank canvases waiting for someone to finally make them come alive. But now, there’s a shift. The sterile is being replaced by the soulful.

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What’s In for Interiors

1. Warm Minimalism: The Evolving Simplicity of Home Design

Minimalism, once synonymous with stark, all-white spaces, is evolving into something more human and inviting. Enter Like maybe”warm minimalism,” a design philosophy that retains the clarity of minimalism but infuses it with warmth through organic textures, earthy tones and subtle contrasts. This evolution isn’t about abandoning minimalism altogether, it’s about making it human.

“Warm minimalism,” as it’s being called, is about creating spaces that feel alive and lived-in without the chaos. It’s the feeling of a linen throw over a streamlined sofa or a kitchen backsplash made from thin, handcrafted bricks that subtly hint at the material’s origins. Warm minimalism is all about contrasts: sleek design paired with organic textures, neutral colors deepened with earthy undertones, and spaces that balance order with soul.

The Feeling of Warmth
Imagine stepping into a living room where the walls are softly textured with grasscloth wallpaper, casting gentle shadows in the late afternoon light. The furniture is minimalist in form but upholstered in warm, tactile fabrics like linen or boucle. A thin brick backsplash in the kitchen adds a rustic yet refined quality, grounding the space. Warm minimalism feels alive. It’s about combining simplicity with comfort, creating spaces that are uncluttered yet deeply personal.

Architectural Applications

• Textured Walls: Grasscloth, embossed wallpaper or even exposed brick add depth and softness.
• Natural Finishes: Wood grain flooring, unfinished stone surfaces and lightly polished concrete contribute to a warm, tactile environment.
• Layered Lighting: Instead of relying on harsh overhead lights, warm minimalism incorporates a mix of floor lamps, sconces and indirect lighting to create an ambient glow.

Why It Resonates
As our homes become extensions of our personalities, warm minimalism offers a way to embrace calm without sacrificing character. It’s a response to the sterile environments of the past, blending simplicity with a sense of belonging.

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2. Quiet Luxury: Subtle Sophistication for Everyday Living

In another corner of the design world, a subtler movement is taking shape. It’s not flashy, and it doesn’t shout for attention. Quiet luxury is more about the story your home tells, layer by layer, than about ostentation. Imagine walking into a room and feeling its quality, rather than being told about it. A solid wooden dining table polished to show the natural grain. A brick fireplace that grounds the space with its timeless texture. These aren’t elements chosen for their trendiness; they’re selected for their ability to endure, to age gracefully, to feel both modern and eternal. Brick, in particular, is having a renaissance in quiet luxury design. It offers richness without overwhelming a room, acting as both an anchor and an accent. Materials like these — brick, stone, reclaimed wood — create spaces that feel calm and intentional, as if they’ve always been part of the home.

In a world dominated by fast trends and fleeting aesthetics, quiet luxury offers a refuge. This design trend isn’t about ostentation; it’s about quality, craftsmanship and timeless beauty. Quiet luxury doesn’t shout; it whispers elegance.

The Essence of Quiet Luxury
Picture a dining room where a sleek wooden table takes center stage, its surface glowing with the natural grain of the wood. Around it, mid-century modern chairs upholstered in muted, neutral tones provide understated sophistication. A single, large-format piece of art hangs on the wall, adding a focal point without overwhelming the space. The appeal lies in restraint. Each element in the room feels purposeful, selected for its beauty and durability rather than its trendiness.

Materials That Speak

• Brick: Whether exposed or painted, brick adds a rich, earthy texture that complements a variety of styles. In quiet luxury interiors, brick might appear as an accent wall or even as part of a fireplace.
• Natural Stone: Marble and limestone lend timeless sophistication, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Soft Neutrals: Muted tones like sand, taupe, and stone gray provide a neutral canvas that highlights the quality of materials and craftsmanship.

The Longevity of Quiet Luxury
Unlike fads that fade, quiet luxury is built to last. It aligns with a growing desire for interiors that are not just beautiful but meaningful — a reflection of personal values and a sanctuary from the chaos of the outside world.

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3. Living with Nature

The connection to nature will be stronger than ever in 2025. Perhaps it’s a reaction to the increasing digitalization of our lives or maybe it’s simply a return to something fundamental: the feeling of being grounded. Biophilic design is about more than just plants. It’s about designing homes that breathe, that feel alive in the way they interact with their surroundings. Picture sunlight pouring through oversized windows, warming floors made of natural bamboo.

Imagine a vertical garden climbing a wall in your living room, its greenery softening the edges of modern furniture. This connection to nature isn’t just aesthetic; it’s practical. Materials like wood, stone and brick are being chosen not only for their beauty but for their sustainability. Homeowners are looking for choices that are kind to the environment, favoring durability and renewability over the disposable trends of years past.

The need to reconnect with nature has never been more urgent, and biophilic design offers a pathway to bring the outdoors inside. More than a trend, it’s a philosophy that centers on wellness, sustainability and a seamless relationship between architecture and the natural world.

The Science of Biophilia
Studies show that exposure to nature — even in small doses — can reduce stress, enhance creativity and improve overall well-being. Biophilic design applies this principle by integrating natural elements into the home, creating environments that promote health and tranquility.

How It Comes to Life

• Indoor-Outdoor Blends: Large windows, sliding glass doors and atriums dissolve the boundary between inside and out, filling spaces with natural light and views of greenery.
• Natural Materials: Bamboo flooring, wooden beams and stone accents provide tactile connections to nature. Brick, with its organic texture and earthy tones, is a standout choice for walls and flooring.
• Living Walls: Vertical gardens bring a literal breath of fresh air into interiors while acting as dynamic design features.

Sustainability Meets Aesthetics
The embrace of natural materials aligns with a broader focus on sustainability. Homeowners are seeking materials that not only look good but also have a minimal environmental footprint. Bamboo, reclaimed wood and sustainably sourced bricks offer beauty and durability while supporting eco-friendly practices.

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4. A Touch of Silver: Silver Accents

And then there’s silver. For years, brass and gold have dominated our homes, offering a sense of glamour. But silver is different. It’s quieter, subtler—less about the spotlight and more about the glow. Silver accents are finding their way into kitchens, bathrooms, and living spaces. Imagine a matte silver faucet in a kitchen where earthy brick tones dominate, or silver-framed mirrors reflecting the warmth of a softly lit bedroom. It’s an element that bridges the old and the new, a versatile accent that feels fresh without overshadowing the rest of the room.

After years of brass and gold dominating the design landscape, silver is making a quiet comeback in 2025. Unlike its warmer counterparts, silver offers a sleek, modern elegance that works across a wide range of styles, from traditional to ultra-modern.

The Versatility of Silver
Silver accents can be as bold or as subtle as desired. In a modern kitchen, matte silver cabinet hardware pairs seamlessly with marble countertops and wood cabinetry. In a living room, silver-framed mirrors reflect light and create a sense of openness.

Designing with Silver

• Pair silver accents with warm wood tones for a balanced, contemporary look.
• Use silver in lighting fixtures, faucets and even decorative objects like vases or candleholders.
• Combine with natural materials like stone and brick to soften the coolness of silver and create a harmonious palette.

Why It Works
Silver’s neutrality allows it to act as both a supporting player and a statement piece, adapting to the overall design of the space. Its timeless appeal ensures it will remain a fixture in homes long after the trend fades.

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What’s In for Exteriors

1. Earthy Tones

The shift toward earthy tones in home exteriors marks a significant departure from the dominance of white and cream hues. While neutrals like these remain timeless for their clean and versatile appeal, homeowners are gravitating toward palettes inspired by nature. Deeper grays, muted greens, warm browns and soft terracottas are taking center stage, bringing a sense of depth and grounding to exterior designs.

The Psychology Behind Earthy Tones
Earthy colors evoke a sense of well-being and tranquility, connecting a home to its natural surroundings. These tones mirror the colors of forests, deserts, and mountains, creating a visual dialogue between the structure and its environment. For homeowners, this translates to spaces that feel harmonious and inviting — designs that welcome both inhabitants and visitors alike.

Architectural Applications

• Stone and Brick Façades: Materials like slate-gray stone or brownish-red brick bring an inherent warmth and texture to façades, emphasizing the natural beauty of the raw materials.
• Painted Exteriors: Muted greens or terracotta tones on wooden or stucco walls add subtle sophistication and blend seamlessly with landscaping.
• Roofing and Accents: Deep gray or earthy-toned roofs create a cohesive aesthetic, while muted red window trims or natural wood door frames act as eye-catching accents.

Challenges and Considerations
Designing with earthy tones requires a nuanced understanding of their interaction with light and surroundings. In regions with intense sunlight, muted shades can look washed out, whereas darker tones can absorb too much heat. Architects must also consider the environmental context, ensuring that the color palette complements the local landscape.

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2. Mixed Textures: Layering Depth and Character

Texture is a powerful design tool that goes beyond visual aesthetics, offering tactile and structural qualities that enrich the experience of a building. For 2025, mixing materials on exteriors (and interiors) has become a defining trend, creating a layered, multidimensional look that’s as functional as it is beautiful.

Why Texture Matters
Textured exteriors add depth and interest, transforming flat, monotonous facades into dynamic compositions. By juxtaposing materials like brick, wood, metal, and glass, architects can highlight structural elements, create focal points and even improve energy efficiency.

Popular Material Pairings

• Brick and Glass: This combination offers a modern industrial look, with brick providing warmth and durability, while glass introduces transparency and lightness. A common application is a brick-clad home punctuated by large glass windows or curtain walls.
• Wood and Metal: The natural warmth of wood pairs beautifully with sleek, cool metals like steel or aluminum. This blend is often seen in rustic-modern designs, where wooden siding softens the industrial feel of metal accents.
• Concrete and Stone: These materials create a minimalist aesthetic with a touch of luxury, often used in contemporary designs that prioritize clean lines and natural textures.

Designing for Durability
Mixed-material exteriors aren’t just about aesthetics — they also improve structural performance. For example, combining brick with wood cladding allows architects to balance the thermal mass of brick with the insulating properties of wood. Similarly, incorporating glass into a façade can reduce energy costs by maximizing natural light.

Tips for Harmonious Integration

• Focus on a cohesive color palette to tie disparate materials together.
• Use textures strategically to highlight key architectural elements, like entryways or cantilevered sections.
• Consider the maintenance requirements of each material and how they age over time to ensure long-term appeal.

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3. Sustainable and Resilient Materials

At the heart of these trends is a deepening commitment to sustainability. Homeowners are no longer just asking, “What looks good?” They’re asking, “What lasts?” Brick, with its natural origins and timeless appeal, is a perfect example. Made from clay or shale, it’s durable, energy-efficient, and recyclable. Other materials, like bamboo and reclaimed wood, offer similar benefits, combining beauty with eco-consciousness. The result is homes that feel good to live in — and good to live with.

The Rise of Brick as a Sustainable Material
Brick, a time-tested building material, is experiencing a resurgence thanks to its sustainability credentials. Made from natural resources like clay or shale, brick is energy-efficient, long-lasting and recyclable. It requires minimal maintenance and offers excellent thermal performance, reducing heating and cooling costs.

• Recyclability and Longevity: Brick structures can last for centuries, and when demolished, bricks can often be reused or crushed for new applications.
• Energy Efficiency: Brick walls provide thermal mass, helping to regulate indoor temperatures and reduce energy consumption.

Other Sustainable Materials in Focus

• Reclaimed Wood: Salvaged from old buildings or barns, reclaimed wood reduces demand for new lumber while adding unique character to exteriors.
• Bamboo: A rapidly renewable resource, bamboo is being used for siding and decking in eco-conscious designs.
• Green Roofs: Vegetative roofs not only insulate buildings but also reduce urban heat islands and improve air quality.
• Metal Roofing: Durable and recyclable, metal roofs are a popular choice for homeowners seeking long-lasting, low-maintenance options.

Designing with Resilience
Sustainability in exterior design goes hand in hand with resilience. Homes must withstand climate change impacts such as extreme weather, temperature fluctuations and rising energy costs. Materials like brick, concrete and metal offer durability and protection against these challenges, ensuring homes remain functional and aesthetically pleasing for decades.

Challenges in Sustainability
While sustainable materials are increasingly accessible, architects must balance cost considerations with environmental benefits. Additionally, sourcing reclaimed or recycled materials may require more time and effort than traditional options, but the long-term benefits — both ecological and economic — are worth the investment.

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The Story Behind the Trends

These trends aren’t coming out of nowhere. They’re the result of a careful dance between data and intuition, between what people are asking for and what designers know they’ll need. Having had help from an expert in architectural materials at Glen-Gery, they have taken a particularly thoughtful approach to identifying these trends. Through surveys, direct engagement with architects and designers, and a deep dive into customer preferences, they’ve crafted a vision of 2025 that feels both grounded and aspirational. Their “2025 Brick Color of the Year,” a matte gray called Silver City, embodies the balance of elegance and versatility that defines this year’s design ethos. It’s a color that works with every palette, every texture, every space—exactly the kind of timeless choice that 2025 is all about.

As the new year unfolds, one thing is clear: 2025 isn’t just about how homes look. It’s about how they feel—how they make us feel. It’s about stepping into a room and feeling a sense of calm, knowing that every element has been chosen with care. It’s about walking up to a house and seeing not just a structure but a story. And it’s about creating spaces that honor the world around us while embracing the lives we live within them. This is the future of design—a future that feels like home.

Architizer's 13th A+Awards features a suite of sustainability-focused categories recognizing designers that are building a greener industry — and a better future. Start your entry to receive global recognition for your work!

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