Technological advances can inspire new designs, but implementation takes courage

Within these limitations, we have seen how one of the world’s greatest designers, Le Corbusier (Charles-Edouard Jeanneret-Gris), revolutionised the way homes were built. 

What allowed him to move away from classical-style homes to modern design was the advent of technological innovations in construction techniques and the new materials that he creatively adapted and employed in a way that changed the appearance of these structures. 

Moreover, many new functions that have been passed down to this day could for the first time be included within the house such as ensuite bathrooms, roof gardens or wide windows, without worrying about their impact on load-bearing walls. 

The point in referring to this designer, who died in 1965, is that he is an example of how we should muster up the courage to come up with new ways of thinking that can transform the way we lead our lives and view our residences.

The primary characteristic of designs today on the one hand is the combination of art and design styles from different eras to create many new concepts, and the result of devising solutions to cope with myriad problems and constraints such as labour shortages, tight budgets and the need to create environmentally sensitive projects. These demands and limitations have led developers to seriously seek new ways of using eco-friendly building materials that use less labour-intensive construction techniques to keep costs down. 

It could be said that this is a crucial turning point and opportunity in the residential home-building industry that will usher in a new era. Many developers are now seeing the rise of new construction technologies resulting in a variety of factory-manufactured materials. For example, there is now a wide range of products to replace conventional concrete walls, such as prefabricated concrete walls or fibre-cement walls, or steel beams that are equally durable and strong but require less time to assemble.

Even as people’s lifestyles continue to evolve, the primary elements that people value in selecting their homes remain unchanged – location and price. All other elements are of secondary importance. Therefore, home-owners generally have to accept the range of functions that are offered by designers of their residences. 

Over time, people will learn to adapt and adjust to the new way of life. One of the clearest examples is the increasingly smaller unit sizes of new condominium projects in one vicinity. Another minor change is the growing prevalence of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in new projects, which besides being more energy-saving also allows greater flexibility in lighting applications. New multifunctional, technological innovations that create and maximise the effective use of each space are increasingly employed in many projects. 

The greatest challenge to designers in this era remains the art of using and managing these new technologies in a way that is still cost effective and within budget, as these factors have an immediate impact on the price of the product. It is also necessary for developers and designers to find ways together to ensure consumer acceptance of these new innovations and functionalities.

When developers and designers are pushing the design envelope, it requires considerable courage to present them to the market, and those who successfully win the acceptance of homeowners are those who possess a deep understanding of their consumers. Anyone capable of achieving these feats should be regarded as being on par with these great designers we have witnessed throughout history. 

Now is truly the best time for developers to write a new page in design history, and this can done by those who have the guts and courage to be a pioneer.