Urban Land asks eight architectural firms to discuss building materials and technologies the industry can expect to see more of in the future.
What determines which innovations get incorporated into the building industry and which ones fall by the wayside? How easy is it to convince clients to use innovative materials? Some products and strategies have not yet been made available for commercial use; others have been around in some form for eons. Some firms use new materials in traditional ways; others take traditional materials and rethink their use. In a number of instances, the computer has influenced the use of materials, new and old.
From Leo Daly's response: "In general, the products keep getting better and better because people demand it. The key to spreading sustainable design is getting enough competition so that the costs come down. If the clients want to move ahead and have green architecture, we can do it. But if the client isnt receptive to using, say, wheat board, its never going to happen."
Thanks to Chris Steins
Read the full story: Dialogue: In Production
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City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
KFH Group Inc.
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello