Jorge Drexler sings, in one of his songs, that “we always look at the river, contemplating the other riverbank”. Beyond understanding everything that was done, looking back at the past year can serve to get some clues about the future. This 2021, we published more than 160 articles in the Materials & Products section, covering a wide range of topics. From complex concepts such as 4D printing or very little processed materials such as hempcrete and bamboo, drawing a retrospective of the covered themes and understanding what interested our readers the most is an interesting exercise to foreshadow some trends in the future of the construction field. Looking at our most viewed articles, three large themes are evident: 3D printing, pre-fabrication, and interior renovation. Below, we present a compilation of each topic, reflecting on what we can dare to say about the trends in the construction industry that should consolidate in 2022.
3D Printing should be massified towards housing and new typologies
One of the many urban challenges that the pandemic has shed light on is the ongoing housing crisis. By the end of 2021, the tendency has been clear: housing prices across the globe have dramatically increased and vulnerable living conditions have exacerbated – with climate change also being a constant threat. Hence, in these challenging times of uncertainty, architects have had to explore new methods, materials, and technologies for more sustainable, cost-effective residential projects that don’t have to sacrifice design. Among them, 3D printing, a construction technique that once seemed like a distant dream, is now a concrete reality that shows great promise in the road towards efficient housing solutions and new typologies.
