New Materials and Construction Methods to Be Celebrated in the 2020 A+Awards

The8th Annual A+Awardsis seeking to highlight the most pressing issues facing architecture and design. Under the theme, “The Future of Architecture”, this year’s competition will celebrate industry professionals working at the forefront of today’s creative challenges. An ever-evolving world shapes ever-evolving industries, which is exactly what the A+Awards aims to highlight.

With a greater emphasis and need for new, innovative and sustainable approaches towards building, the A+Awards is broadening its scope, with a keen eye for the unconventional. To help foster this, adiverse array of pioneering jurorshas been introduced, as well as a series of new award categories.

One in particular is the newArchitecture +New Materials Category. It invites projects that incorporate new, experimental or unconventional materials, and projects that use conventional materials in pioneering ways. Eligible projects may also involve innovative manufacturing and construction methods that unlock new ways to build.

One of, if not the most, pertinent issues the world faces today is climate change. It’s a phenomenon that has been brewing for decades, and its impacts are becomingincreasingly felt.Swift action to mitigate its effects is needed, meaning the historically stagnant architecture and construction industries must address unsustainable practices and an overall apathy towards the natural environment. The AEC industry’s over reliance on fossil fuels and carbon-intensive processes and materials, such as concrete, places it amongst the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters.

Though this reality is stark, it also presents a breadth of new possibilities. There have been advancements in green design and building practices, along with refreshed ways of thinking that prioritize the natural environment. Such alternatives include: the use of biodegradable materials such asmycelium,the use of结构性木材over concrete,prefabricated and modular construction,and construction through3D printing.

When carried out successfully, not only are these approaches more eco-friendly, they’re more economical. They don’t suffer from the same inefficiencies present in traditional architectural and construction methods, which often translate to material waste, high labor costs and long construction times.

Submissions to the Architecture +New Materials category should exemplify just how far atypical design and construction methods can go. The time is ripe for outside-of-the-box thinking for the sake of developing a more sustainable future. We’re so excited to see what innovative projects are submitted to this vital new category.

Submit your worksin this and more categories for the 8th Annual A+Awards before March 27th to get your firm in the running for global recognition. Good luck from the whole team at Architizer!

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