Comfortably Numb: why architects deny being influenced by trends

I remember once being told by a client about an upcoming stone selection - “we don’t want anything trendy - we like the classics,” - and I said out loud and brazenly - “yep classics are in this season” - no one flinched because it was true and no one saw any irony.

Just under the surface there seems to be a funny dichotomy between trends and architectural design that no one wants to talk about.

So a little while ago a local real estate agent asked my architecture team to provide some material on trends - (this is what sparked my interest in the topic of trends).

“Brilliant” I thought as I put it out to our team - “here’s an opportunity for some free publicity for the business” and “sure, we can talk about trends” - so I was surprised that the request went down like a fart in an elevator - “We don’t do trends!!” I was told. I thought it was a bit of fun, something simple and easy - I thought we had this covered - so why did our design team feel so indignant?

I found that my team was not unique in any way, as I reached out further afield no architect I spoke to was willing to advise on trends, no serious architecture publication or website seemed to go into “trends”; Trends seemed to be a dirty word.

It seems that trends in Architecture are something that serious architects don’t like to talk about.

Trends are just not cool for serious architects; however, if you look closely, you'll notice that even the most avant-garde structures carry subtle elements of what's currently in vogue. Despite their denial, architects, like everyone else, are influenced by the zeitgeist of their time. But why the denial?

Here are some ideas to start a conversation but i would love to hear your thoughts below or your questions and idea topics. Click here.

Now here are some ideas:

1. Defining Identity and Independence

Architects, at their core, are artists. They thrive on expressing their individuality and creativity through their work. Accepting that their designs are influenced by trends might imply a lack of originality. By denying the impact of trends, architects aim to assert their artistic independence and underline the uniqueness of their creations.

2. Misunderstanding the Concept of Trends

When we talk about trends, we often think of fleeting fashions that change with the seasons. However, architectural trends are different. They can last decades and often reflect broader societal shifts. Green architecture, open-plan living, and smart homes are examples of such trends. Denying influence from these trends does not necessarily mean architects are unaffected by them, but rather they might not recognize them as 'trends' in the conventional sense.

3. The Timeless vs. Trendy Debate

Architects aspire to create timeless structures, with their designs often anticipated to outlast the architects themselves. By aligning their work with trends, there's a risk of their designs appearing outdated once the trend fades. As such, architects may deny being influenced by trends to emphasise the enduring relevance of their creations.

4. Trends and Creativity: The Dichotomy

While trends can inspire, they can also limit creative exploration if architects feel pressured to adhere to them. By denying their influence, architects maintain that their ideas are born from ingenuity and creative liberty, rather than being moulded by popular styles or elements.

5. The Expertise Factor

Architects are experts in their field, with years of training and experience. They are entrusted with shaping the built environment and providing functional, aesthetically pleasing, and sustainable designs. Admitting to being influenced by trends might seem to undermine their expertise, reducing their role to mere followers of fashion, rather than leaders in design innovation.

Conclusion

We don’t live in isolation so yep I agree that what’s hot this spring is usually something naff and an attempt to sell products, but we are in the business of selling products too and we are not immune to influence (having influence and being influenced) – although not completely seasonal like the fashion industry but we don’t design buildings in a way that architects did 30, 50, 100 years ago, so one way or another we have followed trends like it or not.

Trends are a fabric of our society and architecture generally – they are markers that show our place in time and space – right back to where doric was out and Corinthian was in - so I’m not quite as cynical about trends. We can’t pretend they don’t exist or that we are somehow immune to them – because we’re above all that.

So what happened to the trend next spring - After doing some research and talking to some other industry professionals I settled on plants being the number one trend this spring….Indoor gardens, it felt right, there were some great new products coming out including small scale hydroponics that looked great and enabled home owners to grow their herbs and veggies in the kitchen - so I decided that plants were the number one trend this spring and they definitely were in that publication and it worked well, I found some great images of newly completed projects to back up my choice.

While it's evident that architects are influenced by trends, their denial is rooted in their desire to maintain artistic integrity, emphasise their expertise, and highlight the timeless nature of their designs. Understanding this helps us appreciate that 'trends' in architecture represent more than mere aesthetic fashions—they are reflections of societal shifts and advancements that inevitably shape our built environment, whether openly acknowledged or not.