Sustainability
trends 2023.

Our top 5 Sustainability Trends and Influencers to watch for in 2023

At Arkular, we centre on the values of sustainability and eco-consciousness. We place great importance on upholding these principles throughout our design and manufacturing process to assist in improving both planetary and human health.

We reflect on 5 upcoming sustainability trends, ideas and influencers for 2023 and how they will help shape eco-driven design and architecture.

1. Biophilic Design

The importance of Biophilic design will continue to grow in 2023, with the need for spaces to have a synergetic relationship with our external environment integral to supporting mental and physical well-being.

Biophilic design connects people to their surrounding built environment and is an expression of the relationship between nature and buildings. The foundational thinking of Biophilic design centres around the philosophy of being experienced – not just used, allowing individuals to achieve the benefits of living in spaces that encourage a meaningful connection to the environment.

Flock Hill Homestead by Warren & Mahoney

Flock Hill Homestead by New Zealand architectural practice Warren & Mahoney is a serene sanctuary enveloped by nature, with Biophilic design principles used to maximise the incredible surrounding views. The home has been designed to have a continuous connection between the interior and exterior spaces, with timber used internally to frame the stunning views of Lake Pearson and Sugar Loaf.

2. Resilient Building Design

With increasing difficulties being faced by climate-related issues, resilient building design became will become an integral aspect to be considered when designing and constructing homes in 2023. Resilient building design involves implementing strategies to ensure buildings are prepared for natural weather events including bushfires and flooding. This means implementing building resilience techniques into the design and construction process, including:

• Building sites strategically away from vegetation
• Using non-combustible construction materials
• Choosing water-resistant materials
• Constructing elevated floor levels

At Arkular, we take careful consideration of the surrounding environment and the individual needs of each design. One common consideration many people need to assess when designing and constructing their home is a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating. The BAL rating measures the severity of a building’s potential exposure to direct flame contact, radiant heat and ember attack. Our Flame Zone Home is a flame-proof concept customised for the most extreme level of fire rating using FireCrunch, a new type of fireproof building board material which is a magnesium oxide building board, MgO board and features a total fire block to intensive fire storms over 1000 deg C. Click this link to view more information about our Flame Zone Home.

3. Organic, Earthy Textures –
Design trend to love in 2023

Textural materials, tactile homewares and earthy, organic finishes will dominate the design and architecture space in 2023, with a continued priority on creating a synergetic connection between our home, the environment and our surrounding landscape.

Textured walls generated through methods such as Venetian Plaster and Limewash will continue to be a popular choice, pairing well with other raw textural elements such as timber and concrete. Tiles with added tactility will also be favoured in 2023, adding life and dimension to interior spaces. Homewares in shades of rust, green and ochre continue the organic theme, seen in organic materials such as jute, linen and travertine.

4. Eco-driven Construction Methods 

Sustainably focused construction methods will continue to grow in both popularity and importance in 2023.

Prefabrication and Modularisation

The prefabricated and modular construction markets are rapidly evolving within Australia, with new systems, materials and technologies assisting with increased development. Globally, the prefabricated construction market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 7.1% from 2020 to 2026 and by 2026, will reach USD $174 billion (Zhang et al., 2022).

Dramatic shifts towards prefabrication will continue to be seen within Australia, due to its time-saving, waste minimisation and improved quality benefits. In Sweden, over 84% of detached houses have prefabricated elements compared to only 5% in Australia and the UK.

Prefabrication and modularisation offer multiple advantages as a method of construction, including energy saving, reduction of on-site construction waste, general cost saving and scheduling benefits.

5. Low Embodied Carbon Materials

The built environment sector is responsible for one-quarter of Australia’s emissions. At Arkular, we are always looking for new eco-friendly materials to lessen our home’s Carbon footprints. A new material created by a Melbourne business is Kobe cement bonded wood composite.

Kobe Board is an environmentally sustainable composite material that combines wood and cement’s best properties. By being a highly compressed mixture of sustainable plantation eucalyptus wood particles, Portland cement, mineralising agents and water, it’s a material that centres the design within the landscape while also giving back. Paired with the iconic Australian Silver Top Ash, it grounds the whole structure in the coastal Shoreham environment.

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Nothing can compare to what a good lifestyle change offers. We at Arkular know that every client has different wants and needs, and we at Arkular aim to achieve them for the client. Strong communication, Critical thinking, keeping the client informed, and being there from start to finish. It’s the Arkular way!