Theorising the contemporary architectural trends in the context of the twenty-first century variables

Abstract

No one could have anticipated the tremendous changes that occurred to the natural and built environment throughout the last few decades. Climate change, the spread of pandemics, natural disasters, the increasing rates of Carbon emissions, and the AI revolution are among the critical issues that have radically impacted architectural thought. The question is: Are architects today prepared to design buildings and cities that can withstand these changes? The problem lies in the shortage of comprehensive knowledge of the theoretical foundations that can guide architects in addressing these variables. This paper, therefore, aims to produce a comprehensive theorisation chart for contemporary architectural trends, generated and developed between 2000 and 2025. Based on qualitative methodology, the paper begins with a literature review defining the meanings of Architectural Trend, Contemporary Architectural Trend, and Theorisation, then identifies the significant twenty-first-century variables. The paper demonstrates previous readings and concludes a framework of analysis. The research analyses six case studies, followed by a detailed comparison. In the discussion, the paper reaches the new theorisation ‒ evolutionary tree ‒ chart. As a result, this chart may provide a new classification that guides architects, critics, and students in comprehending the reflections of twenty-first-century variables on architecture.