Although the winner won’t be announced until November at the World Architecture Festival, the 338 nominations for Building of the Year are in. The structures are diverse in terms of design and function, including hotels, retail spaces, religious buildings and museums. There are many innovative and thought-provoking designs and a few noticeable themes running through them. Two things that stand out are the widespread use of glass and concrete.

Glass is still a very popular material because it helps to keep properties warm and allows natural light to flood into the interior. In commercial architecture, lighting the interior is crucial, and many projects have failed because they couldn’t achieve it effectively. Relying on artificial light won’t work because people are becoming more energy conscious and want properties that are more sustainable. Glass therefore offers the perfect solution.

Concrete is widely used because it is one of the most flexible building materials available. It can set in a wide range of different shapes and designs, allowing talented designers to create all kinds of patterns and structures. It also has superb strength and stability.

Modern designers are widely using glass and concrete to rewrite the rules about the form and function of structures. The flexibility of the materials means designs can be more unique than ever, including angles, curves and practically anything other feature the designer can imagine. It is also an encouraging trend because both materials are beneficial for the environment, producing a smaller carbon footprint and being recyclable.

Our architects in London love using glass and concrete in commercial and domestic projects, alongside a wide range of other eco-friendly and traditional building materials. When it comes to designing a property we always take the form into account and plan how we can best present it.