It is indeed true that the world is currently facing challenges such as wars and climate crises. However, as Confucius wisely stated, instead of dwelling on the darkness, it is more productive to light a candle and focus on a more hopeful future. Therefore, it is important for us to avoid despair and make our contributions to the world in any way possible. In this regard, it is anticipated that in 2024, there will be a greater emphasis on sustainability, renewable energy sources, waste management, recycling, and biophilic design.

In today's society, the importance of staying connected with nature is widely recognized. Even in bustling cities with advanced technology, we now understand the significance of making eco-friendly choices and reconnecting with the natural world by creating our own mini ecosystems. That's why opting for recyclable products or designs crafted from recycling initiatives brings us greater fulfillment compared to our previous habit of thoughtlessly depleting the Earth's resources. Enhancing our living spaces with natural materials and embracing plants in our daily lives not only benefits the environment but also nurtures our well-being.

Can we work together to create a better world by modifying our consumption habits? Which habits will contribute to a cleaner and healthier world, beginning in 2024? Let's explore some of the design trends that will become more popular this year…

Promoting Sustainability and Optimal Utilization of Natural Resources

In broad terms, sustainability can be described as solutions and processes that maintain their effectiveness over a prolonged period. From this standpoint, the most effective approach to accomplishing a particular objective is to strive for maximum efficiency over an extended duration while utilizing minimal resources.

When we talk about sustainability in architecture, we often think of methods such as using natural and recyclable materials, choosing producers who prioritize environmentally-friendly processes, and maximizing the efficiency of renewable energy sources. For instance, designing a building to take advantage of sunlight through strategic planning helps us reduce energy waste, minimize our carbon footprint, and offer sustainable solutions for our world. By minimizing our reliance on fossil fuels, we can avoid the negative impact of toxic gases on our health. Additionally, embracing renewable energy sources that are readily available in nature, like harnessing the power of the sun in our living spaces, benefits both us and the environment while also saving money. Additionally, the collection and reuse of rainwater offer significant advantages for our environment.

In this regard, Durlum's daylight lighting systems, Diamond Tube and Light Pipe, provide a sustainable solution by harnessing the power of the sun, the most potent renewable energy source, to enhance our daily lives with optimal efficiency. For Durlum, sustainability is a core principle that guides all aspects of its operations, from production to implementation. The responsible and effective utilization of natural resources in these processes is a direct result of its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint. Moreover, Durlum meets 50% of its electricity requirements through renewable energy sources.

Durlum's DIAMOND TUBE daylight lighting systems offer a captivating visual experience, as they interact with the changing sunlight throughout the day. These systems create elegant light patterns on the floor and walls, resulting in a mesmerizing glittering effect. This effect not only provides visual appeal but also brings a sense of tranquility and beauty to the interior space. The play of light varies throughout the day, following the movement of the sun, offering users a unique and calming experience. With its ability to adapt to circadian rhythms and energize the atmosphere, this sophisticated light show enhances the overall ambiance. It is particularly beneficial for spaces with limited access to natural light and offers a great solution for those looking to maximize the use of daylight.

LIGHT PIPE is an excellent solution, particularly for areas that lack sufficient access to natural light. The innovative product features a Fresnel diffuser on top, which efficiently directs daylight into the interior. This diffuser refracts and diffuses the incoming light, ensuring homogeneous distribution throughout the space. As a result, the environment is illuminated with balanced and comfortable daylight. Furthermore, even if an interior space already receives natural light, LIGHT PIPE can be chosen as an aesthetic product that enhances spaciousness and strengthens the design.

Recycling, Upcycling

The ideas of recycling and upcycling have been on our radar for quite some time. However, in recent years, they have gained even more significance and impact in our daily lives. With the growing global awareness of environmental issues, it is safe to say that these concepts will continue to be a key focus in 2024.

Recycling is the practice of reprocessing used or waste materials and restoring them to their original function. Upcycling, on the other hand, involves reprocessing used or waste materials and repurposing them for a different function. These processes play a crucial role in resource conservation and waste reduction. Recyclable materials are those that can undergo these processes and be reprocessed. By participating in recycling and upcycling, these materials contribute to the production of new products.

We can begin supporting recycling projects on an individual level by intentionally sorting our waste. If we make a concerted effort to sort and recycle our discarded items, it may be feasible to reuse the resulting products within our households once again.

One of the industries responsible for causing environmental pollution is undoubtedly the construction sector. Given the significant impact of this sector on the environment, it is evident how crucial it is for all parties involved to act responsibly, not just for ourselves but also for our planet, Earth. The recyclability of construction materials holds great significance in this regard. The substantial amount of waste generated from interior renovations or demolitions poses a significant threat to our environment if not properly reused.

In this regard, Durlum fulfills our environmental obligations by utilizing highly recyclable raw materials. Recyclable building components are an integral part of a sustainable design approach. These components are manufactured from recyclable materials and strive to minimize the environmental footprint of buildings.

Biophilic Design: Connecting with Nature

Biophilic design, an approach that aims to enhance people's health, well-being, and comfort, encourages a deeper connection with nature. In architectural design, this is manifested through the use of natural materials, incorporating more green spaces indoors, and optimizing natural light. By highlighting the stress-reducing benefits of connecting with nature, biophilic design offers a pathway to finding inner peace, which is increasingly sought after in our modern era. As a result, the term biophilic design, already familiar to many, is expected to gain further popularity in the field of architecture by 2024.

When considering biophilic design in architecture, we aim to seamlessly blend interiors with the natural environment in a harmonious manner. This involves incorporating natural textures into objects, furniture, and building materials within our living spaces, as well as enhancing our personal connection with greenery, a vital element often lacking in urban settings. This emerging trend appeals to individuals seeking a sustainable and authentic living experience, and has already garnered significant interest.

Ceilings and walls are the most visually captivating surfaces in a space. In this regard, Durlum's eco-friendly and sustainable products offer a wide range of options to incorporate natural elements into these surfaces. For instance, by utilizing PAREA daylight simulation walls, you can create the illusion of a window opening up to daylight on a solid wall. PAREA spreads the light from the indirect LED luminaires into the room using reflectors, creating the illusion of a window behind the surface. By employing gentle and uniform lighting to create depth, it enhances the perception of space and promotes a soothing atmosphere.

Comfortable and Ergonomic Designs

After the pandemic, our preferences for spending time indoors have undergone a significant transformation. Now, we seek to create spaces that are not only comfortable but also conducive to peace and tranquility, especially in our homes and workplaces. In this regard, the use of natural and ergonomic designs emerges as two promising options that are likely to gain popularity this year.

The sense of comfort, often described as feeling at home, is enhanced through ergonomic designs. For many years, individuals focused on spiritual studies have emphasized the idea that taking care of our bodies promotes a calm mind. One effective way to care for our bodies is by incorporating ergonomic designs. When a design is ergonomically satisfying, it enhances our mental productivity. Therefore, it can be said that in 2024, priority will be given to designs that align with human nature, are ergonomic, and contribute to our overall happiness.

Rounded shapes, warm colors, and natural textures that align with human nature are also important elements that enhance our comfort. The gray tones and ultra-minimalism that have been prevalent for many years, particularly in workplaces, will be set aside for now; warm, neutral, or earthy tones like orange appear to have a greater presence in our lives. Additionally, instead of clean designs with sharp angles, more organic and curved lines are expected to be prominent. Visually or through touch, natural materials are also anticipated to have a greater presence in our lives. By 2024, it seems that our connection with nature will continue to strengthen on a global scale.

For instance, Durlum's LOOP metal ceilings blend well with natural shapes due to their rhythmic circular hollow structure. You can incorporate the curved shapes of Lumeo-R and Tomeo-R ceiling-lighting combinations to complement the rounded lines in your design. Alternatively, if you desire a three-dimensional circular form, Durlum's DOMUS curved ceilings will introduce a sense of fluid dynamism to your space and enhance the organic forms utilized in your design.

Trending Colors for 2024: Peach Fuzz and Apricot Crush

The Pantone Color Institute and WGSN are two highly regarded institutions that annually reveal the trend color forecasts for design enthusiasts and professionals.

According to Pantone's own definition, the Pantone Color Institute™ is a consultancy that predicts global color trends and provides advice to companies on how to use and incorporate color as a strategic asset in brand identity and product development. Through forecasts of seasonal trends, development of custom colors, and recommendations for product and corporate identity palettes, the Pantone Color Institute has built a strong reputation as a top resource for color selection worldwide and offers guidance on utilizing the power, psychology, and emotional impact of color in design strategies.

This year, the Pantone Color Institute has chosen 'Peach Fuzz' as the color of the year. This vibrant and youthful color evokes the enchantment of those timeless moments when we believe that summer will never fade away. In 2024, Peach Fuzz is anticipated to be widely embraced in various design fields, including fashion and interior design.

The WGSN (Worth Global Style Network) is a well-known trend forecasting agency that has gained global recognition. Designers eagerly anticipate WGSN's annual color forecast, which this year is 'Apricot Crush', a shade similar to the forecast by the Pantone Color Institute.

Both Peach Fuzz and Apricot Crush, like other current interior design trends, complement a design that can be effortlessly paired with natural materials. For instance, textures like wood and terracotta, or various shades of green, perfectly complement these colors. Moreover, impressive combinations can be achieved by juxtaposing these warm tones with contrasting colors. For instance, vibrant shades of blue can be used to create an energetic interior.

Durlum offers metal panels that can be customized in any RAL color of your preference. These panels can serve as a complementary element for your decoration. You have the flexibility to use these panels in various ways, such as metal wall panels or ceiling systems, by painting them in the color of the year. For instance, you can choose to use different colors on both surfaces of the aluminum louvers of the LIVA open-cell metal ceiling, creating an engaging visual effect on your ceiling. By combining the aluminum louvers at different heights and placing them at right angles to each other, LIVA's design adds movement and vitality to your space.

Durlum's powder coating is applied to metal surfaces as a single-layer coating and meets international fire resistance standards. Powder coating offers excellent protection against weather conditions, corrosion, UV rays, mechanical impacts, and chemicals. This environmentally friendly process ensures that the paint reaches every nook and cranny, including cavities and edges.

These warm colors are trending everywhere this year, creating a calm and loving environment. Peach Fuzz and Apricot Crush are expected to bring warmth in 2024, filling our living spaces with various shades of sunshine…

Let's Make 2024 a Great Year for Everyone

The positive aspect of this year's design trends is their adaptability to different budgets and preferences. In other words, considering the prevailing theme of our time - saving and being mindful of our consumption habits - there are choices available that can easily be incorporated into our lives. By embracing conscious consumption and cultivating attitudes that strengthen our connection with nature, we can increase our overall awareness and strive for a world characterized by balanced social relationships and reduced conflicts. Our goal for 2024 is to promote environmental sensitivity, raise consciousness about the use of natural resources, and reduce waste production.

Wishing you all a healthy, happy, and successful 2024…