Even if people say that architecture is not about words, sometimes it may seem like buildings can speak to you. One reason for this could be that construction specifics, curves and the whole style of a building tells you its history. What were the prevailing ideas or opinions at the time, the traditions, celebrations—everything's in the details.

Since its creation in 2011, this Reddit community continues to share pictures of "the beautiful impossibilities that we want to live in". According to the moderators, "Individual images of buildings are the focus of this subreddit," and it's true. The page is full of high-quality pics of architecture that will interest and inspire you.

It's no secret that beauty is relative. If the structure looks weird to you, it does not actually mean that the creator has poor taste. According to architect, designer and artist Ron Arad, what we consider beautiful architecture is actually all about the "culture, context, personal history, acquired taste and, most importantly, ideas. When an architectural problem is solved by an idea, that idea is always there to be seen in the building – the idea has a visual manifestation that is beautiful."

Another architect, Sam Jacob, said that aesthetics is actually not an essential consideration in architecture: "Beauty, if it’s anything, is a psycho-cultural phenomenon. After all, it’s an idea (or a sensation) that is not inherent to a thing but a qualitative value thrust upon the object of our gaze."

The cycle of beauty goes like this: shock, then acceptance, then mainstream before it becomes the one thing to rebel against. "When people use the word beauty in design, they are seeking refuge from all of the difficulties of modern life – all of its doubts, fears and challenges," he explained.

However, being pleasing to the eye is not the only attribute of great architecture. It can also tell a lot about us as human beings. One of the main things they teach you about ancient cultures is in fact the structures they built. Through it, we can get a glimpse of what the builders and other people living there were like. Let's take ancient Egyptian civilization, we see the pyramids, the temples, the Sphinx and can immediately get a sense of how they viewed their rulers and religion.

Also, big historic events like The Industrial Revolution had an effect on many life aspects. The birth of mass production of iron and steel was a game-changer in construction. It allowed to design bigger and lighter structures and gave a path to Modernism. So one way or the other, all revolutions and historic changes influenced the way we see and think about design, and if we would take more time to observe it, we could clearly see how.

If design concepts tell so much about our culture and environment, what would they say about our present way of life? One very important topic now is sustainability. The U.S. Energy Information Administration stated that buildings generate nearly 40% of annual global CO2 emissions and that the global building floor area is expected to double by 2060.

Since the population and sea levels will continue to rise, architects will have to adapt. Architecture Quote is an innovative platform where you can find the right architect for any type of project you have in mind. According to them, "Architecture is the solution to poverty, overcrowding, and land depletion." They provide a few thoughts on what future trends in construction will look like.

Nowadays, architects are urged to take into account sustainability, carbon footprint, price, and innovations. When it comes to choosing building materials, timber seems to be a trend that's coming back. It has been used for thousands of years and there still are some buildings that can be dated back to 6000 B.C. "Timber is an inexpensive, light, and easy material to work with during construction," Architecture Quote explained. "The future of architecture inches closer and closer to more eco-friendly, sustainable solutions each year. Timber actually stores carbon and helps our planet."

Plywood and newspaper wood are also being used more frequently due to the new look that they give. There's the growing idea of repurposing materials for a new use, like newspapers. They are especially popular in small living spaces since they give a sense of warmth to the interior.

According to the platform, glass is also considered to become an important material in future housing. There's a new glass technology that can harness heat from the sun and add to the insulation of the building. "This is particularly exciting for energy efficiency and sustainability in the future," they said. "Future buildings feature more and more glass as we have learned that it can help with stress, anxiety, productivity, and depression."

Another thing that is considered is earth materials. Even though making walls out of mushrooms might sound crazy, it is possible. And it's actually better for us to breathe in. "Materials like mud and adobe have been used since the beginning of civilization. The architecture of the future has taken inspiration from the past." Using the resources that our planet provides us is not only greener but also economically attractive.

Besides, there are new types of buildings that are emerging due to our fast-paced lives. For example, tiny or modular homes. They provide a less environmental impact while saving you time and money. With small homes, you don't have to stay at exactly one location, you can roll your house anywhere you wish. With modular architecture, houses are built off-site and being delivered already finished to the site.

"The demand for these small homes is on the rise and we can expect to see many more tiny homes in the future. Architects are building for smaller and smaller spaces as populations rise, whether it is a tiny home or a small apartment. The future is all about small."

Lastly, let's not forget green buildings. According to the World Green Building Council, “A ‘green’ building is a building that, in its design, construction or operation, reduces or eliminates negative impacts, and can create positive impacts, on our climate and natural environment.” So it seems that the hope for the future of architecture is using low-waste and reusable materials, living tighter, greener and more mobile.

Even though the facts of environmental impact and population rise sound alarming, such architectural trends are giving us hope to be excited about the future of construction. Admire these photos on your screen and try to think about how they reflect our lives. And if that seems like not enough, we have some more stunning architecture right here and here.