So what does it mean to be an architect or constructor of the future? A couple of decades ago, we may have pictured buildings that looked like they could take off into space, and still return to earth in one piece. Admittedly, yes, in some parts of the world, buildings need to be designed to withstand huge impact and therefore require modern methods of construction. Natural disasters, or even regeneration, encourage greater attention to structure and form.

These days, a forward-thinking approach to building design involves far more than just the building fabric. As we become a culture with an innate awareness of environmental responsibility, more emphasis seems to be placed on projects in their entirety. In interior design, for example, we are increasingly witnessing an equal level of commitment. One company that is taking sustainability to the extreme is Google at its new HQ in Central Saint Giles, London.

Re-used and reclaimed materials set against a contemporary backdrop has put this building on the map in terms of sustainability. Vintage furniture has meant that production of new items has been spared, as has landfill!

Aside from unconventional aesthetics – the company’s granny flat evokes a love or hate response – Google has demonstrated that contemporary design doesn’t have to be a strict formula. In a day and age where environmental responsibility is integral to the development of our planet, sometimes in order to look to the future, we need to revisit the past.