13 Futuristic Design Concepts That Will Change The Way We Live

When people think of the future, many imagine a bleak, dark dystopia from a science fiction movie where technology has enslaved humanity. Those with a more positive mindset picture an upbeat and harmonious utopia where technology has improved humankind instead of destroyed it.

The reality of all this is that the distant future isn’t that distant. The future is right around the corner and futuristic designs and concepts are starting to show up in architecture around the globe. When coming up with futuristic design concepts, many brands look towards clean energy, solar power, and artificial intelligence.

In some cases, companies are hard at work creating new and innovative travel methods while other designers and architects are finding new places to create futuristic cities. Some designers are creating floating cities above the ocean with new forms of transportation while others are diving deep into the ocean to construct underwater pods.

Many of these futuristic homes and modes of transportation are already in the works. These new designs focus on taking care of the environment, with several companies also using tech to improve the medical profession. These futuristic design concepts are relatively new and are changing the world in ways humanity could never imagine, as you will discover below. 

13 Futuristic Design Concepts That Will Change The Way We Live

1. Horizon Mass Transit System 

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Studio Globe’s Horizon Mass Transit System will revolutionize the way people commute. It takes travelers to new places by quickly shifting from the ground to the sky. Passengers board a Skyline Pod at their nearest SkyStation. The train-like pods travel to the airstrip, connecting to the SkyShip.

The SkyShip lifts the pods into the air as it travels to the next stop. The aircraft’s specially designed wings mean the SkyShip never lands, improving efficiency. In addition to luggage and passengers, the pods carry battery packs and fuel for the aircraft. It’ll change the way people travel forever if it ever gets the official go-ahead. 

2. Vertical Farming 

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Several new designs strive to be eco-friendly, efficient, and provide sustainability. Companies are finding new ways to bring green spaces to city skyscrapers. Enter the farmscraper. Better known as vertical farming, each section or pebble features homes, offices, and shopping centers. The green areas and agricultural sections produce more energy than it uses. The smart city collects energy and water with solar cells, vegetation, and wind turbines. 

3. Floating City

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Aleksandar Joksimovic and Jelena Nikolic have the vision to save the world from a potential disaster or war with their futuristic architectural designs. Joksimovic and Nikolic proposed a self-sustaining floating city, Noah’s Ark. Connected to the ocean floor by flexible cables, Noah’s Ark features 210-foot walls to combat tsunamis and intense winds. Massive turbines under the city turn ocean water into energy to power the entire city.

When things on the surface get too hot, humans can retreat to their futuristic buildings above the water. The floating city has enough space for humans, plants, animals, and trees. It also features areas for homes, parks, forests, offices, and beaches. The smart city thrives on being eco-friendly and providing clean energy instead of fossil fuels. 

4. Sustainable Solar Powered Homes

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Known as Team Sweden, roughly 40 university students collaborated to create an entirely solar-powered home known as Halo. Consisting of renewable wood, Halo’s solar-cell-covered roof provides power to the entire house. If that wasn’t enough, it features 30 modules that fit perfectly together.

The cutting-edge home takes solar power technology to new places. Like many futuristic homes, it’s eco-friendly, relying on clean energy. With the sun’s power, Halo’s paving the way for future solar-powered homes, vehicles, and more. 

5. High-Speed Transportation

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The future of tomorrow’s transportation is almost here. Tesla Motors and Elon Musk have been hard at work creating a concept design known as Hyperloop. At this point, Hyperloop is entering the next phase of testing. At the cost of $6.2 billion, it consists of pressurized capsules that glide on air cushions through a steel tube.

The proposed high-speed transportation system route runs 354 miles with a top speed of 600 mph. It’ll travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in just 35 minutes, which is incredible. With tickets proposed at $20 each way, the capsules will depart every 30 seconds carrying six to eight individuals. As Hyperloop becomes closer to reality, it has the potential to change the way of life in ways nobody could imagine. 

6. Tidal Wave Powered House

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Now your house can ride the waves too with this futuristic concept from Tidal Wave Powered House. Despite the lack of research on self-sustaining tidal wave homes, architect Margot Krasojević believes it’s the wave of the future working with solar and wind energy. The primary power source comes from the tidal wave, generating electricity throughout the house. The futuristic architecture design comprises two shells featuring lightweight aluminum.

The inner shell rises and drops with the tide, grounding the outer shell. The concrete outer shell’s hydraulic turbines harness the tidal wave power. The shell’s also designed to react to the activity of the hydraulic turbine’s pistons. With the inner shell acting as an anchor, the flexible outer shell includes solar cells supplying the living space with electrical power. 

7. Drone Ambulance 

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Innovative technology isn’t only for floating cities and high-speed transportation. Futuristic tech will help the medical profession become more efficient. Improving ambulance times by seconds will make all the difference in the world. Traffic jams have a way of slowing response times, but design company Argodesign believes they have the solution to cutting emergency response time with drone ambulances.

Since an ambulance drone can land anywhere, it can reach emergencies faster. These drones will transport one EMT to the patient, allowing them to load the patient and fly to the hospital. The firm continues to work hard on making drone ambulances a reality. This futuristic design concept will take the world and the health profession to the future, allowing more lives to be saved. 

8. Ocean Spiral 

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Movies and television shows always look to the sky or space to depict the future. Well, it turns out that diving deep into the ocean is where the future is heading. The Shimizu Corporation proposes a concept, Ocean Spiral, that would take humanity into the sea. The self-sustaining underwater city features a giant glass dome, Blue Garden, which will house a population of 5,000. It’ll have everything humanity needs to survive underwater.

The key to the $25 billion project is the deep sea section known as Earth Factory. The factory develops deep-sea resources while storing carbon dioxide. The incredible structure can withstand harsh weather conditions, notably earthquakes and typhoons. The eco-friendly underwater smart city will focus on clean energy by harnessing the power of the ocean. 

9. Underground Living 

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Underground cities refer to human-made structures that are built entirely beneath the surface of the earth. These cities have existed for centuries and evolved from primitive tunnels and cave systems to residential areas where people live and work. These cities often have impressive underground transportation systems and new technology that allows people to survive underground. Better known as subterranean architecture, these cities provide a peaceful escape from the world and are becoming more popular. 

10. Windowless Planes

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Futuristic designs with groundbreaking technology are more than just cool concepts. As it takes humanity to the 31st century, these eco-friendly designs help improve the environment and the Earth. For example, Windowless Planes create a unique and daring atmosphere for passengers while keeping environmental concerns in mind.

The U.K. tech company Centre for Process Innovation plans commercial flights that replace windows with flexible display screen panels. With cameras mounted on the plane’s exterior, the display screens provide views surrounding the aircraft. The display screens can also change color with the sunrise or sunset. Without windows, the plane carries less weight and thus uses less fuel, reducing CO2 emissions. At this point, the company continues to work on this innovative tech, hoping for a windowless fuselage by 2035.

11. Pod Living

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With the population growing and traffic increasing, cities are overcrowded. Governments around the globe are looking for new ways to improve conditions. Pod living is starting to become a popular alternative, with POD hotels first becoming popular in Japan before spreading around the world.

The compact pods feature a bed in a shared space. They also include community bathrooms and kitchens. These rooms are affordable and don’t take up much space. Pod living is ideal for students and young people just starting out independently. Renters won’t go broke and won’t be a burden on governments trying to free up space. 

12. 3D Prosthetic Limbs

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Amputees often encounter prosthetics that have a robotic feel. However, technological advancements profoundly impact the health profession, allowing the industry to provide the best treatment. Industrial designer William Root believes 3D printing will revolutionize prosthetics. Exo-prosthetic avoids wasting time and money like traditional methods. Instead of looking like a standard prosthetic, Exo-prosthetic creates a titanium exoskeleton. The process includes using a 3D scanner and 3D printer.

Additionally, the company uses 3D modeling software to ensure a custom-fit prosthetic that’s exact and at a reasonable price. Customers often praise the appearance and comfort of the 3D prosthetic. It lets them move their limbs freely, allowing clothes to fit naturally. Research shows this has a positive impact on their psychological and mental state. 

13. Space Is Next 

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Once humans build floating communities, farm scrapers, and underwater cities, there’s only one place left for humans to call home – space. For decades humans have tried to find other habitable planets, with the hope that humanity will eventually discover new worlds to call home. Space architects will follow the same plan as their eco-friendly Earth designers and build smart cities that will become the norm in a few years. Creating these cities in space won’t be easy and designers will face numerous obstacles, such as trying to repair and build architecture in space.