This Week in Tech: 2018 in Review

Luke Hayes/Hyundai Pavilion designed by Asif Khan at PyeongChang Winter Olympics 2018 Asif Khan's Hyundai Pavilion is coated with the world's blackest black

This past year was a whirlwind of advancements in design and technology. In 2018, the architecture and tech communities focused on performance, new building materials, and aesthetic design tends, among others. The last edition of "This Week in Tech" for 2018 reviews some of our popular tech and product stories in this past year.

Best of Technology

Automation

3D Printing and Swarm Robotics Merge in Neri Oxman's Fiberbots

by Wanda Lau

A research team supervised by the founding director of MIT's Mediated Matter Group has fabricated a human-scale structure with autonomous robots.

technology

Virtual Reality as the Future of Collaborative Design

by Katharine Keane

Tech company Nvidia has partnered with architecture firms like CannonDesign to create a VR experience for multiple users to virtually edit and annotate designs.

The Near Future

Autodesk University 2018 Challenges the Future of Work, Again

by Terri Peters

The annual conference showcased recent technologies to approximately 11,000 AEC professionals with hardly a pause to reflect on lingering issues, such as data sharing.

Prefabricated Housing

Blokable's Quest to Disrupt Prefab

by Karrie Jacobs

Can a Seattle startup help solve our affordable housing crisis?

Technology

Asif Khan Designs the World's First Super-Black Building for the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics

by Ayda Ayoubi

Coated with the world's blackest black, the pavilion creates the illusion of a black void in its backdrop.

Best of Trade Shows

Products

Nine Top Picks from ICFF 2018

by Alice Liao

The show's 30th iteration features commercial and residential products by nearly 750 exhibitors.

Products

The Vibrant Colors and Bold Patterns of NeoCon 2018

by Ayda Ayoubi

At this year's show, manufacturers showcased products that intend to fill contract and commercial interiors with a homey, nostalgic vibe.

Products

Cersaie 2018: Tile and Ceramic Trends to Watch in 2019

by Ayda Ayoubi

Seven standout products from this year's international exhibition of ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings in Bologna, Italy.

Products

Sustainable Products from Greenbuild 2018

by Ayda Ayoubi

Seven standouts from the international conference and expo, held Nov. 14–16 in Chicago.

Products

Eight Exciting Tech Products for Architects from CES 2018

by Selin Ashaboglu

Connected devices were at the forefront of the annual event, which showcased 20,000 products.

Best of Mind & Matter

Mind & Matter

Dazed and ... Constructed? How Hemp Could Alter Material Selections in Architecture

by Blaine Brownell

Blaine Brownell explores uses of the plant-based alternative in concrete, textiles, varnish, and other building products.

Mind & Matter

The Plastic Plight

by Blaine Brownell

Despite increased awareness around climate change and global pollution, demand for petrochemicals is rising. Blaine Brownell explains the recyclability of plastic and how architects can reduce their dependence.

Mind & Matter

Concrete, It's Electric!

by Blaine Brownell

Researchers are increasingly innovating renewable concrete that can power and store energy, making the material more appealing for future projects.

Mind & Matter

Wine Be Damned, Cork Is For Building

by Blaine Brownell

From flooring to façades, cork has entered the product arena as an environmentally friendly, viable construction option.

Mind & Matter

Lead: Both a Frank Gehry Favorite and a Material Pariah

by Blaine Brownell

Why do architects and designers still specify dangerous substances? And what can be done when public health safety requires their removal? Blaine Brownell explores.