Imagine a future without blinds or curtains where your windows can be turned transparent or opaque with the flick of a switch. This may soon be possible with the advent of electrochromic glass. This material is composed of layers of specially formulated metals and plastics, which change their optical properties with electrical stimulation. The windows can also selectively reflect infrared light, which is responsible for much indoor overheating, leading to cooler interiors and lower use of air conditioning.  Tiny cracks in concrete do not necessarily affect structural integrity in the short term, but they do allow water and other chemicals to seep into the structure, which may cause problems over time. Self-healing concrete has embedded clay particles that contain dormant bacteria and a food source. When a crack appears in the concrete, water seeps in and activates the bacteria. When they wake, the bacteria eat their packed lunch and then conveniently excrete chalk, which fills the crack.  Biomimicry – taking inspiration from the natural world to solve our problems – is already in use in buildings such as the Dome at Greenwich, London, where the "lotus effect" is used to create self-cleaning surfaces. A drop of water on a lotus leaf stands proud and spherical, as the microscopic surface contours do not allow the drop to spread out. If buildings are designed with surfaces like this, then rainwater just rolls off, taking dirt with it.  This is a solid glass foam saturated with minuscule air bubbles. It is the lightest solid on earth and an extremely efficient insulator. It will one day allow us to build walls or windows that are not only see-through, but will provide efficient insulation – allowing architects of the future more freedom to create visionary structures without worrying about heat loss. Aerogel's eerie appearance has earned it the nickname of "solid smoke".  This material is created by joining together two metals that expand at different rates when heated, making the structure bend and contort as the metals grapple with each other at their interface. It may be used in the future to produce specially shaped "skins" for buildings that respond to heat in much the same way our own skin does. When it's cold, the skin will remain closed and stop air flowing through it. When it heats up, pores open across its surface, allowing the building to breathe.  • Philip Howes is a researcher at the Institute of Making, King's College London: instituteofmaking.org.uk
Buildings that repair themselves. Glass that cools your home. Has the brick had its day? Philip Howes explores the latest building technology