New Constructions Setting Exterior Design Trends in 2025

With influences from local surroundings and a focus on sustainability, these forward-thinking façade features are the ones to watch this year. 

When it comes to the face of a building, it’s not only about creating attractive frontage; for a designer it’s a thoughtful balance of both aesthetic appeal and functionality. 

This year, designers embracing innovative approaches to façades, integrating elements that echo their surroundings, while meeting modern demands. 

To explore these trends, we spoke with FK Australia head of design and partner Nicky Drobis who offered her insights on what’s to come for 2025.  

Drawing from local settings

A prominent trend that’s been steadily growing in appeal relates to how new buildings fit in with their surroundings. 

Many Australian developments already embrace the idea of drawing inspiration from the site’s immediate environment, which Ms Drobis views as a way to foster a distinct local identity and expects to see more of in the months to come. 

“There’s an evolution in Queensland of beachside location buildings being curvaceous and taking cues from the natural forms of the beach,” Ms Drobis said.  

“Buildings in Melbourne that are in areas that were once commercial or industrial, are taking cues from industrial language with black steel, or grids or masonry.”  

This can be seen in developments such as The Carter Building by Orchard Piper, which reflects Melbourne’s character by utilising the city’s foundation bluestone, which is the same stone used in iconic landmarks such as the NGV.  

MORE: Interior design trends to embrace for new homes in 2025 

Another example is ERA Newcastle, GWH’s development offering 281 residences across two towers.  

Designed by FK Australia, the towers have masonry and polished concrete along with metallic and grid elements.  

“The design takes its cues from heritage buildings, which are plentiful and beautiful in Newcastle, to bring in that texture and grain,” Ms Drobis said.  

“Newcastle is a beachside town and also one that has a very strong and proud industrial heritage so, the design combines those two very strong stories of Newcastle in the one development.” 

Embracing sustainability

Sustainability is a significant consideration for many Aussies looking for a new home. While for a time it mostly impacted unseen or less prominent building features, now it’s coming to the fore, driving exterior trends in new developments. 

ERA Newcastle draws inspiration from the area’s beach and industrial heritage. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

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For example, the Buildings that Breathe guide by Brisbane City Council encourages sub-tropical design across new buildings within the city’s centre.  

One development inspired by this is Urban Forest by Aria Property Group, which aims to be the “world’s greenest residential building” due to its façade featuring 550 trees and over 25,000 plants. 

Ms Drobis said there’s a shift towards façades with a higher solid-to-glass ratio, somewhat reducing the use of glazed surfaces to improve energy efficiency. 

“Solid surfaces stop heat gain and heat loss into our buildings but still provide great amenity with light and breathable façades,” she said.  

MORE: Off-the-plan apartments with the best city views 

Lowe Living’s Emerald Place in Melbourne exemplifies this through a “façade-first approach” that reduces reliance on heating and cooling.  

Another sustainable trend involves the integration of structural elements into façades to reduce a building’s carbon footprint by cutting down on materials.  

“In the past, you would see decorative elements on façades and then you would have a structural grid within,” Ms Drobis said. 

“But we’ve been working very hard over the last number of years to see where we can refine that even further and integrate the structure for the building in the façade.” 

A resurgence of colour

Despite a trend of using lighter tones in building exteriors, Ms Drobis anticipates a wider array of hues to enter the fold as buildings near completion in 2025.

Emerald Place utilises a “façade-first” approach in its sustainable design. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

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“Traditional reds and masonry are coming back in a large way, which is wonderful because bricks, as a building element, bring that terrific level of scale and grain, which I think we all really enjoy as pedestrians,” she said.  

Muted grain colours, terracotta and brown tones are on the horizon too.  

“We’ll also be seeing strong colour blocking too,” Ms Drobis said. 

“Not necessarily layering of colours but just very bold colour blocking for our buildings.”  

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