You'd think that contemporary architecture would be all futuristic and doing something different, but frankly it is not.
Instead there are four main ideas that contemporary architects are dealing with:
The re-use of old buildings to make something new.
Organic architecture that tries to blend with the environment around it by being more curvy and sometimes incorporating plants into the structural design.
Deconstructivism (explained below).
Using computers to aid in the design process.
So when you think about it we're really not doing a lot that people consider to be "futuristic"... with rare exceptions.
The Burj Dubai building for example is about as futuristic as it gets.
Although really, what is there left to do in architecture except go up?
The CN Tower had the tallest standing structure prize for 30 years before the Burj Dubai building passed it. Now countries and companies from around the world are in a race to beat it, and beat it by a long shot.
But is building "Towers of Babel" really that futuristic? Well, the technology that goes into keeping the structure up (and flexible) is, and the extreme height is enough to cause dizziness and nose bleeds. So they are certainly a technological and engineering marvel.
Compared to 30 years ago however the technology really hasn't changed much however. We still use glass, steel and concrete. We still use architectural concepts passed down by pioneering architectural engineers like Buckminster Fuller.
I think the primary difference now is that there is suddenly the need, not the desire, to build taller in city centres. The problem is city sprawl is costing the economy due to transportation issues. Costly subway lines Vs. high oil prices means that there is now a stronger need for people to live downtown, close to work and the things they need.
So in the future buildings will be skyscrapers, high density (like the Burj Dubai above), and presumably more energy efficient (like the Eden Project below).