Decoding Clues to the Future: The Evolution of Architecture

When we think about the future of our built environment, some of us might think of scenes from sci-fi films celebrating the rise of technology in our lives, or some of us may instead think of the dystopian post-apocalyptic ruins wherein humanity is struggling to survive. But, in between these two relatively rather extreme images, somewhere lies the question: Where are we heading? This question is on the minds of architects, urban designers, planners, policymakers, and engineers alike. The answer may lie in the present, with many clues to the future, which may help us envision what the future of architecture holds for humanity. 

Clues to the Future

“As an architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of the past, for a future which is essentially unknown.” – Norman Foster.

In this famous quote, the well-known architect Norman Foster states that as architects, we design for a future about which we have no certainty. But, at the same time, an understanding of the past and present, coupled with the ability to envision and imagine, empowers humankind to uncover the clues to the future and get an idea of what lies ahead in time. This has been the case even in the past as great minds have attempted to accurately predict the future. Back in 1900, the renowned author H.G. Wells predicted that the future of cities involved spatial and functional decentralization of resources to give rise to larger “urban regions”. As we know today, this is quite accurately what happened over the 20th century and is continuing to happen today. 

Frank Lloyd Wright envisioned the decentralization of cities assuming the universal ownership of automobiles, and the result was similar to how the American countryside eventually turned out with an interconnected network of superhighways bridging resources, work and home.

Climate Crisis

The most obvious and urgent clue to the future of architecture is the ongoing climate crisis. As per the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, if global warming continues at the present rate, then we can expect a rise of 1.5 °C in the global temperature from the pre-industrial levels between 2030 and 2052. This would have far-reaching and grave consequences on the climate, sea level, ice shelves, and ecosystems around the world. Hence, the urgency of limiting the increase of temperature within the threshold level, which would require a decrease of global net CO2 emissions by about 45% by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. (IPCC, 2018) To achieve this, architecture is becoming increasingly sustainable and green, with various green rating systems like LEED gaining popularity. In all fairness, we don’t have any other choice instead of going for only net-zero built environments in the future if we want to survive on this planet.

Eco-cities, much like this one, are being developed globally with an emphasis on sustainable living and an approach to be environmentally friendly and resource-efficient.

AI and Immersive Technology

We are witnessing a rapid exponential rise of technology, and this trend will most likely continue. There was a time, not so long ago, when taking a tour virtually of a building that is yet to be constructed seemed like a talk of science fiction. (Hames Sharley, 2020) However, with the advent of Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR and VR), we have entered a new age of architecture and engineering. These rapidly evolving immersive technologies, coupled with Artificial Intelligence (AI), are slowly transforming the way buildings are designed, constructed, and visualized. This clue to the future has immense capabilities, e.g., developing a 3D model packed with information from a simple hand-drawn sketch or line drawing as input. (Snaptrude, 2021)

Need for Inclusivity

Human society is not the same as it was even half a century ago. We have progressed by challenging the existing norms and creating new ones in their place, which bring people together, rather than pushing them apart. Hence, the concept of ‘inclusive design’ is gaining more importance as we move further into the 21st century, thus giving us another clue to the future of the built environment. Inclusive design, simply put, means design that can be used by all. In other words, the design is accommodative of diversity for ability, language, culture, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, or any other form of human difference. (Inclusive Design Research Centre, n.d.) The world is gradually moving towards a future of inclusion, not just for built environments but also for policies, social frameworks, and daily living.

Population Growth

However, there’s an added possible outcome that we can predict from this clue to the future of the rapidly increasing population, coupled with a deteriorating environment. We need new and fresh land and resources to survive into the future, and that innate instinct to explore uncharted waters to find new places to inhabit has always driven humanity. Now that humanity has ‘captured’ the land on Earth, we now look to the stars as we venture out into space in an attempt to colonize our neighbourhood celestial bodies. As per some experts, we may colonize Mars by the year as early as 2050. (University of New South Wales, 2021) 

However, there’s an added possible outcome that we can predict from this clue to the future of the rapidly increasing population, coupled with a deteriorating environment. We need new and fresh land and resources to survive into the future, and that innate instinct to explore uncharted waters to find new places to inhabit has always driven humanity. Now that humanity has ‘captured’ the land on Earth, we now look to the stars as we venture out into space, in an attempt to colonize our neighborhood celestial bodies. As per some experts, we may colonize Mars by the year as early as 2050. (University of New South Wales, 2021) 

Health and Wellbeing

With the pollution levels increasing, the environment is deteriorating, and the growing isolated and sedentary lifestyle, human health is taking a huge hit – both on the physical and mental fronts. This is likely to amplify in the future, and hence, to address this clue to the future, architecture is increasingly becoming more about human wellbeing. With the development of new standards like the WELL Building Standard, design is evolving to create spaces that are not simply comfortable to live in but also enhance the health and wellbeing of the inhabitants.

One can understand that none of the aforementioned clues stands in isolation. They are intertwined and come together, like pieces of a puzzle, to give us an idea of the future. These clues to the future give us not only a glimpse of what buildings might be like in the future but also an idea of how the profession might evolve as years pass by. With new technologies, the kind of work architects and designers will be very different, even 20 years from now. How exactly it all plays out may be exciting and interesting for all of us to witness as we are in an era wherein human society is rapidly evolving. For now, we can very well speculate that what may seem like a fictitious and impossible idea today might not be so impossible a few decades down the line. This mere thought opens up our minds to endless creative possibilities for all the tough challenges humanity faces. We need to keep in mind that every simple iteration we do might have consequences in the future bigger than one would expect. The future will indeed be shaped by what we do in the present.

Reference List

1. Ericsson, V. (2015). Mars. [Artwork]. (Artstation)
2. Gensler (2019). While the words diversity, equity, and inclusion are often used interchangeably, it’s important to understand their distinct differences. [Infographic]. (Inclusion by Design: Insights from Design Week Portland, Portland: Gensler)
3. Gruijter, O. de (2017). The Amsterdam based startup MX3D created intelligent software that transforms a robot and a welding machine into a large scale printer, enabling 3D printing of metals on an architectural scale. [Photograph]. (Amsterdam: Arup)
4. Hames Sharley (2020). Architecture in an Age of Augmented Reality. [online] www.hamessharley.com.au. Available at: https://www.hamessharley.com.au/knowledge/architecture-in-an-age-of-augmented-reality [Accessed 25 Jun. 2021].
5. Inclusive Design Research Centre (n.d.). What is Inclusive Design? [online] legacy.idrc.ocadu.ca. Available at: https://legacy.idrc.ocadu.ca/about-the-idrc/49-resources/online-resources/articles-and-papers/443-whatisinclusivedesign [Accessed 25 Jun. 2021].
6. Inhabitat (2011). Tianjin Eco-City: An aerial view of the Urbanscape. [Illustration]. (Tianjin Eco City is a Futuristic Green Landscape for 350,000 Residents).
7. International WELL Building Institute (2017). The WELL Building Standard ™: Seven Concepts for Healthier Buildings. [Infographic]. (WELL) 
8. IPCC (2018). Summary for Policymakers. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. Available at: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2019/05/SR15_SPM_version_report_LR.pdf [Accessed: 24 June 2021]
9. Pfeiffer, B.B. (2009). Drawing of ‘Broadacre City’ by Frank Lloyd Wright. [Illustration]. (Frank Lloyd Wright Complete Works, Vol. 3: 1943-1959, Austin: Goldbooks).
10. Snaptrude (2021). Snaptrude – About. [online] Snaptrude. Available at: https://snaptrude.com/about/  [Accessed 25 Jun. 2021]
11. Worldometer (2021). World Population Clock. [online] Worldometers.info. Available at: https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ [Accessed 25 Jun. 2021].
12. Vincent Callebaut Architectures (n.d.). ‘Hyperions’ – a green vertical village proposal in New Delhi, India. [Illustration]. (HYPÉRIONS, Paris: Vincent Callebaut Architectures)