T
F
SHI Vol.1
May 2020
07
Technology, Future and Architects By Wenkui Li
4
Automation and Urbanisation By Nicolas Jahn
09
15
Painting of Working From Home By Wenkui Li
05 Designing For the Future By Wenkui Li
17 Painting of Working From Home By Yuchen Gao
Contents
19
What is the Future of Workplace? By Mandy Gavrila
5
31
Breaking the Fifth Wall By Jacky Murray
Mass Customization Hotel By Wenkui Li
25 Interview with Dr. John Doyle By Wenkui Li
33
Editorial I use my eyes to observe the universe. I sniff the fresh air from outside. I type the texts in front of the screen. As an architect, I am watching the shifting of the world.
Phtographed by Wenkui Li
2020 Corona-19 shifted our acknowledged world. We still have the spirits of designers. Multiple perspectives and ideas are the antidotes, to SHIFT the dystopia.
6
TECHNOLOGY
SHI
T
7
F
Technologies reshape society Designers place adaptability, efficiency, and the human experience at the centre of their work
8
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY FUTURE AND ARCHITECTS WENKUI LI / Master of Architecture in RMIT
SHI
What matters is to develop perspective about what we can do, and whether it’s worth doing. It’s important to have a vision and not simply implement what’s possible (Owen, 2015).
F
T
It is hardly surprising that, given the consistent manner in which technical progress has brought about a worsening of ecological enviroment, people from time to time are moved to question its value. However, since progress of technology is bound to happen, individuals can not stop it, thus regardless of whether they think it is good or bad they will have to learn to live with it. Those who have on occasions been moved to express opposition to some particular aspect of progress have been regarded as Luddite who tried to turn back the clock of history in order to preserve a self-interest. Science and technology is not neutral and we must at all times expose its underlying assumptions. We can, at the same time, begin to indicate how science and technology might be applied in the interest of the people as a whole, rather that to maximise productivity for the few.
9
The choices are essentially political and ideological rather than technological. As we design technological systems we are in fact designing sets of social relationships and, as we question those social relationships and attempt to design systms differently, we are beginning to challenge power structures in society. The question as to how science and techinology might be applied in the interests of the people is becoming a matter of some urgency since the advances now being made in these fields are of sufficient magnitude to cause considerable reporcussions within our social system.
David Vogin, 2010
We do not accept the view that the detrimental effects arising from technological progress are the poison to society. As for the generated side effects in the process, the predictable consequences of a consciously determined course of action can not be called mistake. They are natural but we still could seek a balance.
Indeed more and more people realized that technology had brought the potential crisis, however, they were enjoying the convenience of technology simultaneously. People proposed a series of positive concepts on improving it, and they speculated the beautiful world in the future. Who did stand out of the utopians? As the designers, we are able to grasp such a concept and, what is so much more, ethusiastically competent to transform that concept into material reality, is not in doubt. The future of design will be more about what we do with our time through an array of technology-supported options. Sustainability and the need to mitigate the impact of climate change will also require advanced technological solutions to improve energy efficiency. Designers and architects’ role will be to anticipate people’s interactions with technology and provide them with products, living and working spaces that help solve the many challenges the 21st century world brings.
10
WORK
Automation & Urbanisation By Nicola Jahn, Edited by Wenkui Li
SHI
F
T 11
The Cities under One-Demand Economy? The Digital Revolution refers to the ongoing trend of Digitisation, Automation and its tremendous impact on the way we live and work. It will not just change labour but also urban living and cities. In particular, the impact of automation generates opportunities but also creates social, political and urban risks. Two prevalent trends – automation and urbanisation clash and change the world of work, corporations, the economy, social classes and urban living. Considering the example of Melbourne, as a major city in Australia, it is possible to imagine potential developments, both factors, urbanisation and automation, will increasingly intertwine , generating a range of futures. To create these different scenarios, significant drivers need to be considered and evaluated. As a starting point, a worst-case and a best-case scenario act as a frame, containing many different possibilities in between. Aloft City By Wenkui Li
How is the future urban form and architectural typology that is guided by the automation technology? 12
Throughout history,labour and urban living have undergone continual transformations. In the industrial era people started to live in densely populated cities to fulfil work in factories. The Industrial Revolution is marked by a creation of jobs, resulting from the invention of machines, which allowed a high-productivity in manufacturing. Since then, machines have steadily replaced jobs that had been performed by humans (Bollegala, 2016). Automated machinery can reduce labour costs and expand productivity at the same time. Nevertheless, new jobs evolved, and sectors shifted. Zysman states that we are experiencing a fourth service transformation – an algorithmic revolution (2006). Technological advancements, such as digitisation, artificial intelligence, 3D printing and automation, are the prevalent drivers of. Increasingly, machines, computers and robots can do cognitive work as well as routine and non-routine work – and even work that goes beyond human abilities. In some respects, human labour becomes substituted and redundant as machines can reduce errors, improve quality and speed (Maxton & Randers, 2016; Manyika et al., 2017). Automation might disrupt traditional industries and people’s lives, but as before, the new revolution of automation will also lead to a creation of new jobs and result in a flexibility of work, if it is managed well. Automation will increasingly affect various human living conditions, directly and indirectly. Technology re-shapes production, consumption, transportation and logistics systems.An implication will be the loss of certain occupations and perhaps an overall reduction in employment. Jobs which include “personal care, creativity, dexterity, perception, social intelligence, and originality” are rather safe. Occupations involving high levels of skills and education (well-paid) as well as those requiring “dexterity, repetitiveness, creativity, or physical presence” (low-paid) are likely to prevail.
The process of automation started in the industrial era, but the pace varied and will vary in each industry sector (ibid). The situation causes indirect effects such as a fall in real wages in Australia and unstable underemployment contracts, also called zero-hours contracts (Maxton et al., 2016). As the term socio-economic indicates, the economic status also determines a social stability. Nevertheless, automation has the possibility of a new orientation within the world of work and consumption and foster lives of everyone. It is crucial that a transition should be managed politically to assure everyone benefits from automation, but as the predictions rather suggest, social disparities and inequality in society and cities as Melbourne will exacerbate, if the status quo of the use of automation continues to be within current economic and political models.
Worldwide, a steady trend of urbanisation continues. Megacities are evolved in developed and developing countries. People migrate to urban centres in the hope of better economic chances as well as for cultural and social variety. Cities have become the preferred places to live. Whereas just 15% of a global population of 1.5 billion people lived in cities (in 1900), by 2000, 47% of the global population lived in cities (Girardet, 2004, p. 3). Looking at the future of the world is bound up with looking at the future of cities. Numerous and individual drivers can be identified for the urbanisation trend. Firstly, an internal factor should be mentioned: the reproduction of the urban population itself – in many developing countries fertility rates are still relatively high although in developed countries rates are sometimes below replication levels. 13
One of the most prevalent factors why people migrate to cities from rural areas might indeed be a pursuit of economic opportunities as cities are “engines of economic power where great wealth is generated and where most consumption takes place�. Economic growth is self-enforcing due to a well-developed infrastructure, globalisation and Import Substitution (policies to favour local products and domestic producers over imported products). Cities offer a superb provision of health, education and multiple other services. Rural areas tend to be structurally disadvantaged in terms of digital connectivity, technological development, mobility, energy supply, cultural offerings, social and health services. Cities are the centres of political and financial power whereas inhabitants of the rural area tend to have the feeling to be left out.
Men at Work, Lewis Hine, 1932 Lewis W. Hine brings enormous technical ability and sensitivity to iconic portraits of the construction workers who shaped the skyline of New York City throughout the early 20th century.
14
Is there an appropriate answer to Automation? If automation continues to be uncontrolled, probable social, political and urban risks will continue to evolve. Automation can cause an inequality of wealth and unemployment, but it will contribute to wealth and productivity if the transition is managed politically. Different incentives may be taken into account. They vary in scope and depth. They might also be difficult to implement as the majority of society has not yet seen the relevance of taking profound endeavours. Nevertheless, as the trend of automation and tendencies of unemployment continue - then, a need for such incentives might be seen. LOCALISATION AND CITY-BASED DEVOLUTION Corporations have to become more democratic by promoting collaborative and cooperative ownership models to foster wealth in local communities.Politicians could increasingly try to involve local companies in partnership arrangements and encourage localised supply chains to ensure sustainable occupations in the city region. The existence of a collaborative future plan is appreciable and a first step towards a promotion of local economies. It might serve as a foundation for future collaboration: “By drawing on existing partnerships, strategies and expertise the plan will aim to form a collaborative and place-based approach to resolve city challenges and create a more equal, inclusive and sustainable city�. becoming an exclusive place to live in.
UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME
As the economic system is disruptively changing and technological innovations continue to advance tremendously, it is predictable that the capitalist economic model is not able to find fair solutions to manage resources and wealth because it is managed by the free market (Dew, 2015). As mentioned, especially managers and leading people of corporations (with a decreased labour force) will profit from automation as productivity is increased but costs reduced in the long run, whereas the middle class vanishes (Cohen, 2015). Then, the capitalist system would collapse as the state were not able to pay social benefits to the growing lower class.
15
REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH A more radical form would be a redistribution of wealth. The rewards of automation would be divided and allow more leisure time and independence for the majority of society (Maxton et al., 2016). A redistribution of wealth can only go hand in hand with a regressing materialism and changing mindset. A transformation of society has already started, as the new class of emergent service workers shows - a transformation is possible. Ownership “is becoming less important than access, the pursuit of self-interest is being tempered by the pull of collaborative interests, and the traditional dream of rags to riches is being supplanted by a new dream of a sustainable quality of life” (Rifkin, 2014, 18, 19). Wealth is mostly in state control (US National Intelligence Council, 2008). As a public investment, states could increasingly invest in state governed forms of automation. A transition could be managed by higher taxation on corporations (which introduce automation in particular) as they profit most from automation. Bristol could tax automated, local companies and spend the money on social expenditures – if there were national legislation to do this. Consequently, it would not leave all control in the hands of corporations. A more realistic approach would be close to the status quo - just an increase in community enterprises. All in all, a sustainable transition towards a digital society needs to be managed and requires plans and strategies, infrastructure - as neutral, digital (sharing) communication-platforms -with transparency, cooperation and participation. Politicians could stress those aspects that the majority of society can identify with. Such arguments could be: more wealth, freedom and inclusivity by a managed automation. But so far, the vision of integrating the return on capital in social service has not appealed to the public, yet (Dörner, 2018). A prevalent question should be: “Is the purpose of the economy to maximize the profits of money-seeking corporate robots or the health and well-being of living households?” (Korten, 2015, p. 99).
BIBLIOGRAPHY Frey, C. B., & Osborne, M. (2013). The Future of Employment. Oxford: Oxford Martin Programme on Technology and Employment. Girardet, H. (2004). Cities People Planet: Liveable Cities for a Sustainable World. Chichester: Wiley- Academy. Haque, U. (20. December 2012). What Is a City that It Would Be ‘Smart’? City in a Box, S. 140-142. Hill, D. (01. February 2013). On the smart city: Or, a ‘manifesto’ for smart citizens instead. Available at: City of Sound: http:// www.cityofsound.com/blog/2013/02/on-the-smart-city-acall-for- smart-citizens-instead.html [Accessed 29 March 2018]. Kitchin, R. (29. November 2013). The real-time city? Big data and smart urbanism. GeoJournal, S. 1-14. Korten, D. C. (2015). Change the Story, Change the Future: A Living Economy for a Living Earth. Oakland, CA: Berret-Koehler Publishers, Inc. Manyika, J., Chui, M., Bughin, J., Dobbs, R., Bisson, P., & Marrs, A. (May 2013). Disruptive technologies: Advances that will transform life, business, and the global economy. Available at: McKinsey: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/ digital-mckinsey/ourinsights/disruptive-technologies [Accessed 29 March 2018]. Manyika, J., Chui, M., Miremadi, M., Bughin, J., George, K., Willmott, P., & Dewhurst, M. (2017). Harnessing automation for a future that works. Available at: McKinsey & Company: https://www.mckinsey.com/global-themes/digital-disruption/ harnessing-automation-for-a- future-that-works Rainwater, B., & DuPuis, N. (9. November 2017). Do cities still want a sharing economy? Available at: TechCrunch: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/09/do-cities-still-want-asharing-economy/ [Accessed 29 March 2018]. Sennet, R. (04. December 2012). No one likes a city that’s too smart. Available at: The Guardian: https://www.theguardian. com/commentisfree/2012/dec/04/smart-city-rio-songdomasdar [Accessed 29 March 2018]. Zysman, J. (2006). The 4th service transformation: The algorithmic revolution. Berkely, CA: The Berkeley Roundtable On The International Economy.
16
WORK
We all get the covid phobia in this era. This crisis is shifting our working
SHI
model.
F
T 17
“My friend Wilson was trying to work from home during Covid-19�
18
WORK
SHI
F
T Image and Poem by Yucheng Gao 19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
CLIMATE
Breaking the Fifth Wall Image and Word by Jack Murray
SHI
F
T 27
28
CLIMATE
Mass Customization Hotel By Wenkui Li
SHI
Greed is the root of all evil. Yet humanity continues to exploit natural resources to meet their needs. Architecture school teaches architects to serve clients and constantly strive for the most efficient outcome. In doing this we have become accomplices to the client, blindly exploiting the resources of the Earth rather than using our judgement.
F
T 29
How should we make a response to climate crisis? What can we do to make architecture and urban life ecological and sustainable? In this project, our initial consideration is mass customisation in the context of hotel design. We tried to make a delicate balance between functionality and sustainability. We designed the rotatable pods which were applied with the solar panel on the surface of facade, to optimise the efficiency of absorbing the solar energy. However, we found it was not easy as we thought because we ignored the power consuming for moving or rotating pods. Then we did a juggling act between innovation, and practically.
30
Can we innovate the process of gaining the energy? We made the solar analysis and wind analysis on the original model in the context. Finally, we optimized the solar use ratio of every facade on our hotel.
31
We made a comprehensive sunlight analysis conducted not only from the sunrise to sun set but also on the summer and winter slostice. 32
The core structure of the facade was derived from the concept
of a horizonal wind farm, thus we translated that design for a vertical tower. The building is powered by photovoltaic paint.
33
Architecture can contribute to mass customisation. Architecture’s role in the mass customisation schemes is to enhance the users experience through the established technology we’ve chosen to utilise. The sustainability and ecology comes first, we simply designed our hotel to provide the maximum customisability, and the best experience for our user within that framework .
34
35
Is it enough for us to shift on the vulnerable planet? Far from enough. Human has eploitated too much from nature to develop technology, yet archtiects could extract the valuable experience from the techonology to innovate and improve our world. Even though it is a tip of the iceberg, it is worth exploring. 36
in coversation with by Wenkui Li
SHI
F
T
John Doyle was born and grew up in Melbourne, before moving to Tokyo to complete his training in Architecture. He has worked for a number of significant practices in Australia and abroad and has experience in the detail design and delivery of award winning projects around the world. As a first generation Australian from an anglo-scandivanian background, John grew up around construction sites and has a hands on approach to design, working closely with clients, builders and fabricators on every project. John is involved in teaching and design research at RMIT University.
“
I enjoy working with real people on difficult challenges to achieve innovative and unique results.
“
INTERVIEW
John Doyle
37
WK Hi, John. Appreciate that you have time for this interview. Could you introduce your background and current practice?�
JD
Hi Wenkui, My name is John and a senior lecturer in RMIT. I was born and grew up in Melbourne. After finishing my master of urban design in Melbourne. I started my architecture training and I stayed for many years in Japan. I really like Asian culture and architecture, you know, the site of Very Very Big is Taihu in China.
# Future Urbanism and Technology WK What do you think of the future urbanism and how the technology shift our urban life?
JD As the world urbanises, much of this growth will take place in urban clusters, such as the Greater Bay Area or Yangtze River in China, in which rapidly developing cities have aggregated into increasingly integrated and networked urban agglomerations. Cities in rapidly urbanizing regions fiercely compelte for amenities, infrastructure and space. The very planning instruments that facilitate theri development, also fuel sprawl, land fragmentation, resource scarcity, ecological devastation and contribute substantially to global carbon emissons. As mono-entric cities rapidly morph to form multi-nodal systems, what are the planning models that can be applied to facilitate integrated development? It is essential to develop a model of rapid urbanisation that moves beyong a self-contained nodal understanding to an integrated model of regional urban planning and design.
38
# Architect Role and Job WK I know that you are not only teaching in RMIT but also having your own Studio?
JD
Yes, it is true. The name of my studio is Martires Doyle. My partner, Laura Martires, and me establish this studio. It is a young studio, and we see ourselves as a part of a new generation of creative pragmatists that are interested in how design can be used to create spaces that are both sustainable and enduring.
WK What do you think how architecture students play the role of architects? JD
I believe that as students, you definitely focus on your study or projectsI. But actually architecture students also have the social responsibility to create better places and affect society. For example, you are a student major in architectural design, you must know architecture well. Architecture is a integrity of your ideas and solution respond to the current issues you found. Your ideas are your tools to shift the world.
WK Would you like to talk about some projects you have done before? JD I am happy to talk about the Carlton Apartments project. The proposal is for medium density housing block in inner Melbourne. The project draws on an understanding of the organisational and cultural context of the Australian suburb. The design retains the majority of the existing brickwork shell, stair well and adapts the brickwork penetrations. A new reinforced concrete structural grid is inserted to support an increase in the overall height of the building. The project provides a mixture of two and one bedroom apartments and three commercial tenancies that trade onto the street. The apartment block is setback four metres to the north, creating a communal courtyard that provides open space for residents of the building. The courtyard allows for a semi-permeable surface topped by pavers in a random pattern that is intercut with turf. By allowing this space to remain open the design effectively guarantees permanent north sunlight to every dwelling. 39
“The drea
‘‘This is of subur future of
e Australian am is changing.”
not a house, but a dream rbia within the dense f the Australian city.’’
40