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More than Buildings
Leticia Murray California College of the Arts lmurray@cca.edu 713-679-0381 Copyright Š 2016
contents
03
about
05
introduction
07
proposal
09
research
17
driving forces
19
2x2 scenario method
21
four visions of the future
31
recommendation
about
03 More than Buildings: The Future of Architecture 2030 is a look at the how Architecture impacts our lives beyond the built form, influencing not just our quality of life, but also the environment. As we think about the futures we want to live in, we should take into consideration who we support to design our cities and whether or not their approach can give us the preferred futures we are in search of. This project is part of the inaugural 2016 MBA in Strategic Foresight Capstone Project Series at California College of the Arts (CCA). The school, located in San Francisco for over one hundred years, enjoys the distinction of educating students “to shape culture and society through the practice and critical study of art, architecture, design, and writing.� Under the guidance of Lee Shupp, Futurist and Director of Insights and Strategy at Speck Design, we come to the culmination of this journey and emerge ready to concur the world as successful futurists, designers, and leaders . About the author: Leticia Murray earned her undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design from the University of Houston. She has over 10 years of experience working in Architecture, Planning and Community Development. Leticia believes that only through design we can collectively create the futures we want.
introduction
05 This project explores the impacts of architecture in our futures through four alternative scenarios. Each scenario is a different version of what architectural practices could look like in 2030, and none is intended to be seen as better or worse than the others. They are all meant to be plausible futures with both more desirable and less desirable outcomes. In Strategic Foresight, scenarios are used as decision making tools. They are a way of developing alternative futures based on a combination of different assumptions, signals, trends, and drivers. Scenarios allow stakeholders to immerse themselves in future worlds, making the conceptual more tangible and less daunting. Through the presentation of various scenarios, stakeholders are better informed of options and possibilities and are better positioned to make decisions in a more timely manner.
proposal
07
Why the Future of Architecture? As a young architectural professional who on the cusp of venturing out into my own practice, I realized that aside from the logistic of running my own studio, what I found more troubling was deciding how the studio should approach design and who our targeted clients would be. Beyond this, how would I ensure that the projects designed would not be of benefit only to my direct client, but that they would also serve the greater good. I see More than Buildings: the Future of Architecture 2030 as an opportunity to explore the different trajectories a small practice may face in the near future, and the implications resulting from the distinct approaches and attitudes toward design.
research
09 I began my research by scanning architectural headlines in the news, and was pleasantly surprised when just a couple of days into the research the Pritzker Prize for Architecture was awarded. This year’s winner, Alejandro Aravena, director of Elemental S.A. was a controversial one, as he is recognized for his visionary approach and not so much the style. I ask myself could this be a signal of what is to come? Is it time to rethink the role of the Architect? This was the question that guided my research. Areas of study: alternative forms of architectural practices areas of architectural expertise architectural practices before, during and after the 2008-2010 economic recession technological advances and its implications on architecture climate change and sustainable practices political tensions and the growth of urbanity in city centers
Social
rise of “Rebel Architects” - people before icons, increased bottom-up initiatives to address human needs, increase in disaster relief efforts, decreased biodiversity = increase in the spread of disease, community/cluster living, odd lot housing program, increase in participatory design, increase in urban density, increase in diversity of architects
Technological
3d printing and autonomous construction, increase in prefab construction, decrease in skilled labor, IoT and open data, ‘textile architecture’, nanotechnology, net zero impact, smart buildings + cities, renewable energy sources, biomimicry, increased high speed transportation, all wood high rise buildings, sustainable garden (green) high-rises
Economical
another financial crisis? decrease in China’s economic growth, decrease in oil prices, increase in youth unemployment, increased income inequality, increased urban growth occurring in developing areas, increase of people living in high poverty areas in the U.S. , increase in Public-Private partnerships
Environmental Political Values
increase in sustainable + green building practices, increase in micro-living, climate change = global warming, rising sea levels + increased flooding, decreased amount of habitable space, increase in vertical construction, increase in biomimicry increase in guerrilla building (building w/o permits), questionable government infrastructure spending practices, i.e. Brazil, increased global tension between countries, increase in employing designers for planning, policy, and civic innovation roles in government Pritzker Laurate 2016 - Alejandro Aravena “half a good house, Bjarke Ingels - increased recognition of value by young architects, Zaha Hadid- Royal Gold Medal 2016, (first female to receive it), increase infrastructure being revisited, i.e. Flint, Michigan, increase in the recognition of value designers bring, increase in socially responsible design
steep + v
11
STEEP + V Analysis The STEEP + V Analysis tool was used to evaluate different external environmental factors or trends that could impact the future of architectural practices. STEEP, the more traditional framework, is an acronym that stands for the different elements taken into account when scanning for signals, trends and drivers that may cause impact. I chose to includes the V (values) as I find that they represent our guiding principles. Values motivate and influence the attitudes we take on and affect our behavior; they are our guiding forces. Looking forward, it is important to take note of the shift in society values as they have influence on political alignments and ecological footprints. These shifts can signals shifts coming in other external factors. S: Social Elements - factors like demographics, behaviors, basic human needs, education, health, security, and freedom T: Technological Elements - factors like innovation, transportation, and information and communication developments E: Economical Elements- factors like GDP, interest rates, taxes, international trade, and availability of jobs. E: Ecological Elements- factors like water, land and all natural resources, food, energy, pollution, and climate change P: Political Elements - upcoming shifts in power during elections, changes in laws, conflicts, governance, and policy V: Values - factors like social and cultural beliefs, ethics, and religion
A A B C D E F G H I J K
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cross-impact analysis
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Cross-Impact Analysis Th Cross-impact Analysis method is a framework used to evaluate the correlation between trends. It is applied to help identify how dominant the influence of the trend is and how dependent the trend is on the occurrence of another trend. The method involves the use of a matrix to illustrate the interdependencies of the trends, based on scores assigned that establishes the strength of the trend and its strength of its interactions. For this project, the follow 31 trends were analyzed: decreasing economic stability, increasing smart technology, increasing globalization, increasing urban density, increasing disaster relief efforts, increasing bottom-up initiatives, increase use of 3D printing, increase of autonomous technologies, increase in open data, decrease in skilled labor, increase in material technologies, increase in the resurgence of the use of wood, increase in the use of prefabricated components, increase in sustainable practices, increase in global tension, decrease in fossil fuel reliance, increasing diversity in architects, increase in collaborative design, increase in water levels, increase in crowd funding, increase in floating structures, increase in the revival old building techniques, increase in humanitarian design, increase in forced modernization of urban infrastructure, increase in designing for moving off the grid, decrease in automobile ownership, increase in sharing economy, increase in incorporating public space, increase in public private partnership, increase in creative use of unconventional land , increase in global temperature
ranking uncertainty
15 The sum of the trends are calculated and plotted on a graph to help visualize and interpret the Cross-impact Analysis. The results depicted on the chart fall into four different areas or quadrants representative of the different characteristics of each trend. The upper right quadrant contains trends that are the key drivers of change. These trends have high impact, but because they also carry a high dependency, they also carry the most uncertainty. It is from this quadrant that the two axes for the 2x2 method were taken from. These trends are the potential drivers and shapers for different futures. Trends that have high dominance and low dependence make up the contextual forces. These trends are the influences that will play a role throughout all four alternative scenarios. I chose to move forward with decreasing economic stability and an increase in collaborative design trends to establish the axes of uncertainty for the 2x2 scenario development.
technology From responsive buildings to self erecting structures, technology is changing architecture. Architects are pursuing new frontiers through the generation of design via algorithms, software, and digital fabrication. The ability to monitor and analyze data provided by sensors incorporated in buildings themselves brings new opportunities to learn as we build and modify as needed.
urban city center By 2030, the United Nations estimates the world population will reach 8.5 billion people, with 10 million or more residing in mega-cities. This new urban growth will not only have severe impacts on our cities’ infrastructures and resources, but also on the citizens’ health and wellbeing.
sustainability As greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere continue to increase so will the Earth’s average temperature and sea levels. Precipitation patterns will fluctuate and the levels of acidity in the ocean will be disrupted affecting our water resources. These changes will continue being a threat to human health, food supplies and the ecosystem.
driving forces
diy city 17
New urban design possibilities arise from citizens taking charge and initiating change in their communities. Bottom-up urban design strategies empower citizens to design and construct the public spaces they need and want.
globalization While globalization gives Architects the ability to design projects outside of their regions and cultures, it is import to consider how local vernacular designs and urban precedents are respected. Architects have the power to shape and strengthen communities or create a more homogenized landscape blurring away historical and cultural significance.
economic expansion
design
approach
form follows hunger
economic
exclusive design
form follows meaning activity
form follows profit
inclusive design form follows action
economic stagnation
2 x 2 scenario method
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2 x 2 Scenarios The selected drivers created the following two uncertainty axes: Design approaches from exclusive design to inclusive design and economic activity from stagnation to growth. The vertical axis explores economic uncertainties, in ‘form follows hunger’ and ‘form follows action’ the economy has entered a prolonged period of no growth. Both worlds are affected by a decrease in levels of disposable income, whereas in ‘form follows profit’ and form follows meaning’, economic growth and confidence are on the upswing. The horizontal axis explores uncertainties about architectural modes of practice. From a more conventional approach where architectural design is exclusive and only accessible to some, to an approach where architectural design is inclusive and encourages broad participation, not just from the public, but also in the integration of other design disciplines with the practice.
profit
meaning
form follows...
hunger
action
four visions of the future
Each of the four visions includes a short vignette, “Work/Life 2030,� a look into the daily life of an Architect and their surrounding environment. It paints a vision of the decisions made by the Architect and their impacts on society. Today Alexandra (Alex) Laos is 32 year-old Registered Architect on the brink of starting her own practice in the city of Chicago. Tired of going unrecognized and under valued at the firm where she has been working for the last five years, she is ready for a change. She knows how a convention practice flows - some projects, though not exciting, innovative or bring about positive changes, pay the bills so you take them. Other projects, the more desirable commissions are difficult to come by and require so much out of architects to even be considered as a contender for the project. In 2030, we see Alex , running her studio. We join along her side as she deals with the daily challenges of her profession in a world that is rapidly changing; as globalization continues grow what could this mean for economic stability? The widening of income gaps? Urban growth in vastly poor developing areas? In the midst of all these uncertainties, Alex’s feels the pressure to push her practice beyond the expected socially responsible design that Architecture is supposed to provide.
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In this section, you will find the four visions of the Future of Architectures scenarios, which illustrate worlds based on the alternative directions of change described in the 2x2 method. Set in 2030, these scenarios are not predictions. The future in which Architecture is practiced will likely be shaped by elements from each of the scenarios. The scenarios were designed to inspire you take in the built form around you and question whether it was designed to bring people together or keep them apart, they are meant to help you devise strategies and participate in design the future of the city you want to live in, beyond the built form. How do you envision the society of your preference? Place yourself in these worlds, what threats does your future face? What opportunities do you see?
imagine 2030... The global economy is on the rise. The last minor dip in 2020, was just that a minor hurdle in the current growth it is experiencing. Linked together by new forms of data and communication exchange, and growing integration of financial and trade between countries the world is experiencing a connectivity like never before. In the U.S., the housing market reach a new high. The development of luxury housing increases. New private housing developments in Chicago create exclusive pockets in the city where only the affluent can afford to live. These developments are designed with the residents in mind and attract new commerce to their surroundings away from the now less desirable yet affordable neighborhoods. The new planned developments infill areas of the city that were once deserted as the autonomous fleet of ubers deployed in 2025 allow people to move freely about the city without having to own a vehicle or be dependent on the rail stops. Why walk when you can be driven to your perfect oasis. Architectural firms are bustling with business, between the new local construction and the all the progress in the world’s fastest developing cities in India, China and the United Arab Emirates, there is no end it site. These three very distinct oversea locations, look to emulate western world development as a sign of progress and prosperity. They seek out the world’s leading designers and make sure their skyline is representative of all the big names in Architecture. Despite being in different parts of the world the new metropolitan cities are very difficult to distinguish one from the other at first glance. You can however see the difference in the vegetation of some of the vertical farms and the living facades of other buildings. You can also note the difference in the climate if you look closely and the breathing envelopes of the building, they tend to be more open in the warmer climates, but all in all they still are very similar in appearance. There is a constant battle between policy makers and those who are not benefiting from the growing economy. Between globalization shifting more production oversees and the growth of autonomous manufacturing, the middle class has seized to exist. Lower class citizen, has to fight twice as strong to have their voices heard and needs met. The flourishing new development leave no room for them, the turn their back to one these new blighted areas and draw all attention to themselves. Having no other option these citizens seek to improve their communities with their own hands. They take it upon themselves to crowd-fund and build the amenities they need. They design their own public spaces that bring them even closer together, though at times they do so without any permission from regulators or without permit. When officials finally get around to serving these areas that public space is either demolished or replaced with a formal code compliant design that no longer fulfills the communities needs.
form follows profit work / life 2030.. 6:00a - The alarm chimes and her bedroom is slowly illuminates to gradually awaken Alex, but she has been up since 5am on a conference call with the project manager overseeing the construction of her latest design in Bengaluru. She glances at the time, it’s getting late she think, she wanted to be in the office before 8a to catch up on her correspondence. She sends a message to her assistant Gavin, “will not be in by 8, answer and contractor question for projects 300729, 300834, and 291202.” 9:00a - The uber black elite pulls up to her condo, she dashes down, breakfast in one hand and her computer rolled up in the other. She can work and eat on the way to her studio in The Loop. She reviews and signs off on a new proposal and reviews the sketches the design leads have put together for a new project in Dubai. She sighs, ugh if we could only break from the expected typology. There are so many other forms this building can take. The uber pulls up to the Studio Laos Building.
1:00p - Finally lunch time! On her way down, Alex pings another uber while in the elevator, to take down her favorite cafe in the West Loop , a quite little spot outside of all the hustle and bustle in the loop, that still employees human service. When she arrives, there is a sign on the door, ‘Closed.’ How can this be, she looks around and see that most of the businesses surrounding her are in fact closed, what was once a dining hot spot is no more. As residents moved into the newer developments south of the city, so did all the businesses. On her way back toward the office, Alex spots what seems to be a lively plaza. As the uber rolls by she sees that while the space was not an official city plaza, but more of a vacant lot that had been transformed into a make shift plaza its users, who looked happy to be there. Some adults picnicked while children ran around playing. 3:00p - All afternoon she could not get that image of the make-shift plaza out of her head. She wondered if her building brought as much joy as the plaza did. Aesthetically they were breathtaking, but about functionally? She asked Gavin why they didn’t have any projects within that community, he rolled his eyes and says “We have no time for that, besides who is going to pay for that? 6:00p - Alex looks at the time again, 6pm already, where did the time go? Despite knowing she has to pack and prepare for her trip to China tomorrow there is still so much to do. She looks through her digital files to make sure Gavin sent the correct drawings 9:00p - Finally home, now to pack and rest .
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11:00a The rest of the morning progresses just like any other, phone call after phone call, and a quick meeting with a department head to discuss the budget of a project, and to set up the next meeting.
imagine 2030... The global economy has been in a state of growth since the late 2010’s and increased globalization has helped create a more open and tolerant society. We have better understanding of other cultures as we see a growing fluidity in labor forces between countries thanks to the increased speed of transportation. The U.S. economy is flourishing and the housing market is climbing. Not only are cities seeing change being brought by private developers, but local government also recognizes the shift of citizens back to the city center. As a result of this influx in population, we begin to see investment in public infrastructure and housing solutions for everyone. The new aging community, living much longer than anyone expected has brought about a new housing need along with those who have lost there jobs to oversea markets or the new autonomous manufacturing movement. Urban master plans are being revisited as autonomous mini-buses are incorporated in the city’s public transportation systems. Aside from leveraging the already existing transportation system and developing micro-community at major transportation hubs, these mini-buses expand the possibility of areas in the city than can be developed. Private developers are also required to incorporate 25% of accessible units. Architectural studios take on a more inclusive approach to design as a result of seeing how some of the larger corporate architecture firms began to add design strategist into the mix. By successfully piecing apart all that architecture encompasses from the initial research to the final built components, Architects have more time to dedicate to designing and better understanding their clients and the impact of their work. These integrated studios expanded to include branding departments, in-house fabrication, and even offer developer services, this way not only would one department feed work to other departments, but they can also oversee all components of a projects from initial concept through construction. Architectural firms are seeing the benefits of this prosperous economy, not just locally, but also globally. If and when they practice abroad, they look for local partnerships when practicing foreign countries to better understand vernacular design and cultural norms. Firms are also dedicating more time to develop tool-kits and strategic emergency preparedness plans to help keep people safe during disasters. Despite the advances in materials and construction technology, emergency situations can still arise, and they want people to be better prepared to face any problematic future situations. Architects are working closely with policy makers to ensure citizens voices are being heard and their needs are met. They serve as mediators between the two sectors and help develop the plans to design for more inclusive cities. Community led initiates are celebrated and encouraged as long as they are overseen by trained designers who can help address life safety concerns. We continue to see stakeholder value their environments when they feel they are helping shape their communities.
form follows meaning work / life 2030.. 6:00a - The alarm chimes, Alex jumps out of bed and into the shower. She has to be in the studio early this morning. Today was open studio day, a day in which the they open their doors of their community space to update stakeholders on current projects and to give them a space to voice their concerns. She jumps on her bike and rides down to the studio, “The Local Office.” 7:00a - At th studio Alex calls out, “Gavin, run over to the branding department and pick up the information packet they have prepped of us on the new cocktail bar project, Apothecary. It should include the research information on the patron and the latest branding package that was developed for the client.” She has to prep for the 9 am meeting the bar owner, “it is nice when projects are fed from the other departments in the studio,” she thinks to herself. “You get so much research and background prior to the first meeting with the client.”
12:00p - Alex rides her bike down to the Heritage Gardens Community to walk through the new senior activity center addition and to have lunch with some of the members. The community members are always happy to see Alex there. She spent so much time in the community getting to know them and their needs to better design the recreational space. 3:00p - Alex is back at the office and ready to start the open studio meeting. Today’s focus is around the new housing development proposed in the South Loop. There are concerns about the height of the new buildings, and the views they will block, and how expensive each unit appears to be. 6:00p - Alex packs up and is ready to head out to another job site just before heading to dinner and then home. She enjoys the long summer days and her leisurely bike rides to and from sites. This summer in panning out to be a busy one, and while the idea of one day working in another country still excites her, she knows her work here is not done and she enjoys the fact that she not only truly knows the city she practices in, but she will forever share a connection with all her past clients. 8:00p - Alex is home and settling in for the night. While eating her dinner she looks over the rest of the weeks agenda and is excited to see that this weekend they will kick of the construction of the new West Loop city plaza a project designed with the help of some local 7th graders. This design-build project will also allow them to participate in the construction phase.
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9:00a - The meeting goes smoothly and Alex sends Gavin the details to put together a proposal. She looks at her schedule, she has two phone call to take before lunch, and a visit to the fabrication studio on the other side of the building to approve new facade panel.
imagine 2030... The economy never fully recovered from the crash of 2020. The last ten years have been a period of slow growth. Increases in globalization are not helping the U.S. economy, as we continue to export jobs and manufacturing to rapidly developing cities in other countries. Despite the population growth we are witnessing, there has been little to no new home constructions. What the housing market is seeing is a shift to more renovations and remodels versus new construction, and more investment in city infrastructure. Some new developments and much needed repair to civic amenities are being made possible through crowd-funding initiatives. We see communities coming together with local architects to design and fund raise for much needed community improvements. These partnerships often lead to new projects as trust is developed between the Architect and the community members. The stagnant economy and decreases in new construction have severely impacted the construction industry and many architects have left the profession to pursue other interests and jobs that have proven to thrive despite this economic slump. The architects that do continue to practice have branched out to include services like creating campaigns to fund projects, and their firms are compromised of strategist, futurist, engineers and architects. Even in times of little to no economic growth technology continues to advance, and to better keep up with this fast changing world architects find themselves better equipped to handle what is coming if they have a studio with diversified team. It is not uncommon to find an Architect out in the field these days. With the decrease in the number of projects, some have turned to construction to increase their knowledge of building techniques and better understand the new materials they are working with. Some projects, those with tighter budgets generally seem to attract more hand-on time from the Architect. These projects push for more creative solutions with readily available materials. Density in the city continues to increase along major transportation routes despites the changes brought about with the autonomous city transport vehicles. Mass transit continues to be a more affordable solution to move a larger volume of people. These densely populated areas are also strategically designed to provide not just basic human services, but to cater to a better quality of life all members of the community. Each node contains open accessible green spaces and plazas to promote congregation and interaction between all people.
form follows action work / life 2030.. 6:00a - Alex is at the job sit this morning, usually she is just now getting out of bed, but today her presence was required out in the field. The final touches are being put into place at the new community park #677. Today is great day she thought, though the process was long and arduous, the benefits will far outweigh it. 8:00a - Alex flips her wrist around and see the notification on her pulse phone, yes! They did it, funding for the new addition to Jones Elementary reached its goals. 9:00a - Alex calls the studio to check in. Every thing is under control there, if fact it was a slow day so she invited everyone out to join her for lunch at the opening of park #677.
3:00p - With the opening winding down Alex and the rest of the studio head back to the headquarters. They take the train back, and Alex can hardly contain the good news about the schools funding, but she rather they celebrate in the office toward the end of the day. The rest of the afternoon Alex is in meeting with the engineer, together they over the quarterly building performance reports to look for any room for improvement in both the existing building and to better design new ones. 4:30p - Alex brings everyone together in the meeting room to break the good news. “Next week we begin work on Jones Elementary,� she announces. To celebrate everyone at the offices decides to stick around and cook dinner there and spend the evening together. Alex calls her partner at home to join them. 10:00p - Alex settles into bed, and thinks, it was indeed a great day.
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12:00p - The opening was a success and so was lunch. There were plenty of volunteers giving tours of the new park, and lunch was made available thanks to the pot luck they planned; no need to spend on catering.
imagine 2030... High competition and little work from the slow growing economy have weeded out many architects, and some of the more anticipated projects, like the new vertical gardens edifice designed by the famous Architect Livia Haas, was abandoned halfway through constriction. What was meant to be a temporary delay until the economy resurged has dragged on for almost a decade now. There it sits, in that empty field that was supposed to be a blank slate to highlight the beauty of the building; there is no saving that structures now. The urban fabric that once brought communities throughout Chicago together is torn by luxurious ruins like this and many more that stand alone in perpetual limbo. Developers take advantage of lower construction and land costs. Aware that population is increasing in the heart of the city as people seek to be closer to their jobs, schools, shopping, and places of entertainment, they create new urban communities. Some near transportation hubs, other where land is more affordable. These new developments are designed to serve only those that live within them. They tend to attract the same types of individuals, once the first few tenants move in, you get the picture of what the neighborhood make-up will be. If you don’t fit in with your neighbors, you best keep moving as residents are not shy to show their discomfort with your presence. New territorial disputes arise as the inequality to access more desirable livable spaces increases. These communities have been designed to separate society and it is evident in the ways citizens are refusing to work together. Instead they continue to find ways to themselves even further apart. New construction is afforded in the rough economy as developers find more and more ways to cut costs. They swap out materials specified by Architects to a lesser quality material and even they pin Architects against each other demanding lower fees. These bidding wars leave architects with little to no commission resulting in more conservative designs with crucial phases of the design processes being omitted. Little to no research is conducted beyond the design of the building and code compliance. As architects struggle to stay in business they watch their fees being slashed. They take on commissions that put their reputations into jeopardy. They practice against their beliefs, marginalizing their own value. If and when the economy picks back up, it can be difficult to prove their worth again. New ideas and concepts the architect may have worked on during the stagnant economy will remain untapped, as clients are not comfortable with the architects latest work; they demand the architect go back to previous styles that put them on the map.
form follows hunger work / life 2030.. 6:00a - The alarms chimes, but Alex is not quite ready to get out of bed just yet. She glance over to her workspace and see numerous accolades and awards she had collected over the years. “What’s the point,” she thinks to herself. “I’m not looking forward to listening to Bob’s demands today.” 8:00a - Alex arrives at the job site where she sees Bob, one of the partners of Sterling Land development responsible for this project. As she makes her way towards him she can see the bid package in her hand, she cringes as she knows what is coming. Yes, today is the day they will review numbers and begin to pick the design apart until it is noting more than a glass shaft. “No we cannot swap out this exterior panel, this is what holds the growing substrate for the living facade. What when did we decided to make the west elevation a non-living wall?” There is no reasoning with Bob. The design has reduced to a typical rectangular building .
2:00p - The afternoon is slow and long. Gavin her intern, helps her as they spend the majority of it researching cost effective alternatives to the long list of items Bob is looking to substitute. If they are not successful, the building will not be what it was intended to be. A living, breathing building, an Alex Laos design, the style that put her on the map. 4:o0p - Tired of combing through products, Alex switches over to her new facade studies. This is what keeps her sane, she feeds her soul looking for the next design that will bring her notoriety once again. Beyond breathable, she is looking to make the panels that can suck the carbon out of the atmosphere to reduces carbon emissions. “These panel will use carbon to form carbon nano fibers that can he harvested for other uses,” she explains to Gavin. That’s great he says, but who will this grey mass? People still want to see your lively green structures. 6:00p - With Gavin gone, Alex sits and stares at the rendering of the proposed carbon producing panels, “Who will want this”, she thinks. “Have I worked myself into a corner? Who will trust me, especially after the disaster that is becoming of this Sterling Land Development?” 10:00p - Alex tosses and turns in bed asking herself, “What is more important following through with the Sterling Land project, despite it not being true to my values, just to keep the practice running, or should I step away and follow my beliefs?”
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12:00p - Alex heads back to her home office. On her way out she see a small crowd of people protesting the building. Her commute back was a lengthy on, she hops on the train and stares out the window. She is saddened to see the large tracts of land holding half-erected buildings and even some abandoned construction equipment. She consoles herself saying well at least the project will still be built.
recommendation
31 As Architects we are responsible for designing more than buildings, we create communities and shape the future. We need to find a balance that respects our capacity as designers and leverages our mediation skills for the benefit of all stakeholders, not just the direct parties involved. We know that built environment has an expansive effects beyond its visual appeal. It can affect the environment, social interactions, and the physiological and emotional health of its inhabitants. To better design future cities and infrastructure that improve the quality of life for all, then all must be present and involved in the process of the planning these spaces. Dare to rethink conventional practices, if the norm is not working challenge it. Find strategic partners that share your values and compliment your skills to widen your capacity, broaden the spectrum of service you offer, and extend the reach of your impact.
Leticia Murray lmurray@cca.edu 713-679-0381