Imagined Future Scenarios
Speculative Design, Plausible Futures, Short Term (1 - 3 years)
Scenario Generated from 'How Do Architects Forecast Trends? In Conversation with Research and Inovation Co-Directors of Perkins&Will' - ArchDaily
Future Arc and Implications
Grow Arc
Social Impact: Increased social stratification arises as hyper-personalized homes become status symbols.
Technological Impact: AI-driven design tools proliferate, leading to rapid, personalized construction using advanced materials.
Ecological Impact: Resource depletion and increased carbon footprint arise from pervasive and customized construction.
Economic Impact: Booming construction sector generates wealth, but widens income inequality due to the high cost of personalization.
Political Impact: Lobbying influences regulations to favor personalized construction despite environmental concerns.
Narrative: Unfettered innovation fuels a construction boom where everyone strives for the ultimate, tailored living space, regardless of the consequences.
Collapse Arc
Social Impact: Widespread dissatisfaction as personalized homes become unaffordable and systems required for virtual design fail.
Technological Impact: Breakdown of virtual simulation and personalized construction systems due to resource scarcity and infrastructure failure.
Ecological Impact: Abandoned personalized homes contribute to environmental decay and resource waste.
Economic Impact: Construction industry implodes, leading to mass unemployment and economic depression.
Political Impact: Governments struggle to provide basic housing and manage societal unrest amidst collapsing infrastructure.
Narrative: The dream of personalized living crumbles when essential resources become scarce, rendering advanced technologies and custom designs obsolete.
Discipline Arc
Social Impact: Standardized housing models prioritized, with limited personalization within pre-approved parameters to ensure equity.
Technological Impact: Government-controlled AI optimizes housing design for efficiency, resource management, and social cohesion enforced through surveillance.
Ecological Impact: Strict regulations minimize environmental impact through sustainable building practices and resource allocation.
Economic Impact: Centralized housing production ensures affordability and universal access, eliminating disparities in housing quality.
Political Impact: Authoritarian governance dictates housing policies, limiting individual choice in favor of social stability and environmental sustainability.
Narrative: A highly regulated society prioritizes equitable housing access and environmental sustainability by limiting personalization and enforcing standardized construction.
Transform Arc
Social Impact: Communities co-create living spaces using open-source designs and accessible virtual tools, emphasizing collective needs over individual desires.
Technological Impact: Decentralized, modular construction technologies and AI are used for collaborative design of shared ecosystems, not just single homes.
Ecological Impact: Regenerative architecture principles guide the creation of self-sustaining habitats that support biodiversity and minimize environmental impact.
Economic Impact: Community-led initiatives and shared resources drive a circular economy focused on sustainable housing solutions.
Political Impact: Decentralized governance structures empower local communities to determine their housing needs and design their own environments.
Narrative: A paradigm shift towards collaborative design and sustainable living fosters a society where communities actively shape their environments, enriching both individual and collective well-being.
