Week
2:
Lecture: Future Visions and Scenarios.
Just a personal observation regarding
the majority of scenarios that depict the future: Why do they always look post-apocalyptic?
– Surely we can avoid this?
Imagine me in the future...
Okay, let’s go for 20 years ahead -
2032. I’ll be 57 but appear to be in my mid 40’s because of the age defying
treatments available. If only they had developed them earlier! Anyway,
technology has advanced to a stage that I run my virtual architecture studio
from the comfort of my home office; this alleviates the overheads of a physical
practice and saves considerable time in travel. In fact, there is no need to
leave the home at all as everything I require can be ordered via my smart
appliances. Cabin fever is my major concern. I leave the home office on a daily
basis for a walk to get some fresh air – because the air is indeed fresher
since carbon neutralisation – largely due to the reduction in private transport
(cars). Most people work from home in 2032, most of the remaining traffic is
delivery based or public buses. Aesthetically, my neighbourhood has changed
little since 2012 when all but a few blocks of land were left to purchase,
however recent renovations are easily identified because of the advances in
nano-technology. These homes are painted with specialised solar paint and many
have shading devices developed through bio-mimicry – they adjust automatically
to fluctuations in light, shade and temperature. The importance of planting
increased over the last 20 years so people have been inclined to plant more and
cut less – this has led to an increase in biodiversity and birdlife has
flourished. Bird noises are a constant companion to me as I work and walk. The
weekend is nearing and I’m starting to consider my options. The 4 day working
week was introduced 13 years ago leading to a boom in any industry related to
recreational pursuits and the options now available are staggering. What to do?
Tutorial: Design Charette:
Today we visualised what Paddington
may be like in 50 years. We speculated that there would be a noticeable
reduction in personalised traffic but increased amount of public transport. The
idea of an elevated rail system or perhaps a mag-lev system may also be
implemented in the future.
We brainstormed
office buildings and decided that more people are likely to work from a remote
interface (home perhaps) so there would be a reduced requirement for office
space in the future. Some ideas about how to utilise these empty spaces
resulted in proposals of residential inhabitation, food production and
recreational facilities.
Readings:
Reading 1: Urban Form and Locality: Hugh Barton.
Dispersal vs Concentration:
On one side of the argument we find the
eco-idealist. Return to rural land use, organic farming and low impact lifestyle
to achieve a sustainable existence. However this ideal is being diluted by the
housing market and the popular “tree-change” movement. Although people enjoy
the rural lifestyle, many of the agricultural properties are being snapped up
by homemakers rather than farmers. This has a negative impact on the ideal of ‘working’
communities and rural employment and produce. Also, if we consider that most of
these “tree-change” advocates live in the country and retain their employ in
the cities – the issue of climate change through transport emissions and increased travel
distances works adversely to the eco-ideal.
http://www.futuretechture.com/
Dispersal: Urbanisation of the countryside:
Would
this eco-ideal not expedite the urbanisation of the countryside as the
population inflates, plots are sub-divided to sustain growing communities
leading eventually to urban densities. This is already happening around the
world. Is this not what we refer to as ‘urban sprawl’?
Concentration: The Compact City:
Studies based around transport suggest that dense urban
communities rely less on personal modes of transportation and therefore have a
smaller ecological footprint that their rural dwelling cousins. Further to this; it is suggested that densification of urban centres creates a rich and diverse cultural life for the inhabitants, but what about quality of life? (below).
Because of their success, researchers look towards European towns as a model for how 'concentrated' city living can work. Whilst being dense, there is a sense of community, cultural richness and social and economic organisation that can be found in many, if not most of the towns.
"... Re-creating tbe diverse multifunctional city of tbe citizen's Europe is tbus a social and economic project for wbicb "tbe quality of life" is not a luxury but an essential" (CEC, 1990).
Compare the below photos; It is not until we delve into the streets of Barcelona that we see the richness of this dense European city.
Barcelona Sprawl: http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m505zrbmO71r3cgmdo1_500.jpg
"... the large majority of Europeans live happily in the very kind of suburb that the Commission designates as 'sprawl'". (Breheny, 1992a)
And, although dense in residential accommodation, we find that European cities like Barcelona (above) contain many public squares and parks to accommodate recreational pursuits, thus, creating an enjoyable living experience. Can we call this 'well organised sprawl?'
Mixed Use Development:
Has been earmarked as the answer to sustainable development.
However the text raises the question of what should be mixed into which part of
the larger township and how does this affect the reliance on public transport?
It raises the importance of careful planning of mixed use patterns, in
particular, the selection of uses to be incorporated into different scales of
neighbourhoods.
http://www.indesignlive.com/idl/media/idlcom/february_09/sustainability/one_hero.jpg
Reading 2: Tsunami Warnings, Written in Stone:
Signs left by ancestors warning of past tragedies save those who
heed the warning.
Not yet sure how this one ties in... could be development in
tune with nature? Anyway I found this funny photo...
Reading 3: A History of Greenwashing: How Dirty Towels Impacted the Green Movement:
Again the controversy of corporate profits vs ‘Green Initiative’
rises to the surface. It’s also called positive sustainable development and
allows growth and sustainability to work together for a common goal.
I have no problem in businesses making healthy profit, as long as
they are doing their utmost for the sustainability of the economy and ecology
at the same time.
