WEEK 6: Reflection on project

In 40 years time, Brisbane will have seen dramatic changes socially, culturally and physically. The strong relationship with technologies such as the internet will only grow. The impacts of this will see a change of lifestyle and Zeitegeist of our current life.

Rising population will place huge pressures on urban centres. Mono-nuclei cities, such as Brisbane, will need to adapt. Our group predicted that the great use of internet will influence and change Brisbane's CBD, due to the dramatic decline in retail and commercial space require in the city and develop a decentralised city model. The decentralised city with inhibit multiple hubs allowing faster accessibility and less need to travel long distances. Also, our vision develops higher densities urban models with more apartments and multifunctional dwellings. Communal living, employment and social structure will also promote accessibility and appealing walkable cities.

A primal human necessity is feeling loved and experience life's intricacies. Although in the future people will able feel virtually fulfilled. Already, today games such as Crisis (see below) have realistic graphics. However, we believe that humans, will also need actual physical fulfillment. The experiential city allows this to occur, with breathing space and entertainment activities, similar to today. This will allow positive social and psychological benefits to occur. 

Graphics of a game, Crisis, compared to real life.

WEEK 6: Final Presentation

Here is a summary of our project.

In 2040, the world will be in the inevitable integration of the virtual real world and physical world. This virtual evolution will act as a catalyst for change will distributing Brisbane’s population to a decentralised system.

Today, 59% percent of the population use internet for shopping and 40% work online, which will  only rapidly increase allowing a great paradigm shift with the integration of shopping, employment, gaming and information into everyday objects. The city is no longer a place just for commerical and retail use, rather decentralisation has opened up the city for opportunities which are currently unfeasible. The city’s function has transformed.

 The city has become the central experiential district in the wake of the virtual world dealing with social and cultural issues of the future.

Our envisaged architectural possibilities explore the idea of modular construction, urban agriculture and boutique retail. Together these concepts create a sustainable, localised city framework against the static architecture today. The experiential city will promote greater freedom and resilient design.

WEEK 6: Reflection on presentation

In relationship to our presentation of the project, our group performed well to achieve a well developed illustration of our future scenarios. A few of the tutors suggested that it was cluttered. And I can only agree with the comment. We did have to show a lot of our research and thoughts of the future, but i think we could have made the presentation clearer. However, besides from that comment, we were able to show a lot of information. We minimised word used and used a range of diagrams to convey our thoughts.

WEEK 5: Lecture

In this week's lecture by Dr. Phil Crowther supported our quest to envision our future scenario, with a variety of points.

• Scenario should be based around facts and should consider future lifestyles, people. 
• What are they likely to do? Eat, drink, recreation and personal activities.
• Architecturally, how will this be formed?
• Huge number of people
• How do you deal with indeterminacy (unsure what will happen)
• Adaption to change? Future Problems 
• personal changes in socially, culturally, economically, spiritually....
• Unknowable use of the architecture.
• How change machines contribute?
• Services be able to move when required
• Do we need to use cars? 
• Do we need houses that stay in one place? 

I think Crowther's indeterminacy idea was most profound. Our scenarios may certainly happen due to numerous events and entities that might cause different changes. But, there are so many other external impacts that we have not thought about. And, not just the post-nuclear zombie distopian scenarios. A large proportion of existing architecture in Brisbane does not support our future needs and architecture built in the future may not support its needs too. So in reply to the term, indeterminacy, why shouldn't architecture have the ability to be resilient of future changes.

 Timeline change of Azimo

In reflection, I felt that the prediction and impact of machinces was surpressed by the group. It would be difficult to visualise this, but today there is evidence of future impact. Asimo a robot produced by Honda has made significant headway since the early 80's (see above).

In the future, robots could co-exist with humans. Seen in the video above the robot becomes a house assistant that is emotionally attached. This again implies the strong future relationship between architecture and technology.

Week 5: Reserach

In this week's reading, Isozaki (1999) refers to Cedric Price, most commonly known for his unique and innovative approach to building entiies. The buidling Fun Palace designed by Cedric Price insuates the essential need for a structure that is adaptable and flexible. At the time, Price's concept was innovative developing a design that could be altered, rather than stagnant. Isozaki (1999) states historic norms ignore the importance of future adaption to cultural, practices and lifestyles.
This linked to our scenario, where we see a future need and demand for architecture that has the ability to adapt to change and even grow. Prefabricated box that could continuously grow, allowing flexibility and adaptiablity.

Eco pods by howeler yoon architecture and squared design lab

Isozaki (1999) states clear differences between archigram's programme and Price innovative concept of the Fun Palace includin the idea of "non design". Isozaki (1999) refers to the fun palace due to "unlimited" changes in design arrangement. Although Price did not build it shows steps toward a future vales and ideas

The other reading this week,  focused on the the work of Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Author, Kazi (2009) firstly refers to the distilled relationship between art and architecture. Seeing the project  for its installation purpose and entity of art. The Blur Building, design by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in 1992, develops a strong reinforcement of the firms philosophy, challenging  the perception of architecture. The building is covered in mist nozzles, hiding the building in an artificial cloud. Unlike many other firm, well or just mine, there is strong freedom and allowing the firm to focus on their aims to test the boundaries of architecture and cultural production.


"They position themselves vis-à-vis the discipline with ‘an understanding of its involvement, its networks, its complexities, its ties into the political, economic, social, into different disciplines within the arts, different modes of expression whether it’s writing or architectural installations, permanent/temporary, small/large." (Kazi 2009, 2)
 
Although, Diller Scofidio + Renfro could be categorised as a contemporary, with "money losing experiments" and detailed theortical theartre exploration (Kazi 2009, 4). The value of architectural as a theatre device is seen to be most important. Personally, this conceptual workplace philosphy is different to me, but it reminds of the arcitecture's ability to tested and explored. Architecture's ability grow is similar to other sciences, developing new platforms of research and impacts. Architecture in the future will strongly interlinked with technology, with its strong need to support 21st century human lifestyle.

Isozaki, A., 1999. Erasing architecture into the system. In H. U. Obrist, ed. Re: CP. Birkhäuser Architecture, pp. 24–47. 

Kazi, O., 2009. Architecture as a Dissident Practice: An Interview with Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Architectural Design, 79(1), pp.56–59

WEEK 5: Tutorial

In this week's tutorial my group worked together to try and illustrate what we would put on the board. Here is a summary:

OVERALL 2040
As a result of the growth and integration of the virtual world and increase in population, Brisbane has become decentralized, transforming the function of the city.

FUTURE VISIONS

• Integration of the virtual world. Proof today.
• Artificial Intelligence / robots (Not sure if we should go into this)
• Great population growth causing great demands for food, water and resources.
• Change of functional use of the city due to great use of the internet.(shopping or employment will mostly be on the internet)
• Transport: Self driving ubiquitous taxi service (people WONT drive cars), high speed magelv (frictionless train), everything will be inclose proximately (due to the decentralised city). 

 SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

• Multifunction buildings allowing crop trading and walkable connections. 
• Global culture spread through wide spread use of technologies and the web for gaming, shopping, busines, entertainment and internet. 
• Green buildings that trade crops. 
• Multifunctional building minimising car use.

 LIFESTYLES 

• Dencentralised families within hubs to support the aging population. 
• Minimised transport use through walkable and decentralised hubs. Maglev and self driving traxing support long trips.
•  The city becomes a place of experience, with great change of lifestyles demanding happiness rather than money.
• People are able to work from home or any due to change working conditions.  

 Architectural

• Modular design allowing fast prefabricated construction. 
• Urban agriculture allowing appealing cities and support great population food demands. 
• Boutique retail allowing specialised retail, due to demand of experience and quality  in markets. 
• Multifunctional dwelling supporting employment, residential and food production.
• Refurbished and retrofitting of city to present needs of the city, without wasting valuable infrastructure.

WEEK 4: Tutorial

From last week design charette our group discussed the findings further. From our previous thoughts, we thought more broadly and discussed future changes in general such technology and architecture due to the forced scenario of the no-car policy.

To focus on our future predications we decided to set the time of our scenario to be 2040.
We questioned and predicted the following:

• Road use. Will people still use roads? Green space or agriculture uses?
• Self-driving cars seem plausible with google already using them (source)
• Forming a ubiquitous transport system
• People shop from home and produce produce using 3d printers
• Waste is redundant as it become used for fuel or changed into other products using nanobot
• City becomes a resource for food, water, energy, recreation, green space, IV, organ growth.
• Will we have jobs, with robots being more stronger and greater intelligence?
• City will become more decentralised with major hubs including: Chermside, Indropillly, Logan and Ipswich.
• I had a personal ephiany realising we forgot about the internet. The INTERNET will dramatically change our lifestyles and surroundings. Already people depend on the internet for communication, entertainment, and employment. What will happen in the future?

Pod Transportation Source

In relation to our set scenario policy of no cars within the CBD, it was not seen to be a barrier at all. Cars have been in use since the start of the last century, why wouldn’t this change? Accessiblity has been a major impact to architectural design, especially in brisbane, promoting distant and larger properties. Changes in transport are expected, however i failed to see certain transport systems such as: tube transportation and pod transportation to be developed (see above and below).

Tube Transportation

These systems of transport neglect exisitng infrastructure. What happens when there is a system faster than there movement of travel? I predict that self-driving cars and high speed rail will become more evident. These use our existing infrastructure, with roads and railways, rather creating new ones.

WEEK 4: Research

Building layer services stuff structure

Organised adaptove

Against a conservative approach of maintaining existing idioms a sense of fashion is formed one which can be outdated just as the last was.

Relation with nature ton harmonious.  Which is a common to many architects philosophy
However instead of passive design approach implies that adaptability of nature

Here is some of thoughts from this weeks readings.
Impartial
Networking as a modern tool to further communicate via a global network of devices corporations

Future based system of high speed information at any second
Fast broadband has minimised the use physical contact, but maximise social connectivity in a more convent way. Through twitter fb instagram corporations and single individuals are able to spread a message or their products

A most profound implication of the article is the impacts of an immediate and ever ready Internet activity. I mean who seriously, does everyone need to be connected at the same time. At times there is a sense of scarineess when people are easily able to find intimate personal information, simply by being some friend.   ...  Author mentions a networking screening device able t manage networkng frequencies, which is quite startling when just 20yrs ago many people hadn't even used the Internet before.

With these great technological innovations there are significant benefits, but even greater sense of caution.

In further discussion, as usual, fiction implies great precaution such as die hard 4.0.

WEEK 3: Tutorial

Formed groups

Out group at first was very perplexed in what the future would like. But, on the basis of fictional media there was some uncertainty of future scenarios. Unsure where to go to or from, Ruwan suggested we work with a topic and feed it ideas to possibly connect to our set scenario. This was originally seen as "seed" to grow and interconnect ideas. But, I think it created a restricted platform.

Coding from the Matrix(1999). What is real?

Personally, the technology was seen to be a huge contributor of what the future would like. Like any guy, who loved movies like: Star Wars, I am Legend, Back to the Future, The Matrix etc, there was a definite excitement. I probably went off track at times talking about AI and surrogate, but I think these unbelievable ideas could be the next step. I mean, looking back 40 years, who would say we would all have useable portable machines that let us communicate with anyone at anytime.

Human surrogates growing from a scene in the Matrix(1999).

WEEK 2: Tutorial

In the tutorial we mapped our issues and explored other possible scenarios, and then was supposed to explain one of these to the rest of tutorial group. I felt that due to broadness of this exercise certain students, such as myself, were lost and bewildered by the possibilities of the future, greatly due to the influences of the media.

One idea that my group and I developed was the integration of organic farming and technology in the Region theme group. The idea was developed by the simple fact that regional areas are going to scarce and precious resources to the exponentially growing urban areas. These regional areas become sources of food, water, energy and also employment. By programing plants to not only grow food and products, but also grow actually grow livable infrastructure (see above and below). In this idea both positive development and sustainable growth is developed. This concept does have huge questions, but already today there is already engineered plants and designed growing sculptures.

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/7062/grow-your-own-architecture.html

http://www.lumen.nu/rekveld/wp/?page_id=522\

WEEK 2: Lecture

This week’s lecture gave a further introduction to the themes and the expectations of students. Yasu gave a basic ‘What if?‘ scenario for each theme (see below)

Urban:
What if Brisbane City Council decided to introduce London style Congestion Charge to CBD in 2020 to heavily reduce traffic congestion in the area?

Suburban:
What if all retail stores in Paddington Central stopped selling goods in favour of online stores, but decided to keep physical presence for customer experiences?
Regional

What if Woodford Folk Festival site were to become a self-sufficient community that was to be managed and operated self-sufficiently?

Virtual:
What if Queensland Government’s key strategy were to resolve Urban, Suburban and Regional issues Virtually?

This obviously influenced a lot of thought, as well as a lot of questions. Yasu was pushing our sense of architecture to be greatly broadened by the conceptual envisioning of the possible scenarios. I’m not sure what I’m getting into....

WEEK 2: Readings

The tale of the stone tablet warning the village of Aneyoshi, Japan, to not build below. It implies the forced necessary actions to prevent a tsunami catastrophe, which did occur in 1896 and 1933 (Fackler, 2011).

The strong relevant theme presented in the article is the relationship between the past, present and future societies. The past, due to two experiences, warn future societies to not build below a certain point. And it is the future and present societies that must question: should they follow this old tablet? Obviously without protection the Aneyoshi should not build, but there is nothing actually stopping them. Like the old elephant who knows that he is too weak to break a measly thin chain, that his previous, much younger self could not break. Although, a Tsunami is not a measly thin chain and can cause total annihilation.  At this point in time it most safe to build above the boundary and designed Tsuami barriers to be classified as risky, but as mentioned in the prior reading reflection video by Michio Kaku: What stops future civilizations from controling planetary forces, such as continental drift?

In the midst of the perception of the future visions is the strong issue of sustainability. The term has been used to aware people of the necessity of green everything, but not always actually green or ecologically friendly.  Motavalli (2011) list several examples of corporate companies manipulating mindless consumers into buying their so called “green” products. There is already a crack down on such claims, such as false energy star labeling (Mcmasters, 2010). These do generate positive perception in a safer and cleaner environment, but at what ecological cost?

References
Barton, H., 2000. Urban form and locality. In H. Barton, ed. Sustainable communities: the potential for eco-neighbourhoods. London: Earthscan, pp. 105-122.

Fackler, M., 2011. Tsunami Warnings, Written in Stone. Accessed 20 July 2012.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/world/asia/21stones.html

Mcmasters, N., 2010. That Energy Star Label might Be Lying. Accessed 3 August 2012. www.newser.com/story/103870/that-energy-star-label-might-be-lying.html
Motavalli, J., 2011. A History of Greenwashing: How Dirty Towels Impacted the Green Movement. Accessed 28 July 2012.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/02/12/the-history-of-greenwashing-how-dirty-towels-impacted-the-green/