Three Paradigm Shifts that will Shape the Future of Cities
Jakob Str?mann-Andersen
Director, Innovation and Sustainability at Henning Larsen
By 2050, the world’s population is expected to exceed 10 billion people, making overcrowded cities one of the most pressing issues of the present. Data analysis, machine learning, transportation developments, and the rapid development of new social technologies are changing the needs of people and communities, which will have a direct impact on the issue of overcrowding and on our built environment more largely. Here’s how.
1. The most sustainable cities is the one that doesn’t get built
Buildings and construction together account for 38% of energy-related CO2 emissions. The simplest and most impactful issue to consider regarding climate change is that the most sustainable building is the one that is never built. Refurbishment is one of the most relevant trends to look at, since it not only saves money and time, but also eliminates/decreases the building process and demolition itself.
Google's new LA office is a restored World War II-era hangar
2. Intelligent cities through big data and human behavior
Future cities are smart cities that will operate as one big data-driven ecosystem. Our interactions and data are constantly being recorded, and several companies are already using this data to extrapolate and project smarter design to better fit our needs. Some of the most important aspects that could be affected include: walkability, accessibility, mixed uses, fluctuating usage levels at different times (good cities should never have ‘dead’ spaces or moments), and the integration of different cultures and communities - a current pressing matter that grows bigger every day.
Bay Area traffic is analyzed on video in real time
3. New era of design for digital manufacturing and robotic Assembly
The world is ready for innovation in construction materials and digital production technologies. The smartest way to address this issue is systematically: instead of devastating forests, beaches, and riverbanks, we should be reusing, recycling, and upcycling what would otherwise be waste. Some of the most interesting options here include plastic waste-based materials, CO2-absorbing materials (such as CLT), renewable materials, and biomechanics. 3D printing creates new opportunities in construction with enhanced performances and optimization of the amount of material used in construction. In the case of concrete, it can reduce use by up to 40%. This excess occurs today because there's currently no penalty for over-design, encouraging designers and engineers to err on the side of safety and aesthetics over material efficiency.
New technology will revolutionize the way in which you can produce geometrically challenging moulds within a reasonable financial frame.
Program Manager | Strategy & Project Management Office @ Danish Industry
5 年@Klaus Lehn Christensen interesting thoughts!
MPhil Candidate at UM, Founder Novanta, WELL AP/Fitwell Ambassador/EDGE Expert
5 年I would look on how we can prefabbricate most of the building components in order to duly control quality, use of resource in a effective way. Also the concept of restorative architecture is quite intriguing.
Partner and COO at Fortheloveoflight
5 年Du er sej, jakob??
CEO at ReefCircular, Founder of Studio Kathryn Larsen. Material driven architect MAA designing for people and the planet.
5 年I feel like number 3 misses a potential focus on traditional building materials and biobased materials. While we should definitely be looking at reusing waste, and engineering new solutions, we should also be looking at how we built in the past and encouraging more innovation with traditional architecture. I am definitely inspired by the precut timber solutions in Japan that are based on traditional joinery, and how we can design with more detail and prefabrication to reduce waste. We then have an opportunity to celebrate our local architecture and culture instead of outsourcing a generic parametric building or building more glass, steel and concrete cubes.