Imagined Future Scenarios
Augmented Reality, Possible Futures, Long Term (5 - 10 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 access to affordable housing and customized spaces leads to urban sprawl and lifestyle stratification.
Technological Impact: Ubiquitous AR and robotics drive rapid construction and customization, requiring ever-increasing computational power and material resources.
Ecological Impact: Higher construction rates deplete natural resources and increase carbon emissions from manufacturing and transportation of building materials.
Economic Impact: A booming construction industry fuels economic growth, creating jobs in AR design, robotics, and material production.
Political Impact: Governments struggle to regulate the rapid pace of development and ensure equitable access to customizable housing.
Narrative: Continuous expansion and customization of the built environment defines a world built on AR-driven growth.
Collapse Arc
Social Impact: System failures in AR and robotics lead to abandoned unfinished structures and social unrest due to housing shortages.
Technological Impact: Breakdown of AR infrastructure and robotic maintenance renders existing AR-built structures unstable and unusable.
Ecological Impact: Unfinished construction projects result in environmental degradation and resource waste, exacerbated by climate change.
Economic Impact: Economic recession follows the collapse of the construction industry and related sectors, triggering widespread unemployment.
Political Impact: Governments are unable to cope with the widespread infrastructure failures and social unrest, leading to political instability.
Narrative: A reliance on complex interconnected systems leads to a catastrophic failure of AR-driven construction and a societal collapse.
Discipline Arc
Social Impact: Strict regulations on AR design and robotic construction ensure standardized housing and controlled urban development.
Technological Impact: Standardized AR platforms and robotic systems enable efficient and controlled construction, managed by central authorities.
Ecological Impact: Resource management and building material recycling are enforced to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainability.
Economic Impact: Government-controlled construction projects provide stable employment and ensure equitable resource allocation.
Political Impact: Centralized planning and strict regulations limit individual customization but promote social stability and resource efficiency.
Narrative: A highly regulated environment ensures sustainable and equitable AR-driven construction, sacrificing individual freedom for collective well-being.
Transform Arc
Social Impact: AR transforms human understanding of space and architecture, leading to nomadic, decentralized communities built with sustainable, bio-integrated structures.
Technological Impact: Advanced bio-integrated materials and decentralized AR networks enable autonomous and regenerative building processes.
Ecological Impact: Buildings are designed to integrate with and enhance local ecosystems, promoting biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
Economic Impact: Decentralized economies based on localized resource management and collaborative construction practices emerge.
Political Impact: Hierarchical governance systems are replaced by self-organizing communities based on shared values and ecological principles.
Narrative: AR-driven technology catalyzes a fundamental shift towards ecological living and decentralized, self-sustaining communities.