Shaping the future

Architecture students are able to bridge the gap between reality and fantasy while designing. They are able to dream the undreamed, shape the unshaped and to solve current problems in the near or far future using techniques and strategies as yet unknown – or known, but underused or misused. Their enthusiasm gives them the courage to face new challenges. Even though I have been teaching a long time and have seen students from many continents, their capacity to dream never fails to astonish me.

In the academic year 2006-2007 at Newcastle University’s, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, I used students’ dreaming capacity during the final project in Stage 3. The aim of the Ouseburn Futures project was to imagine one major plausible economical, social, technological or climate change development in 50 years time and, as a response to that, design an equally plausible sustainable multi-use building.

We discussed utopia and, at the other end of the scale, dystopia, futurology, and our ability to estimate changes to come, read the weak signals and mix these in our day-dreaming. Science fiction and art’s genuine capacity to present us with sudden, unpredictable outcomes was discussed. The 50-year time-span gave an edge to the project.

The location was the picturesque Ouseburn Valley, one of the oldest industrial areas of Byker in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which is being regenerated.

Responses

The reactions were interesting. Most of the students chose to design a society and an appropriate building based on old-fashioned values of community, where sharing responsibility and cultivating equality was a norm, even if dystopia was prevailing around the valley. Huge numbers of immigrants or refugees and transient workers, children left behind by parents pursuing international careers, new household structures, the global war on terror, restricted resources and human hostility were the most frightening images students visualised.

Gradually new hope emerged. For example, the students started to create imaginative memory banks, green “Hobbit” belts where retired people took care of children and shared buildings where migratory workers were entertained or learned new skills.

Some students’ responses were far beyond my understanding – new electromagnetic spheres were visualised, the brain’s energy was used by computers, and new unknown techniques were tested. But most of the students chose the “old” construction techniques. The most common concept was recycling: old skilled-based crafts and an imaginative combination of new and old construction techniques were frequently visualised. Markets with social activities, libraries and large, shared web screens were combined with hostel-type living units with 100% autonomy in their energy cycles.

During the process I realised that our generation’s responsibility is to show that we are positive about our capacity to solve most of the problems we are facing at the moment. Innovation is a new mantra within the industry and within national economies, but it only remains so if the notion is expanded in a socially sustainable direction. Any good product is not the one and only solution to any of the future construction or planning problems. The creator and designers of any product must be ready to allow large client groups, future users and “dreamers” to participate in the creation process. Discussion about the future gives well balanced results when combined with the influences of art, architecture and cinema. Then the construction products will remain as part of the solution and not part of the problem.

NETTA competition

Since 2003 I have been responsible for the third year’s first project – the TRADA/North East Timber Trade Association architecture students’ competition. This calls for a team design, the content of which varies each year, with the proviso that timber is used in the construction.

Within one or two weeks the students get to know the material and its endless flexibility in construction. They are inspired by wood’s tactile and aesthetic qualities and are glad to have an opportunity to get to know such a sustainable material.

They unequivocally believe wood to be the best material for future challenges. The main argument for the use of wood is that is from renewable resources. Also, its flexibility in terms of recycling or when it is used in lightweight structures appeals them. The young architects are delighted to be able to combine the known (the vernacular wood tradition from Scandinavia and more and more here from the UK, as well) and the unknown (the future’s demand for flexible and energy saving structures).

Students approve the use of wood as the most natural product in projects which are located in the country, but, for many, timber is a natural choice in cities as well. We are waiting for innovative public timber buildings to appear in the near future.