Future-proof
The principles of future-proofing are extracted from other industries and codified as a system for approaching an intervention in an historic building.
[4][5] In 1998, teleradiology (the ability to send radiology images such as X-rays and CAT scans over the internet to a reviewing radiologist) was in its infancy.
This draws out two characteristics of future-proofing that are important to the built environment: interoperability and the ability to be adapted to future technologies as they were developed.
The products with more functional design, better appearance, and which accumulate emotional value faster tend to be retained longer and are considered future-proof.
Some of the characteristics of future-proof products that come out of this study include a timeless nature, high durability, aesthetic appearances that capture and hold the interest of buyers.
[10] That desire to change the world runs throughout speculative design, where success is often measured not in what’s made, but instead the impact of your idea and how it seeps into wider thinking.
[8] At Google, various strategy and visioning teams use their creative expertise within internal studios and departments to explore what may lay beyond the horizon in five, 10, or even 15 years time.
To understand the role of speculative design at Google, we can look to the MacGuffin theory, which states that the importance of a prop in narrative film is not the object itself, but the effect it has on the characters and their motivations.
Similarly, the value of speculative design is not in the object that is created–whether it’s a prototype, installation, or live experience–but rather the discussion, contemplation, and understanding that it sparks.
[11] An important focus in the development of next-next generation products and services is the need to uncover opportunities by exploring people’s unmet and unarticulated needs in the present and utilize this insight in future oriented design activity.
[11] Whether predicting or shaping how the future will unfold, speculative design needs to strike a balance between what’s possible and what’s pure science fiction.
[8] This evolving paradigm requires designers to not only envision future possibilities but also to deeply consider the ethical implications of their creations.
The journey from concept to realization necessitates a responsible approach, where the societal, environmental, and moral consequences are weighed with every decision.
[14] In the realm of sustainable environmental issues, future-proof is used generally to describe the ability of a design to resist the impact of potential climate change due to global warming.
"[15] In the design of low energy consuming dwellings, "buildings of the future should be sustainable, low-energy and able to accommodate social, technological, economic and regulatory changes, thus maximizing life cycle value."
This study concluded that "a focus on a whole life-cycle approach to the design and operation of health facilities clearly would have benefits."
By designing in flexibility and adaptability of structures, one may "defer the obsolescence and consequent need for demolition and replacement of many health facilities, thereby reducing overall demand for building materials and energy.
The essence of the discussion is whether adjustments in the occupant's behavior can future-proof the building against errors in judgment in estimates of the impacts of global climate change.
These techniques not only work with thermal mass walls, but also protect damaged and deteriorating historic facades to varying degrees.
In 1997, the MAFF laboratories at York, England were described in an article as “future-proof” by being flexible enough to adapt to developing rather than static scientific research.
The standard building envelope and MEP services provided could be tailored for each type of research to be performed.
[21] In the valuation of real estate, there are three traditional forms of obsolescence which affect property values: physical, functional, and aesthetic.
For example, analysis of domestic water infrastructure in the Southern California and Tijuana area completed by Rich and Gattuso in 2016[25] demonstrates that potential vulnerabilities include levee failures, material deterioration, and climate change.
[27] The regional water authority is also in the middle of a multi-decade long project to reline the existing pipeline system to increase their service life (Water-technology.net, 2012).
[28] The strategies being employed in San Diego and Tijuana are future-proofing their potable water infrastructure systems by including seismic loops and flexible oversized systems to prevent damage in seismic events accommodate future changes in use and population growth.
