So I've started to think of what a story might be. And how I could show the journey of one person through my vision of the future, and my architectural intervention. Here is the story of Bob.
My name is bob. I’m
originally from the country, but because of the employment market, I find
myself in Brisbane, a modern city; moreover, a modern city with free
energy. Due to the discovery of fusion
energy, the lens in which we view the city has changed. No longer worried about CO2 and other green
issues, we instead embrace the future without pollution due to free, clean
energy.
Building has exploded in the city, with developers no longer
bound by energy consumption and pollution worries, towers are everywhere. Because energy is free, building costs are
reduced, manufacturing and even material gathering became cheaper, and instead
now the focus is on the finite resources that we have left on earth, and the
cost of labour.
As recycling is virtually free, there is a movement on
gathering resources from previously ignored sources. Dump mining has begun in previously discarded
City dumps, and buildings are now built with the focus on recyclable, reusable
materials, and permanency of the core and structure of the building with the
tenancy and uses being left loose to make building more sustainable.
As energy is free, the use of everyday technology such as
mobiles and laptops has become almost obsolete with more and more people
embracing augmented computing technology as a way of life. With free energy, technology advancements accelerate
at a tremendous rate, although there is always the thought of minimal material
use in mind, energy is the main currency of technology.
People purchase augmenters such as glasses, and with these
technologies there view of the world is changed. No-longer relying on hardware updates, we
crave new software, interfaces, and ultimately, a different augment of our
fixed reality. We add not just
information but even completely modify the view of our world. Personalization becomes the focus, and an
extension of this is making our sub-conscious lens of the world a conscious decision. We see what we want when we want to. Some people wanting the immersion of the city
with their HUD showing the bargains and events, some focused on social aspects,
but some, like me, choosing to ignore the current and reinvent my reality.
Relationships are different to; with the idea of Facebook of
the naughties being taken to the next level.
We rarely interact physically, choosing to instead interface through our
technology with each other. Online
gaming that was once marginal becomes the sport of the future; Koreans having
already embraced this idea in the 90’s are leading the world with the immersive
gaming technology. We are all online.
But we still crave personal contact, even if it is just for procreation,
or a no string sexual encounter. Pop-up
love hotels are becoming more and more popular; the idea first blew me away,
without the need for small talk tho, it caught on like wild fire. We no longer feel the need for relationships
that aren’t “fun” instead we rely on technology to serve, and people to
entertain. Glory holes are the new
clubs.
Shopping is dead to; people instead looking at it as entertainment. We click, scan and experience in the shop,
but ultimately, everything is delivered and nothing is in store. Apple starting this idea 20 years ago, but it’s
taken to a new level. We shop in passing;
retail space is reduced to a mere façade of what it used to be. But due to the cheaper manufacturing and
transport cost with a relatively stable average income, we are all consuming
animals devouring commercialism relentlessly.
Even the humble service providers of old are mechanised and
energised. What once had staff is now
reduced to a mechanical line without any human interaction. We purchase with a swipe of our wrists and
cash has become obsolete, instead an online, digital credit system is the new
way. In my favourite diner spot “Slice
of Sausage” in my buildings ground floor, the pizza man is no-longer
there. Instead the only employee is the
delivery guy, which due to our lazy, online culture is working harder than ever
before. Delivery is the biggest sector
in the employment market; followed closely by design.
As most in the city are devoured by new developments of
towers reaching the sky, existing structures refitted and refurbished, mine is
one of the first of the new breed. A new
site in the city that opened up due to the cities virtual heritage policy, it
is new from the ground up. No-longer
held up by the requirement to keep facades of old regardless of significants,
develops are left to grow, grow, grow.
The structure is built to last, with sustainability still being a key
focus due to the ever pressing reality that materials are finite, however the
dinosaur tower model of energy wasting towers becomes the norm. The structure is designed to last at least
100 years, with the fit out of each floor becoming dependant on the
inhabitants. No longer is renting apartments
normal, instead we rent tower amenity, and service and are now responsible for
fitting our own space out.
Unit spaces are tiny, with single apartments becoming the standard. No longer caring for energy wastage, we use
glass everywhere. Even internally with
through the use of technologies, have a layer of screen imprinted on the glass,
so with the use of more energy they are transformed into display screens used
to show whatever our hearts desire. My
unit is small, very small.
At only 20m2 it is average, but on my salary, it’s all I could
afford to lease and fit out. All the
materials used are generally reused off previous fit outs and tenancies due to
the standardisation of wall panel sizing’s through the building. But while small, it has everything I need. A bathroom, a kitchen and my living space; everything
transforms into what I need when I need it.
The wall a screen for my work as a produce agent; which is my TV,
computer, and my view; with a very poor view of the street not stopping me, I have
a view of Paris, or New York, whatever I want really. My bed is the couch, my seat, and my kitchen
everything I need.
As most people order in, the need for big kitchens with lots
of appliances become obsolete, instead we use the very least and require the
very least. A microwave to reheat, a
small fridge, and a recycle centre; we recycle everything, nothing is ever
binned again.
I can’t help but think that I no-longer need to be here,
but, without the need for farms, the inland of Australia has been all but
abandoned, and at the moment, that sounds just perfect to me. But how would I live without free energy???
