A Narrative of 2030

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???