Panels | Topic: Urban Design | Megacities
Big, bigger, megacity!Since 2007, more people have been living in cities than in rural areas, and one in ten people lives in a megacity. Overall, the urban population is now growing by about 60 million people a year. Like all cities in the past, today's megacities are magnets for commerce, culture, science, and industry. It requires innovative infrastructure solutions to achieve the optimal benefit from the potential of megacities, both for the development of mankind and for economic development, and at the same time address the multiple problems these cities face. This latter issue is especially pertinent for architecture.
This is because their sustainable core competence and social functioning, the innovative and adaptive design and ordering of the constructed environment, are the framework for social communication and development. Urbanism cries out for infrastructure solutions which are produced by the interconnections between human and computers, in order to ensure orientation in a metropolis.
It is the task of urban planning architects to provide the necessary direction, in order to guarantee navigation despite population growth.
Panels | Topic: Trend research
Our culture is shaped and modernized through continuous evolution. Whether in the working world and lifestyle, in new design or communications – creative and innovative thinkers move society and open up new possibilities, to shape our "future" to be more efficient, more beautiful, and more interconnected. "Ubiquitous computing" is one of the visions which is already in use, but can still be expanded further.Mark Weiser's definition of "ubiquitous computing" means detaching from the computer as a device and replacing it by "intelligent objects", which unobtrusively support people in their daily activities.
Along with "ambient intelligence" (intelligence of the environment), this technology offers new dimensions for connectivity among people, places, and urban infrastructure.
Panels | Topic: Interaction, Design & Media
Considering increasing globalisation as a macrosystem, networking at the micro level has inexorably broken through, and this not only in the context of modern communication technologies."Social networks" develop due to the need for social interconnection, whether it is within a city, an industry, or a building. Globalisation thus creates an even stronger need for connection, in interpersonal or professional collaboration.
This is proven by so many successful idea-developers, who demonstrate, by using special types of business models, how society grabs up such offerings in the market.
Panels | Topic: Architecture Thinking
Monday in London, Friday return to Zurich, and the following week in Istanbul. From one hotel to another - many businesspeople consider this the norm of their business. No wonder, since mobility and flexibility have long since become important fixtures in our working world. The trend is shifting, given globalisation to an international concept of work - work from anywhere in the world, also from a hotel.This poses new requirements, which, next to well-being and relaxation with attractive design and wellness offerings, add to the profile of a temporary residence. The travelling businessman expects an offering which goes beyond the one he’s previously experienced.
Although a hotel may be one of the most luxurious, or is among those selected for a European Design Awards, the key criteria for choosing a temporary living quarters, are shifting increasingly in favor of innovative living, working, information, and communication technologies, which give the hotel the decisive selling points.
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