THE THREADS

Not everyone was singing the praises of the open floor plan, especially not people working in open offices. On display in this thread are various solutions to provide occupants with a way to make a space work for them. A similar pattern is happening in homes that are increasingly called upon to serve as classrooms, offices, gyms, etc. Worth noting here is the departure from the room within a room as an afterthought to something planned to accommodate multiple uses.

While hybrid points to solutions that adapt to a variety of behavioral, physical, psychological, and cognitive needs and to solutions that are multidimensional in their use cases, augmented pokes at the extent to which our personal and professional abilities, lives, and bodies are augmented, enhanced, or boosted by advances in technology.

Escapism is what happens when our need for isolation goes unmet. Maybe a room within a room is no longer sufficient. We need processing time. We need a respite from everything that is going on, and many of us find it outdoors or far away from what keeps us up at night. Advertisers have picked up on that.

Biophilia, biomimicry, and bio-design drive innovations across sectors, including design and architecture. Biophilia starts with the use of patterns, colors, and shapes that echo nature on accessories, furniture, coverings, and finishes. While we derive some benefits from being exposed to representations of nature, we need biophilic design to go deeper. Green walls, green roofs, and green infrastructure are all steps in that direction, and so is the use of natural construction materials.

Mother nature has been busy knocking us off our pedestal. We are now on an accelerated collision course with nature, mostly stemming from our refusal to see ourselves as part of it. It's overwhelming, and the path forward requires a mindset shift. For starters, it requires a multi-generational, deep-time approach, so some naturally cling to what's behind door number one: more of the same, do nothing. However, most architects and designers engage with what is behind door number 2. For some, the door is barely cracked open. We will stay put. Design and build to mitigate symptoms and solutions still rooted in the "us versus nature" narrative. For others, the door is wide open, and innovative ideas abound to allow human life to thrive in symbiosis with nature.

Greenwashing is alive and well. From misleading labels and misinformation to hidden trade-offs and hidden costs, we need transparency. Yet, gatekeepers continue to play a role in controlling the narrative. In a post-truth and ultra-democratized era, some gatekeepers further muddy the waters while others help us see through the chatter. Telling them apart can be tricky, yet - if we are going to design anew - we must.

Cities won't change overnight, but they are ripe for reinvention. Step one is to zoom out and understand the ecosystems at play. Then we must find ways to embed our built environment into the natural world. Tough questions are bound to come up: Can we afford to build for resilience and stay put? If not here, then where? Are we mitigating symptoms or getting to the root cause of the issues? What's the goal: Future readiness or future fitness?

The numbers have not changed much. The industry is one of the least diverse, but there's an awareness and a deliberate attempt to work on it. Any proposed path forward must include diversity, modularity, and adaptability to be viable. That's how life thrives, and our built environment can bolster that.

Look around. It's a lot. Often overwhelming, sometimes paralyzing. No wonder we are each experiencing some level of emotional exhaustion. Awareness is rising that we must take of ourselves. "Put your oxygen mask on first before helping others."

With a strain on resources, architects and designers are teaming up with scientists to develop innovative building materials. We are also rediscovering traditional methods and materials perfected over time before falling out of favor.

Handmade items are highly sought after except for one thing: They are handmade, and it shows. We have not fully come to grips with what it means. Do we value authenticity or perfection? Is variability a price we are willing to pay for storytelling, provenance, and a sense of place?

We are looking for portals. Portals through time, place, and our collective inner realm. It's all about storytelling. Stories we tell about ourselves, about the world, about the future. About the version of the future we want to see. How much imperfection are we willing to allow on this quest as we tackle complex issues? While it stands firmly rooted in fear and politics, the allure of the status quo crumbles under close inspection. Deep down, we know that more of the same won't stand the test of time. We are on a soul-searching mission for meaning and purpose. And in the process, we must face our troubled relationships with time, place, each other, and ourselves.