RIBA's think tank introduces construction industry to the future

The role of the construction industry is to build for the future, as well as the present, but the professionals involved are often short of reliable data about how emerging generations might live. The RIBA's think tank, Building Futures, is holding a fast-paced day of ideas and interaction to combine the collective knowledge of the construction industries with futurologists in order to establish and invigorate new collaborations between them.
The Futures Fair event, supported by the DTI's Foresight programme, will investigate the role of architecture over coming years and match the skills of architects, designers and construction professionals, with the predictions of sociologists, economists, technologists, and other thinkers.
Challenging presentations will be given by speakers representing the UK's leading architectural practices, property companies, construction specialists, planners and government. Highlights include a keynote speech by Yvette Cooper MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning; and a landmark talk by internationally-regarded innovations specialist, David Bodanis. Themes including sustainability, regeneration, technology, infrastructure, materials and workplace will be explored through a series of presentations.
Interaction between attendees will be the focus of the day; which will stimulate debate through group discussions, SMS messaging and electronic message boards; and a 'speed-date' event to spark future collaborations.
Speaking about the Futures Fair, Dickon Robinson, Chair of Building Futures, said:
"The buildings being designed today will be the infrastructure of tomorrow, but it is not the role of the construction industry to predict how society might be functioning in 20 or 30 years. Society is changing radically almost on a decade-by-decade basis. This is why it makes sense to bring a wide range of specialists together, to give construction professionals the best chance of delivering buildings and spaces that will remain useful and effective over a long period of time. We want our new buildings to be 'future-proofed'."
Attendance at the Futures Fair costs £75+VAT (£88.15). To book, contact mike.althorpe@inst.riba.org
The detailed Futures Fair programme follows:
2 May 2007
09.30 Dickon Robinson, Chair of Building Futures
Introduction to Building Futures
09.35 Welcome by Jack Pringle, President of the RIBA.
Why the future matters to the RIBA and its members
Futures in context:
09.45 Yvette Cooper MP, Minister for Housing and Planning
10.00 Foresight Intelligent Infrastructure Project
Professor Glenn Lyons of the Centre for Transport and Society, Faculty of the Built Environment, University of the West of England
10.15 Future Intelligence in Buildings
Derek Clements-Croome, Professor of Construction and Engineering at the University of Reading.
10.30 Value Added Futures
Professor David Fisk, BP/RAEng Chair in Eng for Sustainable Development at the Imperial College, London
10.45 (SMS) discussion, questions, comment and feedback
Futures in focus:
11.20 Seminar break-outs looking at six emerging futures themes:
Climate Change - sustainable future solutions for the built environment
Chair: Elanor Warwick, CABE. Kevin Lomas, Director of the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development at De Monfort University; Alan Short, University of Cambridge; David Shipworth, Reading University.
Urban Change - proposals for reconfiguring the city
Chair: Jeremy Titchen, Exemplar. Charles Scott, Sheppard Robson; Nick Shattock, Quintain-Estates; Nick Gallent, Director of the MSc Spatial / International Planning Programmes at the Bartlett School, UCL.
Process Change - showcasing technology and innovation
Chair; David Fisk of the Imperial College. John Lyle, ARUP; Jeff Turko, Nekton and the University of East London.
Changing Frameworks - the shifting networks of the future city
Chair: Karen Rogers, BDP. Alan Penn, Architectural and Urban Computing at the Bartlett School, UCL; Catherine Ward-Thompson, Edinburgh College of Art; Glen Bramley, School of the Built Environment, Heriot Watt.
Changing Materials - insights into new techniques and products
Chair: Dickon Robinson. Chris Goodier, Civil & Building Engineering; Loughborough University; PeterGuthrie, Department of Engineering Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Cambridge.
Changing Work Styles - the future of the office place
Chair; John Worthington, DEGW. Ian Thody, Gordon Ingram Associates; Davida Hamilton, DEGW.
12.45 Lunch and digital data transfer activity session
Futures links:
13.30 Facilitated by Daisy Froud at the AOC
Lively and fast paced speed dating session to encourage as many people to meet and talk to one another as possible.
Futures forum:
14.30 Three break-outs with presentations, discussions and the opportunity to get on your soap box. We want to hear your pitch
Cities and Urban Form
Value Creation
Movement and Communications
Featuring presentations including: Rachel Cooper of Lancaster Institute of Contemporary Arts on 'The 24 hour City'; Lynsey Hanley, author and writer on social housing and pointers for future on 'Estates'; and Malcolm Allan on 'City Branding -Placebrands'
15.40 David Bodanis
Landmark talk with the innovations and futures author, commentator and writer. As an academic he lectured at the University of Oxford for many years, where he designed and taught the university's main survey of social studies, entitled 'An Intellectual Tool-Kit'. For several years he was a technology specialist with Shell's highly respected scenario team; he has also worked at length with Microsoft's research labs, and with BMW's innovation group
16.10 Plenary discussion with interactive delegate participation
17.00 Drinks and close
The Futures Fair 2007 is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and is in partnership with the work of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Email: melanie.mayfield@inst.riba.org