Below is the naritive for our concept. Our idea is essentially based around the idea that in the future work will become mobile and as a group we investigated the reprecussions which followed from this.
Back in 2012, Peter was a young and ambitious architect. Having recently started his own firm, he would commute from his residence in Brisbane’s northern suburbs to the CBD almost every working day. Peter’s journey used to consist of waiting in peak hour traffic morning and afternoon after his 9-5pm job hours. This journey took approximately 40minutes due to peak hour traffic congestion. His parking fees in the city were $20 a day, amounting to $110 spent per week on parking alone.
In 2014, the Brisbane City Tax was introduced making it too expensive to drive to work each morning. This resulted in a drastic strain being placed upon the public transportation sector, pressuring the government to amend the system that is currently in operation. Living in the CBD to avoid commuting expenses proved to be an unrealistic option for Peter. As renting prices were extremely high due to the convenience of its central location and resources. Job redundancies increased and businesses overheads remained constant, whilst income generation decreased.
But in 2015, with new technological advancements in interactive glass touch screens hitting the market. Peter’s architectural firm took the opportunity to become one of the first to invest in the technology. By introducing a digital communication strategy utilizing these new innovations, Peter’s firm became very successful. This technology enabled visual connections at any given time, promoting flexibility for all members of the firm to conduct work in any chosen environment. By 2030 this technology had become commonplace, significantly altering the traditional ‘nine to five’ working mindset.
Famous author and former web-designer Jason Fried conducted a study on work productivity, which determined office environments were relatively unproductive due to high levels of interruption. With reference to the change of work attitudes, he concluded that people were more efficient and productive at a location of their choosing, where time could be used more efficiently. The use of new digital communication systems gave this time and freedom back to the people. Allowing them to work where they preferred, significantly benefiting the economy and increasing the quality of life for workers.
Following in the footsteps of Peter’s initiatives, digital communication installations within the CBD expanded prolifically in 2040. This resulted in a decentralization of business and many vacant levels within office buildings. They were no longer required. In-order to fill the void of floor space in the CBD, the nature and meaning of the city center had to adapt. Buildings had a larger functional emphasis on being mixed use, with the segregation of spaces being key to this. Typically split into three primary uses: work, living and entertainment.
Work
Developed by Peter’s fellow industry professionals, modular additions to cafes, public transportation and public spaces encompassed the latest technology, allowing work to be conducted productively within a hospitable environment.
The concept of Brisbane’s ‘Central Business District’ was replaced by one of, Brisbane’s ‘Central Lifestyle Hub”.
Living
These industry professionals also created modular apartment schemes, providing affordable accommodation in previously disused spaces. Realizing part of the Brisbane City Council’s 2020 vision, to generate a more multi-purpose and activated city center. Touch screen technology was integrated into the design of modular apartments, providing residents with even greater connectivity and freedom. Allowing them to live, work and play, where and when it suited them.
Entertainment
In 2030, Peter won a competition to retrofit the Myer Center, for which the parking spaces were vacant and unused since the introduction of the driving tax. This car park was an example of many spaces seen throughout central Brisbane. By 2040, many vacant car park zones and rooftops had been redeveloped into entertainment precincts, prompted by the success of Peter’s original car park transformation.
On a larger scale, the decentralization of the CBD changed the cityscape of Brisbane. Surrounding the city, central nodes formed in the region of transportation hubs. Providing amenities for a working community that spent an ever-increasing amount of time at home.
Nowadays, Peter predominantly conducts business from his home in Brisbane’s northern suburbs. He likes to mix up his work environments; travelling to the city once a week for client meetings in Brisbane’s state of the art modular cafes.
