Principles of Future-Proofing

Research on future-proofing the built environment

  • The Principles of Future-Proofing
    • Principle 1: Prevent decay
    • Principle 2: Stimulate flexibility and adaptability
    • Principle 3: Extend service life
    • Principle 4: Fortify!
    • Principle 5: Increase redundancy
    • Principle 6: Reduce obsolescence
    • Principle 7: Plan Ahead
    • Principle 8: Diversify
    • Principle 9: Be local and healthy
    • Principle 10: Consider life cycle benefits
    • Principle 11: Take advantage of cultural heritage policy documents
    • Principle 12: Promote understanding
  • What is Future-Proofing?
    • Future-Proofing: A literature review
    • Future-Proofing: In electronics
    • Future-Proofing: In utilities systems
    • Future-Proofing: In industrial design
    • Future-Proofing: In sustainable design
    • Future-Proofing: And obsolescence
    • Future-Proofing: In building design
    • Future-Proofing: And resiliency
    • Future-Proofing: And climate change
    • Future-Proofing: In historic preservation philosophy
    • Future-Proofing: In heritage conservation philosophy
  • Case Studies & Research
    • Future-Proofing: Seeking Resilience in The Built Environment
    • Future-Proofing & Panarchy
    • Case Study: The Walrus Heads at the Arctic Building
    • The 10 Principles of Future-Proofing and the Arctic Building – AIA Seattle Presentation
    • Future-Proofing and the Arctic Building – Short Presentation
    • Future-Proofing, Charters, and Standards – Integrating the Principles into Practice
    • Future-Proofing Principle #8 – Life Cycle Analysis
    • Future-Proofing Principle #9 – Local Traditional Materials
    • Future-Proofing – An Initial Literature Review
  • About
    • The Author of the Principles
    • Contact
    • Bibliography of Sources
  • Blog

What is Future-Proofing?

The concept of future-proofing is the process of anticipating the future and developing methods of minimizing the effects of shocks and stresses due to future events.

The concepts of future-proofing and resiliency both offer significant and compelling ideas that can be beneficial to the development of design solutions in the built environment and, more specifically, historic buildings. See the individual Principles for more detail.

While the connotations of the term “future-proofing” may be considered negative if the future is thought of in a negative light, similar to bullets and bullet-proofing, future-proofing can also be taken in a positive light. Buildings may also be able to take advantage of the changing attributes of a continually evolving environment, such as the restoration of blighted neighborhoods. If the term “future-proofing” is unpalatable to preservationists, one could also argue for a wider definition of “resiliency” since they both promote very similar concepts.

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