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

Future-Proofing: In building design

In Australia, research commissioned by Health Infrastructure New South Wales explored “practical, cost-effective, design-related strategies for ‘future-proofing’ the buildings of a major Australian health department” (Carthey et al. 2011, 89). This study, conducted by several faculty and staff at the University of New South Wales, concluded that a focus on a whole lifecycle approach to the design and operation of health facilities clearly would have benefits (Carthey et al. 2011, 106). By designing flexible and adaptable structures, one may defer the obsolescence and consequent need for demolition and replacement of many health facilities, thereby reducing overall demand for building materials and energy (Carthey et al. 2011, 106).

In 1997, the MAFF laboratories at York, England, were described by Lawson as “future-proof” by being flexible enough to adapt to developing rather than static scientific research (Lawson 1997). In 2012, a New Zealand–based organization promoting future-proofing outlined eight principles of future-proof buildings: smart energy use, increased health and safety, increased lifecycle duration, increased quality of materials and installation, increased security, increased sound control for noise pollution, adaptable spatial design, and reduced carbon footprint (CMS 2012).

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