1/ Archive to the future

It is important to reconsider the development of the concepts that have built modern societies and government institutions. Our current system of beliefs, which feels intrinsic and longstanding, is actually not as ancient as we might think. Civilizations throughout history have been in a constant state of adaptation, learning from each other, borrowing cultural, technological, and intellectual advancements from each other.

Civilizations have constantly changed and exchanged ideas, shaping our world and demonstrating that modern concepts such as mortgages and pensions are more recent concepts. The idea of economic growth as a primary goal for societies and as a measure of their success is also relatively recent, emerging prominently during the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Before this period, economies were largely agrarian and feudal, with limited notions of growth or productivity. 

In contemplating the future, we have to be aware of the limitations of a Western-centric worldview. To ensure the continued flourishing of civilization, it is important to embrace a broader, more inclusive perspective that recognizes the contributions and wisdom of a diverse range of cultures. 

This shift requires us to re-examine the roots of individualism that dominate Western thinking and to consider alternative frameworks for understanding the collective human journey. We may discover that the collective knowledge and practices that are essential for a thriving global civilization, draw from the knowledge of all human experience.

Why this matters

Reassessing modern beliefs reveals their brief, dynamic historical origins.

3D printed sand wall/ Barry Wark

Wall in the Dubai Museum of the Future made from 3D printed sand to highlight how, in the face of the Anthropocene, the line between natural and man-made is increasingly blurred. See more here

One Hundred Years of Travels/ Jung Yeondoo

Wall of three hundred machetes from various cultures in paper frames. The blades are made out of sugar, which will eventually melt during the six-month exhibition period. See more here

Recursive Archaeology/Don Hải Phú Daedalus

A study of cultural material through the lense of archaeology. What do we want to save? Why do we want to keep it? What strategies and materials have come to us from interrupted or “lost” civilizations? See more here

Warnings about the impact of our human actions have been present for more than half a century, highlighting an apparent incapacity for taking real action. People are loss-averse, leading to powerful resistance and not just from those with accumulated wealth and power. Climate change impacts everyone; Asia faces rising sea levels, while Africa confronts increasing desertification. Mass migrations are likely to grow in size and frequency.

Humans have dominated the planet through cultural adaptation to the environment using tools and systems refined over thousands of years. Over the last one hundred thousand years, humans have progressively exploited our resources with increasing intensity and scale, resulting in greater environmental impact.

Although human evolution often opposes collective solutions to global environmental problems, learning from past sustainable solutions is possible. Human history is full of examples of societies that have made significant, often sudden changes. The complexity and scale of problems make it difficult for individuals to feel engaged. However, societies where regional action directly impacts inhabitants, have historically proven effective.

Finding solutions to the immense global challenges represents one of the most formidable tasks undertaken by the species. In order to overcome these global challenges a swimming upstream mentality is required, necessitating a coordinated global approach. Progress lies in recognizing these challenges and actively working towards innovative and collective solutions.

Why this matters

To solve global collective challenges we have to swim upstream.

Palestinian Museum of Natural History & humankind/ Khalil Rabah

This exhibition, set up as an archaeological site, invites visitors to experience the historical narrative restored from evidence and clues, reimagining the museum not just as a container but as a space where art serves to interpret and reshape our understanding of history. See more here

The need to urgently stop using fossil fuels and rethink our capitalist system is clear: our planet cannot keep pace with the current level of consumption and damage. The usual way of measuring economic success, planning for three per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually, does not consider the impact on the environment or human welfare. The understanding of economic success has to evolve, moving from focusing on how much we produce and buy to also considering the health of the planet and how to reduce our environmental impact to zero. Short-term financial gain without responsibility is unsustainable.

In the commodity sector, the costs that historically made products expensive are now changing. It used to be that paying for time and labour was the main cost now high raw material costs, manufacturing costs and transport add to the price too. We are starting to understand the real cost of using up finite resources. This changes the traditional idea of supply and demand. We have lost the connection to how products are made and also how much energy, water and materials are used to create these products. If the supply chain is transparent, regenerative and the pay is fair, prices will inevitably be higher. 

Our ancestors, who lived in harmony with nature, understood the delicate balance of this relationship, recognizing that the resources they relied on for survival were finite and were therefore deeply respected. The economy is one hundred per cent embedded in society, and our society is one hundred per cent embedded in nature. The long-term view of this relationship underscores how energy, economic growth, human behaviour, materials, and the environment are all interconnected.

Why this matters

Understanding the entire supply chain, striving for transparency, regeneration, and fair pay, will inevitably lead to higher prices.

The Craft of Collaboration/ Case Design

Rammed earth workshop to create stackable elements from soil that can be used to build a peace pavilion in Pune, India. See more here

The principles of self-sufficiency and a more collective approach to prosperity can help minimize waste and emphasise local resilience. This low impact approach to the environment also helps to foster thriving societies. The scale of societies have been proven to be important for people to make changes, people feel more inclined to change if they are directly impacted. 

Community-based wealth building focuses on building long-term, location-based, and inclusive economic structures. It operates on the principle of circulating local wealth within the community rather than allowing it to be extracted by external bodies. Circularity involves reusing and recycling resources within the community to reduce waste and enhance value. Regenerative systems take this further, rejuvenating the community’s social, environmental, and economic prospects. 

The pursuit of local resilience and its regenerative capacity is essential to create sustainable communities. By prioritizing local systems, we can enhance the life support mechanisms of our immediate environments, fostering a network of self-sustaining and interconnected communities. It’s about creating a symbiotic relationship where local systems support and are supported by their inhabitants, resulting in resilient communities that can adapt and thrive even in the face of global uncertainties.

Why this matters

Create resilient, sustainable communities via utilisation of local resources and circular economies.

Biodiversity Ring Garden/ Stefano Boeri

Garden proposal for a meditative garden in Nepal that combines sustainable preservation, honouring the land and biodiversity. See more here

Introduction Vision 2026

The Shifts

01/ Archive to the Future

01/ Strategy

01/ Mindset

01/ Colour

01/ Material

02/ Future Generations

02/ Strategy

02/ Mindset

02/ Colour

02/ Material