Design that âputs people back at the centerâ is now the driving force behind resilient, livable cities, according to Genslerâs just-released 2018 Design Forecast, âShaping the Future of Cities.â
The 61-page report, which can be downloaded from here, is a collection of more than 200 trends that are defining design across the globe. The report is organized into three sectionsâWork, Lifestyle, and Citiesâand is framed by five forces that Gensler sees as having the greatest impact on businesses, cities, and human experiences: demographic shifts, technology driven disruption, rapid urbanization, climate change, and worldwide volatility.
Throughout the report, Gensler draws upon its own research and portfolio of projects to illustrate trends across myriad typologies. Each of the reportâs chapters provides statistical tidbits from a variety of sources that call out trends and dynamics that AEC firms and their clients canât ignore.
Some examples:
â˘From 2017 to 2027, itâs predicted that the U.S. will face a shortage of 8.2 million laborersâthe most significant deficit in the past 50 years. âTo succeed, organizations must put people first: investing in the individual, diversifying work spaces, and reinforcing a shared culture and mission,â states Gensler.
â˘âBy 2020, 31 billion devices and 4.8 billion people will be connected to the Internet,â according to the research firm Gartner.
â˘Global coworking spaces will grow from 14,411 in 2017 to over 30,000 in 2022. The number of worldwide coworking members will nearly triple to over five million.
â˘Forbes estimated last year that there could be 10 million self-driving cars on the road by 2020. The Gensler Research Institute predicts autonomous vehicles will completely change cities. âBuilding form will change radically as design is dictated lessâor not at allâby parking requirements, which will decrease dramatically.â
â˘Credit Suisse predicts that as online sales march toward 35% of all retail sales by 2030 (from 17% today), between one fifth to one quarter of American malls could close by as early as 2022.
Time and again, Genslerâs forecast returns to its primary thesis: that regardless of technological advances or political and economic uncertainties, design must factor in human needs and social interactions to be effective. For instance, Gensler foresees the next generation of office building as drawing employees back into the office. âMobility will remain an important part of work, but the value of face-to-face remains undisputed,â the report states. âOn-site spaces that support a variety of work modesâincluding socialâcreate dynamic developments and yield longer-term tenants.â
The Boston Consulting Group's office in New York City features staircases that facilitate floor-to-floor interaction and employee movement. Image: GenslerÂ
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That prediction dovetails with Genslerâs expectation that multipurpose buildings âare the future,â and that smart buildings âare critical to the workplace experience.â But as data multiply exponentially, âcompanies will need to expand their capabilities to harness and interpret their internal workplace data.â
Lifestyle design is now reckoning with trends that are making single-use spaces obsolete. Frictionless, seamless design is becoming ubiquitous, with convenience being a differentiator, as consumers take more control of their experiences in ways that shape, and reshape, brand identities.
Gensler sees âsmart citiesâ in terms of their adaptability and resilience. As engines of innovation, cities âare nurturing a new mixâ of businesses and people. Their leaders are in the vanguard of climate action âbecause they depend on itâ for survival and growth. And wellness is the new measure of livability. âHealth has become a major factor in urban and community planning, as research and public awareness about the link between them grows,â the report states.
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