Keynote Dialogue:

Where exactly is this ‘Future of Architecture’?

Paul Godfrey speaks to a market-leading VIP architect in this one-to-one, ‘Fireside Chat’ format. The dialogue debates why so many grand ideas for architectural development are actually happening a lot slower then we may like; and why the GCC’s cost-driven philosophies are obscuring the conception and delivery of some of the key factors around building vibrant, successful communities.

Platinum presentation (Speaker TBC): ‘Exemplifying net zero building design’

The day’s lead speaker is an acknowledged Champion of net zero design principles, and here we see a variety of progressive case studies showing how and why net zero is not only an achievable goal, but actually contributes to a host of further societal and environmental benefits.

Panel One: ‘The Five Hallmarks of the Future City’.

This panel session – bringing together the views of four leading industry practitioners – argues that far from being some nebulous, theoretical concept, the city of the future will exemplify five key factors: these are not only lacking individually in today’s urban environments, but we are similarly not seeing the fruits of their interaction and synthesis. The discussion revolves around what the factors are, the practical steps in driving their implementation and delivery – and what life will be like in the urban communities where they are manifest.

Panel Two: ‘A new model for Transport Infrastructure: what the Smart-connected city will be like’

The four panelists here set out their blueprint for Smart transport and the infrastructure requirements of the new generation of Digital highways. They will pose and answer questions such as – how will self-drive vehicles interact with existing passenger and commercial transport? What are the charging demands of a world where all personal transport is electric?’ How will the IoT and its many ramifications actually improve our experience of moving across the new urban landscape?

Keynote presentation (speaker TBC): ‘Paving the Way for Future Architects’

A well-known expert in the field of Architectural and Design training explains why Construction industry stakeholders must deepen their engagement with educational institutions to attract and better prepare young people to deal with the challenges of tomorrow. This will involve augmenting academic agendas with real-world, practical skillsets – for example, knowledge about how to deal with community design in a setting where there is no such thing as communal ownership; and how to lobby effectively for leading-edge issues such as Sustainability through a fluent understanding of pricepoints.

Panel Three: ‘Why the future is 100% Sustainable – and how we’ll get there’

Just about every aspect of construction currently involves degrading the environment in some way. The day’s final session confronts how new strategies in architectural design and modular construction techniques can make a terrific impact in minimizing and reversing the damage. The expert panel also explains how in many cases these new working practices are already under way – and are helping with further aspects such as reducing overcrowding on worksites, better risk management of injuries and fatalities and simplification and reduction of project assembly costs.