Glocal Approach Toward Architecture of the Future

Architecture of the Future is not a style When we try to contemplate the Architecture of the Future in somewhat concrete terms, it is clear that we are not trying to predict a particular architectural style of the future as such. Rather, we are led to the issue of a framework of thinking in terms of world view and methodology within which architectural design of the future will be created, or an approach towards Architecture of the Future on the part of architect. The approach involves both deductive an inductive thinking. On one hand, deductively, the issue is that of in what sort of context architecture is going to be created in the civilization of the future, and what are the inevitable trends prevailing in the future which will give direction to architectural creation. On the other hand, inductively, we have to think what architecture could achieve in order to improve human civilization of the future, and create environments which are conducive to legitimate human needs and aspiration. The issue that we can identify in the context of the future world in relationship to architecture are twofold. One is the prevailing and ever advancing globalization in every aspect of human life, mainly due to the proliferation of information and the development of electronic communication media. The other is a need and want of reevaluation and reinstatement of the threatened existence and role of locality or actual place which provides the field for actual human activity and local culture. We will have to pay considerable attention to the challenge and response between the two paradigms, with the recognition that global paradigm is rendering an overwhelming challenge against local paradigm. Therefore we need to carefully evaluate the situation and give direction to both, particularly to the local paradigm which at the moment seems to lack confidence, to be weakened and fighting a near losing battle. However, if one allows oneself to be optimistic about the future, the dialectic process between the two extreme paradigms of global-universality and local-particularity, may prove to have potentially positive and activating energy as well, in terms of invigorating architectural creation. Thus, assessment of and manipulation of the interrelationship between global and local paradigms can be considered as having a vital importance on the world of the future, and providing us with a strategic framework of thinking towards the coming millennium, particularly when one tries to speculate about the future of architecture and the built environment. The conclusion of this discussion may be almost disappointingly simple, and a matter of common sense. That is, when one wants to contemplate and arrive at the Architecture of the Future, one will have to employ a GLOCAL APPROACH, sublimating global and local forces. In order to keep a balance with invisible global forces (monetary systems, etc.) and a variety of electronically created virtual realities, it may be that in the coming century, human energy and willpower can be positively exercised to reinstate locality, that it can be substantiated by actual sense of place and local culture which has been unduly neglected and underestimated. This sens of balance, when it is put into practice, can hopefully be conducive to and culminate in what I would call the GLOCAL APPORACH.