From Now to Then: Between Man-kind and Robot-kind

From Now to Then: Between Man-kind and Robot-kind

in collaboration with:

Robotic city - From Now to Then

Robotic city - From now to then

Contents

Why a Vision

• Why a Vision

p.2

• Catalogue of Technologies

p.4

• Timeline of the Future

p.6

• The Future Body

p.10

• The Vision: Schouwburgplein, Rotterdam

p.13

• Schouwburgplein, 2022

p.16

• Schouwburgplein, 2027

p.22

• Schouwburgplein, 2067

p.28

• Schouwburgplein, 2117

p.34

• Schouwburgplein, 2217

p.40

When thinking about the future of our cities, we can have approximate answers, possible beliefs and different degrees of certainty about a variety of things.

We cannot really be absolutely sure of anything and usually the further we look into the future the less we know about most things. We divide ourselves in optimists, pessimists, utopians, dystopians, glass-half-full and glass-half-empty and yet we forget that progress is not made by those who, out of fear adapt to the world, but by those who persist in trying to adapt the world to themselves.

It’s much more interesting to live with doubt and not knowing, than to have answers which might be wrong. Therefore, we should not feel frightened by the nuances of our world today or tomorrow, because in the end we don’t have to know the answers. We only have to be curious enough to discover the joy of finding things out in order to create visions of worlds that not only give us hope for tomorrow, but also deepen our understanding of today.

A vision has the power to become the fuel of progress for many generations, as they allow us not only to actively wonder and question progress but also, to imagine it.

-Masters in City&Technology 2016-2017

2

3

Robotic city - From Now to Then

The Catalogue of Technologies 1. Organic Nature-Based Structures

28. Drone Stations

2. Urban Biostructures

29. 3D Printed Body Organs

3. Sea spone 3D-grid

30. Portable Workspaces

4. Drone delivery services

31. On-demand adaptable systems

5. Hoverboards

32. Multi-Material 3D Printing

6. 3D Printed Furniture

33. Nano-robotic Medicine

7. Drone Infrastructures

34. 3D Printed Prosthetics

8. 3D Printed Body Parts

35. Robotic Assistants

9. 3D Printed Buildings

36. Horizontal Elevators

10. 3D Printed Fashion

37. Nano-skins

11. 3D Printed Food

38. Urban Organic Infrastructures

12. Utility Fog

39. Structurally Responsive Skins

13. 3D Printed Cars

40. Barbamama Structural Skins

14. Robotic swarm construction

41. Artificial Intelligence

15. Dynamic Street Lighting

42. WRAP technology

16. Drones Based Good Supply

43. Molecular Modifications

17. Bacteria Based Fixed Lighting

44. Large Scale 3D Printing

18. 3D Printed Transplants

45. Drone Police

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

19. Home based 3D printers

31. 32. 33. 34. 35.

20. Robotic Mass-Production 21. Swarm Intelligence 22. Drone Amazon delivery 23. Brain-Machine Interfaces

36. 37. 38. 39. 40.

24. Bioarchitecture 25. Robotic Exoskeleton 26. Mythomania Structures 27. 3D Printed Clothes

41. 42. 43. 44. 45.

4

Robotic city - From Now to Then

Robotic city - From now to then

The Timeline of the Future The future of our cities depends on a lot of different factors. As technological evolution is defining the urban landscape, it is important to not only predict but also to speculate on the growth of today’s various defining trends..

What can we see in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 years from today?

When will population growth stop and how does this overlap with the development of other technologies?

6

7

Automation

Robotic city - From Now to Then

2022

2027

2067

2117

2217

Standarized Responsive Environment The settings embodied within the reponsive system are based on standards of confort, that are established in a very generic manner. Even though the confort increases, the environment remains hostile in some cases, cause of the application of an homogenius model on singular agents.

Crowd based data recording Analyses the mass of citizens in order to establish patterns of behaviors. The data collected all around the city by different means (fixed camera, drone camera, sensors, phones tracking...) are centralised, processed and a generic answer is provided by an algorithm in order to fulfill the expected people needs.

Single agent focus deep Data learning In order to provide more specific and adapted answers, the means of data collection are becoming more and more various.

Recording devices cover the all city : floors, walls, ceillings, vegetations... The aim is to collect real time informations about each single agent of the metropole and return an accurate and informed set of responses, taking into consideration the specificity of people and situations.

On demand /reactive model Sensors are embodied within our clothes, the data recording process is getting closer to the cityzens in order to provide an answer which matches better with their needs. The reactive model is doubled by a system of real time request that allows the cityzens to order for changes in their close environment. The city becomes even more dynamic and specific. The automatized model starts to become decentralized.

2022

2027

2067

2117

Predictive dynamic environment based on flocking matter The sensors are not anymore speculating the needs of the people by crossing average values of confort with actual environmental recording. Instead, sensors are embodied within the body of people and get to know the physiological features of people as well as their variation.

The accuracy of the record allows to formulate very well informed answers even before the cityzen himself feels the need. The environment evolves in a predictive way.

The Future Body What will the human body look like if it was defined by the technological evolution of automation, 3D printing, robotics, drones or bio-technologies? How will it be affected in the next 200 years?

Looking at the evolution of the human body in respect to the technologies that will define the urban landscape is a defining factor when we try to imagine the future of our cities. Technology and humans are slowly integrating into one symbiotic organism that functions based on their interaction.

2017 2017

2022

2027

2067

2117

2022 2022

2027 2027

2067 2067

2117 2117

10 : 00

°C

3D Printing Automation

2217

2217 2217 2217

Automation

3D printed prosthetics and exoskeletons increase the performance of human body parts

2022

3D Printing

Robotics

3D printing can now cover the global needs of transplants by printing body parts, like hearts, lungs kidneys and livers. Augmented performance limbs are beginning to replace normal body parts creating a symbiosis between the human body and machines.

We can 3D print the entire human body and create the first humanoids. More robot than human, but still impossible to tell the difference, some humans begin to upload their consciousness into robotic bodies.

Having infinte access to energy resources we are able to materialise the energy around us into objects by producing light of extremely low wavelength.

High-tech prostetics enhance the performance of body activities.

Artifial organ transplants enhance the human body.

Flying technologies allow self transportation.

Nano robotic sensors embeded in human brain help for instant medical diagnosis.

Nano technologies allow exponential improvements in intelligence capacity and learning habilities.

2027

2067

2117

We can turn our body's matter into energy and rematerialise it through space. This technology is embedded into our bodies genes allowing us to weave matter in all possible ways.

2217

Robotics

Drones City

Weareble computing systems become popular. They are worn on the head, have a small display optic in front of one or each eye and have many uses including in gaming, aviation, engineering, and medicine.

Bio Technology

Robotic pets reach higher sales in the market

10

Advanced digital iD chips get embeded in human body.

BMi (brain machine interfaces) reach high development.

Geno robotics allow tissue regeneration, and extend life expentancy.

Bio Technology Robotic city - From now to then

2022

2027

2067

2117

2217

The Vision Schouwburgplein, Rotterdam The human body starts getting exposed to the nature and molecular changes starts happening which help in the advance development of molecules and body.

Wit the onset of time the human body starts developing and becoming responsive towards th enature and its surroundings.

The development in internal organs and adapting to the changes in the environment starts happening.

The entire human body undergoes evolution within course of time and every cell and molecule is biologically responsive and starts developing sensors and other adaptive elements towards the nature.

Mutation of cells and step towards intelligent skin which helps in negating the boundaries betwenn the natiure and human kindom. This way the Body starts responding as the entire biody is like a complete brain and new advanced nano technology development takes place.

The human body develops a smart intelligent skin - barbamama skin which is a result of advanced nanotechnological development and this has sensor and is responsive teh environment.

It has its own breathing cells and hence is part of the new human boody developed.

Drones City 2022

2027

2067

Hoverboard will take place.

Humans are going to experience a new way of thinking:

Drones are going to start testing human beings. From his weight to his destination, the more they obtain data’s, the more they are going to be efficient to the service of the person.

After the testing part, the technology will improve. It will help to move easily and fastly from a place to another one.

They will understand and learn the new aerial way of living.

Watching the city above the groung.

This start-up will make and help people to think about other technologies

There will be more people used to high altitude and to flying.

2117

Clothes are going to be flexible.

Any suit related to occasions or events are be at the order of the person.

It can come from anywhere in any places.

Drones become particles.

More choices are going to be proposed to the person.

2217

Dust will take control. A more flexible pattern for the clothes are going to appear.

Interesting designs and fashion will be organized.

The body technology will vary depending on the need of the person.

Rotterdam is a city in the Netherlands, in South Holland within the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt river delta at the North Sea. Its history goes back to 1270 when a dam was constructed in the Rotte river by people settled around it for safety.

A major logistic and economic centre, Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port and has a population of 633,471, the second-largest in the Netherlands, just behind its capital Amsterdam.

Schouwburgplein is a plaza situated in the heart of the city of Rotterdam, and is flanked by the municipal theatre, concert hall, restaurants, and cafes.

Let’s imagine what Schowburgplein will look like in 5, 10, 50, 100 and 200 years. The way it will be affected by the upcoming changes that come with the evolution of technology. What if it is taken over by drones and flying cars in 50 years? What if large 3D printing becomes the common construction method and everyone has a right to change a building’s apperance? How will the growth of population affect the urban landscape? What can we see for this city in 100 years or even 200 years? So many questions. Well, there’s only one way to do this.

Shall we?

13

Schouwburgplein

2017

Schouwburgplein

2022

Robotic city - From Now to Then

In 2022 technology is already improving citizens life.

How is the new chair going?

2 hours to go!

This 3D printed bridge is cool!

Robotic city - From now to then

Robotic Assistants enter the household.

Your-chicken-fillet-isready-sir.

... or drones based good supply.

Thank you B6A2

that change based on the outdoor conditions

from responsive facades

Did you notice the change in temperature all of a sudden?

To 3D-printers in our houses

... but still, the solutions are based on outdated standards.

and in our neighborhoods

Can you 3D print a Mona Lisa for me?

I think that’s illegal...

- Please Siri, am I cold today?

- According to the data, it is not.

Multi-directional 3D printing robots begin to replace traditional manufacturing techniques.

Seems like we’re getting a new bridge again.

Look at how fast they are!

18

This is probably not the best place to stand.

19

Robotic city - From Now to Then

Robotic city - From now to then

Street lights, static, dimerizable, will gain flexibility with some swivel arms

Mixed-use buildings become more efficient, applying horizontal adaptable facades

The market is automated: Vending Machines sell food 24/7.

Is it fresh?

20

21

Schouwburgplein

2027

Robotic city - From Now to Then

Robotic city - From now to then

Âż?

- Please Siri, am I cold today?

- According to the perception of citizens, you are not.

Crowd based data recording is helping to improve everyday life; but still, it is a standarized solution.

The facade of the buildings is becoming flexible; shaping the built environment while adding new spaces for the citizens everyday experience.

24

... robots are taking over building construction.

25

Robotic city - From Now to Then

Robotic city - From now to then

Marching drones lamps follow everyone at home, providing a more customized and efficient service. Is it what I actually need?

The automated Hyperloop will connect the big scale with the streetscape; shifting the conversation from distance to time.

... public space is released, due to the cohabitation of different transport means.

Drone-based street lighting is dematerializing the public space.

First step to a more soft and on demand infrastructure

A public shared space, where different transport means live together

Goods are supplied on demand, with drones. Still, what are the real needs for the implementation of a real-time delivery system?

26

The floor of the public space, designed with pliable material, brings new opportunities for the urban design liquid experience

27

Schouwburgplein

2067

Robotic city - From Now to Then

Robotic city - From now to then

The floor of the public space, designed with pliable material, brings new opportunities for the urban design liquid experience

... flying cars will bring new form of interaction with buildings.

30

31

Robotic city - From Now to Then

Robotic city - From now to then

Dynamic public lighting provided by flying drones moving, according to the flow of people.

New empty spaces in the public space are bringing new opportunities for citizens and for the productive city. Urban agriculture advanced design systems will be applied in the new released areas

The public space trained‌ in a machine learning model. Feel free to cross the road...

Dynamic urban furniture emerging from the ground responding to a pattern

32

33

Schouwburgplein

2117

Robotic city - From Now to Then

on demand and responsive city?

Robotic city - From now to then

Public spaces can be created on demand according to the people willing

seats, desk, tables...

...Balcony...

Materials are becoming softer, less rigid and can react according to sensors placed in space, embodied in the clothes or thanks to devices allowing comunication between man and built environment

Architectural elements will provide dynamic furnitures for the living environment as bed...

The facade of the building can evolve to match people needs with environment or by request from citizens.

...Leisure area...

36

37

Robotic city - From Now to Then

Robotic city - From now to then

Part of the food supply is provided by production units embodied within the basement of collective building in order to fulfill local needs. They are self managed by automatised robots

Automatised flying cars are giving a different importance to the upper floors by connecting them more easily with public space Good supply is provided by production tools embodied inside the living cells like 3D printers

Dynamic urban furniture can also emerge from the ground responding to order

From robotic to biogenetic, genetically modified plants could produce ligth by glowing while people are pasing by

38

39

Schouwburgplein

2217

Robotic city - From Now to Then

Robotic city - From now to then

Being composite, the matter shapes the space and creates openings...

...Changes the space carracteristics...

...Seats...

...Changes the space acoustic...

...Terrasses...

Being composite, the matter shapes the space and creates openings...

The matter is able to change its physical properties and generate light or food when needed by people

The smart matter that will constitute our built environment can change shape by predicting the needs of the people through the record of the sensors embodied within the citizen’s body.

42

43

Robotic city - From Now to Then

Robotic city - From now to then

Lighter than air, the matter can travel, and our functional cells can become the vehicles of tomorrow

From robotic to biogenetic, genetically modified insects could produce light by glowing while following people

Some cells create the suitable environment to grow animals or vegetables. Cultures are self managed by smart matter

44

45

Credits This project is developed by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia in the Master in City&Technology, with the collaboration of The Why Factory.

IaaC MaCT Students

Abhignya Grandhi Alexandros Mademochoritis Asier Eguilaz Federica Ciccone Frederick Ajjoub Iacopo Neri Laura Marcovich Peng Wang Pratyaksh Sharma Sylvain Totaro

The End

The Why Factory

Professor: Winy Maas Coordinator: Javier Arpa Tutor: Adrien Ravon

in collaboration with:

India Greece Spain Italy Lebanon Italy Peru China India France