Futures
The Architects Practice has worked extensively with a range of organisations, including the UK Foresight programme, the RIBA, CABE, Building Futures and the Edge, on futures thinking and scenario development
THE EDGE
Simon Foxell is co-ordinator of the Edge and has been instrumental in the production of the following publications:
Collaboration for Change: The Edge Commission on the Future of Professionalism
In 2014 the Edge invited Paul Morrell to chair a Commission of Inquiry into the future of professionalism in the built environment/construction industry. The Edge is very proud to launch the resulting report, which explores the key issues facing professionals and their institutions at this ‘moment for change’ and hopes you will join us to discuss this critical issue for the industry and its professional institutions.
Download. 
Edge Futures (2008)
A series of five books, ‘Edge Futures’ edited by Simon Foxell and published by the built environment think-tank and ginger group, The Edge, in conjunction with Black Dog Publishing.
- Living and Community, by Geoff Mulgan, investigates new models of establishing and developing identity and ownership in new and more transient communities.
- Work and The City, by Frank Duffy, explores the classic paradigms of office development and proposes ways to deliver working environments suitable for a more diverse and demanding world
- Education and Creativity, by Simon Foxell and William J Mitchell, addresses the role of education in a fast-changing social and economic environment. Can an investment in personalization deliver a more resilient system and is widespread training in creativity a possible option for a better world?
- Transport and Neighbourhoods, by Hank Dittmar, examines the accessible and sustainable city and faces up to the potential policy logjam that needs to be unpicked to deliver it.
- Globalism and Regionalism, by Jonathon Porritt, considers the impact that dwindling resources and restricted travel will have on global competitiveness and regional identity.
www.edgedebate.com
Black Dog Publishing
BUILDING FUTURES
Simon Foxell was Vice-chair of Building Futures from 2002 to 2005
The Professionals’ Choice: The future of the built environment professions (2003)
A study commissioned from Simon Foxell by Building Futures, a joint initiative between CABE and RIBA. it presents glimpses of the potential terrain ahead for the built environment professions, and fuels the current debate on policy, education and on how the professions might respond to better position themselves for the future.
The study posed five scenarios, each conceived by a different author. The twin issues of improving risk management and enriching cultural expression wind their way through all five, raising profound questions at every turn.
- The economic scenario: Andrew Curry and Larissa Howard of the Henley Centre foresee investors and the building industry moving closer together. Such intimacy could bring benefits as clients recognise that good, sustainability design protects their investment.
- The managerial scenario: Simon Foxell, chair of the RIBA’s small practices group, suggests that negotiated long-term build and service contracts will make the building industry a safer investment. As a result, the professions will gain in security and lose in autonomy.
- The regulatory scenario: Andy Jobling of Levitt Bernstein, imagines a similarly managerial scenario in which insurance companies attempt to reduce risk by stricter auditing of buildings, and in return assume full responsibility for them.
- The technology scenario: Will Hughes of Reading University, takes the ascendancy of managerialism to a more chilling conclusion. He argues that, being intrinsically risky, creative design will be squashed between commercial pressures and standardisation.
- The social scenario: Ziona Strelitz of building use consultancy ZZA takes a contrasting line that the architect’s creative role will be boosted as society increasingly demands that the built environment should express cultural identity.
The report concludes that the threats of managerialism, such as standardisation of work, difficulty of recruitment, the pressure to return quick profits and soulless tick boxes, are all likely to increase. To avoid succumbing to such threats, the report’s authors urge the building professions to get the public on their side.
www.buildingfutures.org.uk
There have been several reports that have followed up on the findings of ‘The Professionals’ Choice’, including the RIBA Constructive Change study (2005) and Building Futures’ ’The Future for Architects?’ (2010)
Riding the Rapids: urban life in an age of uncertainty (2004)
What is driving change in British cities? How can we begin to understand and respond to complex and overlapping drivers of change? Are our current operating systems and infrastructure prepared for the challenges that lie ahead?
Building Futures commissioned Charles Landry of Comedia to explore the dynamics of change that will have a significant impact on British cities over the next 20 years. The resulting publication, Riding the rapids: urban life in an age of complexity, reviews a number of themes which are seen to be shaping our future urban environment and sets a robust conceptual framework in order to facilitate an understanding of the nature of unfolding change in cities.
Practice Futures: Risk, Entrepreneurialism and the Professional Institute (2010)
Essays by Stephen Hill, Ian Brinkley, Indy Johar, Simon Foxell,
A continuing Building Futures project that follows up on The Professionals’ Choice
Details and download from Building Futures