Postcards from the Future: Speculating the Future of Built Environments with Citizens

Abstract

The integration of novel technologies in built environments has increased the complexity of designing cities and spaces with citizens. Unobtrusive and invisible interfaces can lead to new forms of spatial experiences, but also form a black box which is not comprehensible to a wide audience. To address this challenge, we present the results of a study where we employed co-design fiction. By engaging 66 citizens in the critical assessment of futuristic designs of spaces, we reveal their needs and concerns about possible futures. Our findings show that citizens are concerned with the ecological limitations of urban technology, reliability, and data privacy. They also welcome the positive implications of adaptive environments and technological advancement. Participants were also reflective of how urban technology can change human experience, more generally. Our findings point to the need for flexibility, privacy, and adaptability to changing contexts, stimuli, and users in human-building interaction.