The future workshop for planning and building – by Carsten Hokema
The world of construction is facing major challenges and must undergo radical change. The combination of two different mindsets could make a significant contribution to this: how can architecture and entrepreneurship change the industry in the long term? I have been working on this question since 2004 and today I would like to tell you how the future workshop ” Planning and Building” came about and what vision drives me .
As an architect , I have always appreciated the complexity of our profession. We are generalists who deal with complex issues and create solutions. But the longer I worked in the industry, the more I realised that even architects are not immune to a certain rigidity in their thinking and actions. I was lucky enough to get to know the university professor Günter Faltin and his approach to entrepreneurship at the end of the 1980s in Berlin and discovered a way of thinking that allows you to be creative and explore new entrepreneurial paths at the same time.
Many years passed before the idea for the ” Planning and Building” future workshop was finally born: with the intention of creating a space in which architects and other players in the building world could broaden their perspectives – away from rigid structures and towards new possibilities.
The changing world of construction and challenges everywhere
The world of construction is characterised by a multitude of problems: Architects are under economic pressure; investors often see sustainable projects as unattractive; construction companies are struggling with a shortage of skilled labour; users have little influence on planning. One thing is very clear: something has to change. Building must be completely rethought from several perspectives , namely sustainability , innovation, social aspects and economic efficiency.
The future workshop: A place for new ideas
With the Future Workshop , I would like to make a contribution to tackling these problems. We are focussing on three principles:
- Createrole models: Functioning models can set new standards and serve as role models.
- Cooperation instead of competition: cooperation between all players must be rethought.
- Strengtheninga culture of innovation: Architecture must not only deal with questions of the future in terms of design – we must also become active as entrepreneurs.
Architecture meets entrepreneurship
Why does entrepreneurship suit architecture? Architects bring a lot to the table that is not always a given in entrepreneurship: conceptual thinking, the ability to coordinate complex projects and to present finished products at the end of a long process . Entrepreneurs , on the other hand, are trained to recognise and exploit market opportunities. This combined energy allows them to develop new business models and find and implement innovative solutions to urgent problems.
Vision: co-operative building culture
Co-operation has always been a recipe for success. How about a world of planning and building in which co-operation replaces competition as we know it? Today, construction is often seen as a battle. This competition leads to inefficient processes, mistrust, a lack of quality and higher costs. Instead, we need a culture of co-creation in which everyone involved can be proud of the results of their collaboration.
Together for a turnaround in construction
Of course, this change is not easy to implement. But we have taken the first steps: We are identifying bottleneckswith the future talks; we are developing strategies in our workshops; in the medium term, we are working on a service platform for networking architecture firms, people interested in building and project developers.
I firmly believe that the transformation of the construction industry can succeed, but only if everyone involved works together.
The time for change is now
The combination of architecture and entrepreneurship has shown me: We can be more than just designers of buildings; we can be designers of the future. With the Future Workshop , I would like to help our industry to boldly break new ground – through cooperation instead of competition and through innovation instead of stagnation. The time for change is now! Future is now!
