Does the future of design lie underwater, in the clouds or even on the surface of the Moon?
A new study into how we will live, work and relax a century from now has predicted a future where underwater bubble cities, drone-delivered mobile holiday homes and super skyscrapers are the norm.
The SmartThings Future Living Report, commissioned by Samsung SmartThings and authored by a collection of British-based architects, academics and scientists, suggests the way we lead our lives will “will change beyond all recognition” over the course of the next century.
According to the research, growing populations and diminishing natural resources, paired with technological advancements, will transform the ways we overcome space constraints over the next 100 years.
Increasingly, it predicts, we will develop super strong materials to build up into the sky, down underwater and below the surface of the earth, before heading for the stars and colonising the Moon and then Mars.
“Our lives today are almost unrecognisable from those a century ago,” said space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, who co-authored the report. “The internet has revolutionised the way we communicate, learn and control our lives. Over the next century we will witness further seismic shifts in the way we live and interact with our surroundings.”
The report claims our future living spaces will become increasingly flexible and responsive, as CLAD editor Liz Terry predicted during a recent talk on the creation of ‘living buildings’ at the Global Wellness Summit in Mexico City.
Living spaces with malleable walls will adapt to our needs and moods by changing room layouts and furniture and we will be able to 3D print our own houses any time we desire a change of scene.
“The smart home revolution will have massively positive implications on how we live, said James Monighan, UK MD of Samsung SmartThings.
“Our homes are becoming smarter and can now detect the presence of things like people, pets, smoke, humidity, lighting, and moisture. This is just the beginning.
“The smart home revolution is destined to spread to larger communities and countries. By simply turning lights and heating off when we don't use them, we can reduce emissions. By being able to better monitor and secure our homes, we can reduce crime. By better monitoring the habits of ageing relatives, we help them to achieve greater independence and a higher quality of life.”
Finally, the report claims our day-to-day existences will be enhanced by new technology as we start attending meetings remotely via hologram, step into health diagnosis pods to get to the bottom of ailments and download and print our favourite dishes from Michelin-starred chefs.
The SmartThings Future Living Report has been published to coincide with the expansion of the SmartThings company. The firm, which was acquired by Samsung in 2014, currently allows homeowners to monitor, control, and automate their homes from one device and this year is expanding its systems to control a wider variety of home equipment – including televisions, refrigerators and vacuum cleaners.
SmartThings Samsung future innovation living spaces living buildings architecture design


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