Abstract
Although contemporary technologies are inherently systemic, much design still focuses on individual interactions rather than on effects of collective action across space and time. Current imaginaries of the smart city, where massive assemblages of humans and nonhumans co-perform, have largely focused on the optimization and automation made possible by new technological advances. As we humans contend with our collective earthly survival, the question of how to design desirable futures has become imperative. In this paper, we explore both possibilities and problems associated with the construction of futurist visions. Departing from a story set in the present-day, we move to examine the historical work of Constant Nieuwenhuys’ New Babylon as a characteristically utopian imaginary. Looking at New Babylon’s key ideas through the lens of our contemporary conditions, we reflect on the issues of play, control, and totalization, as well as the challenges and opportunities for designing future living.
Keywords
future visions; utopian imaginaries; historical design; smart cities
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.850
Citation
Liu, Y., and Redström, J. (2024) Utopian visions or cautionary tales? Drifting through New Babylon in search of future living, in Gray, C., Ciliotta Chehade, E., Hekkert, P., Forlano, L., Ciuccarelli, P., Lloyd, P. (eds.), DRS2024: Boston, 23–28 June, Boston, USA. https://doi.org/10.21606/drs.2024.850
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Utopian visions or cautionary tales? Drifting through New Babylon in search of future living
Although contemporary technologies are inherently systemic, much design still focuses on individual interactions rather than on effects of collective action across space and time. Current imaginaries of the smart city, where massive assemblages of humans and nonhumans co-perform, have largely focused on the optimization and automation made possible by new technological advances. As we humans contend with our collective earthly survival, the question of how to design desirable futures has become imperative. In this paper, we explore both possibilities and problems associated with the construction of futurist visions. Departing from a story set in the present-day, we move to examine the historical work of Constant Nieuwenhuys’ New Babylon as a characteristically utopian imaginary. Looking at New Babylon’s key ideas through the lens of our contemporary conditions, we reflect on the issues of play, control, and totalization, as well as the challenges and opportunities for designing future living.