I have been considering buying a farm on a lakeside in Michigan. Historically an apple orchard, the property has several buildings, one of which is a migrant workers’ house.

These, among other recent images recently have shown ways to think about modifications to this simple building to enhance the quality of life there.

I picked up on this concept recently through a Harvard Business Review online posting of an article by Paul Saffo—”Six Rules for Effective Forecasting.”

I began thinking about its application to what we do—designing sustainable structures based on current information for a client who will occupy a couple of years into the future and change as time goes on.

I have always practiced architectural programming with an eye to the future. I’ve challenged clients to consider scenario planning as a way to imagine what might be and have used these scenarios to develop concepts for flexibility, adaptability and convertibility of our buildings.

For a current project, I am thinking about developing a “Cone of Uncertainty” to embed in our program and use as a scenario development/strategy definition tool.

In this case, a county governmental entity is confronting a range of potential futures. The current real pressure is to try to perform its functions in the face of diminishing revenues and very real change in the demographics of both its constituency as well as its workforce. The local press is simultaneously speculating on the weakness of local municipal governments in the county, and proposing consideration of regionalism.

My mission, to program “transformational government,” has an unspoken agenda of reduction in the workforce based on the potential efficiencies of new technology, the assumed capabilities of an emerging technology-savvy workforce and constituency, and the conceptual effectiveness of a technology-enabled mode of service delivery.

I believe I am expected to deliver a smaller real estate demand (based on headcount) while satisfying a growing services demand.

Hmmm… haven’t been here in a while, might start up again soon

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }

Spicules of Light, originally uploaded by Reciprocity.

Flickr seems always too much to explore, but there are these amazing contributions that show up periodically. An example is this one from “Reciprocity” of experimentations with film–images without use of a camera lens.

Kiruna, the town that hosts the Ice Hotel apparently sits on top of some mines, and is expected to slide into them. So the town has decided to move (its houses, town hall, etc.) a few miles south.

I’d like to do a survey, a little informal study, of the works commissioned by the powerful. This photo portfolio of Putin’s new plane evokes once again the frequently missing link between power and taste. Mau’s challenge (“Now that we can design anything, what will we design?”) does not, apparently, cross the minds of the powerful (“Now that I can do anything…”).

Hmm..more soon?

Check out this fascinating simulation of traffic flows. I think I know the culprits in my daily commute. I mean, look at those merging maneuvers!

I’ve struggled a bit in the past to find an effective, and light, method for planning. I was very pleased to find this image, and this description, for a Single Step Guide to Success (from Heath Bunting).

Some excerpts from the guide:

Follow your day plan almost to the letter unless it
states; do not look in shop windows or at attractive
people.

Perhaps, see yourself as an actor following a
script.

Consider what might go wrong in your day and run
through your mind positive actions. This should
ensure that your on-the-ground response will be
constructive.

Note any compulsion to stray from your day plan or
any avoidance of any activity or location.

Do not think ill thoughts of others as this will
hinder your progress.

Do not worry, its either being dealt with on today's
plan or you can add it to tomorrow's.

Do not at any time call yourself a day plan artist
or maker. If you are already a day plannist then
seek help from a psychologist.