There are at least three main drivers of change on the Sunshine Coast. The population continues to grow steadily, placing demand on land and competition for land use. We have a growing and evolving economy, requiring new technologies and new premises to support modern modes of working. Climate change is shaping how and where we live.
It is critical to understand and acknowledge these challenges and opportunities if successful, resilient and adaptable communities are to thrive. Good design on the Sunshine Coast anticipates these changes. It creates places with the potential to adapt and/or be re-used for other purposes, requiring the construction of built forms that last longer and can have many useful lives. To be resilient requires the design of places that embrace technology and opportunities for innovation.
Designing for the future should focus on; reducing our environment footprint, prioritising doing more with less and recognising the importance of continually evaluating design to respond to new circumstances and technologies. Future thinking requires us to consider and be ready for shifts in how we live, work and play.
Why this is important
Design that remains blind to change and prioritises construction efficiency over resilience can be costly and can create assets that over time will be impacted adversely by change. Design outcomes that are not resilient may undermine our ability to be ready for the future, produce built form that could be too costly to adapt and hinder a fast and flexible response to evolving community needs and aspirations.
Ideas for working with this principle
Whatever scale you're working at–city, neighbourhood, street, park or building, here are some ideas for working with this principle.
1. Design buildings, streets and spaces with a capacity for adaption, reconfiguration and re-use in response to changing needs–not just in the long term, but also in the medium term, given the pace of technological change
2. Plan buildings, streets and spaces to use less energy and reduce our reliance on non-renewable energy
3. Use locally sourced and sustainable materials in the construction of buildings, streets and spaces to improve our community's long-term resilience
4. Use current best practice technology and design in space or systems to accommodate change and future technologies
5. Design buildings, spaces and infrastructure to be low impact and resilient to extreme weather events.