Growth Architectures Growth is a need that since forever has accompanied mankind and all the phenomena in which it appears. Growth shouldn’t just be acknowledged, but also understood, analyzed and… measured. But how? Measuring growth today has become an obsession that translates into numbers, which are objective and reassuring, but not always able to indicate the real value of a phenomenon. That’s the key issue: value. Growth is not just an inevitable part of human nature, but also a mechanism that can produce value. There are several phenomena in which the need for growth is evident: are we sure that they can all improve our lives? Let’s learn to measure their value ahead of their size. —ak. OPENING REMARKS OPENING REMARKS Growth Architectures The demand for growth is permanent and endless. But, looking towards the future, how much of that growth can be Without continual growth planned and is it possible to build “ growth in an efficient and sustainable and progress, such words as manner? Can individuals and their He who moves not improvement, achievement habitats thrive in an open-source, “ international and sustainable way? forward, goes backward” and success have no meaning” In just one week the world can change. by Simone Bemporad The previous issue of il bollettino ‘The —Goethe —Benjamin Franklin Editor in Chief Place to Be’ reviewed in detail the European Project and its effect on the lives of its citizens. Now, with Brexit in the one hand, the physical environment, into its cities. By 2026, it hopes to move dynamism of the Silicon Valley. The US mind, we are faced with a political the home and the city where the 250 million. The plan calls for nearby economy continued to perform well in scenario that is changing very fast. individual lives; on the other, the digital major cities and suburbs to merge into 2014-2015 for the seventh successive More than ever we need stability in the space where social relations, exchanges megacities. Against this background, year. Average wealth is $350,000 per four pillars that make up a solid ‘growth and contacts are becoming progressively ‘growth architecture’ becomes a adult and the country can now claim architecture’ – economics, technology, more important in our daily life. The metaphor of how geography is changing 46% of the world’s millionaires. urban living, and individual relationship and connections between the both vertically and horizontally. development. In 2015, the average level real and the digital world are rapidly Megacities and skyscrapers become an The ability to embrace growth and of wealth per adult within the European evolving. For this reason, we have chosen element of competition among the new innovation will be fundamental to Union was $128,506, down by 12.4% on to analyze them from within by Asian superpowers. China has shaping our individual journey and the previous year. Will an upset world comparing two regions of our planet that constructed 95 skyscrapers exceeding dictating the evolution of the society in economic scenario cause it to drop are competing for global economic 200 meters high since 2013. which we live and work. Whether we do further? Faced with change, we need to leadership whilst tackling the challenges so by incorporating agile solutions into understand the signals and be proactive of the future. Conversely, the USA is once more our way of working, with the help of a for a stable future. called upon to take world leadership in personal coach, or simply by attending In China, wealth per adult has quadrupled order to steer evolution through a yoga class or using an app, In this issue of il bollettino, we have since 2000, growing from $5,670 to technological architecture. Indeed, the exponential growth remains the attempted to address these key $22,513 in 2015 and improving the status country is showing its ability to offer ultimate goal of any organization or questions in order to identify a ‘growth and wellbeing of millions of citizens. In extraordinary business opportunities individual wishing to succeed in the architecture.’ Today, individual identity March 2014, Beijing announced even and interpret the new lifestyles long term and find the perfect balance takes shape within two increasingly- more dramatic plans to move 100 million emerging from the West Coast, between the analog and digital connected and ever-closer realities: on people from the country’s farming regions characterized by the unprecedented dimensions. 02 03 INDEX INDEX PART 1 PART 2 PART 3 PART 4 Community First We, Generali Business & Strategy Twist 08 CONTEMPORARY SCENARIOS 34 FRAMEWORKS 46 OVERVIEW 58 CONVERSATION Ten technological years that have revolutionized Growth and development: unlock Generali’s Generali in Asia: a legacy of anticipating trends Contemporary living trends — A talk with David our lives Whatever you were doing ten years ago, potential Old and new competition, pressure on and capturing change A look at six of Generali’s Libeskind The identity of a building cannot be you won’t be doing the same thing now. Smartphones, investments, changing financial strategies, and major Asian markets where innovative solutions separated from the identity of a city, nor a city’s social networking, messaging, Uber, e-commerce and better profits. All demand growth / by Barbara have been applied to foster a more efficient past or its potential growth and development / by e-learning, drones and streaming. Each in its turn has Lucini workforce and closer client relationships / by Kevin Stefano Boselli rocked our world / by Loïc Le Meur Angelini and Patrizia Chua 18 INTERVIEW 40 FRAMEWORKS 52 SPOTLIGHT 62 CONTEMPORARY SCENARIOS Grow up in Beijing — Interview with Ma Yansong Generali’s journey to a more inclusive Social innovation & growth Of what use is Collaboration and Conformability When does an Growing up in Beijing influenced Ma Yansong’s organisation Why do we want diversity to thrive? product innovation when it does not help improve idea become an innovation and what accelerates its vision of architecture. Inspired by nature, his free- Not just because it is the right thing to do. A diverse the lives of individuals and communities? / by acceptance. Even the best ideas are not instantly form futuristic designs combine elements from the and inclusive company is stronger and better Ruggero Forni and David Korosic recognized as such / by Horace Dediu East and the West / by Marco Zuttioni performing. This is the mission of the new Group D&I Function / by Elena Berardi and Doris Bisaro 28 VIEWPOINTS 66 STORIES Co-existing with robotics Why inclusive Daily life in an Asian Megacity More than half of leadership will be the key to keeping humans at the the world’s future megacities will be located in Asia core of innovation / by Denise Hummel within the next eight years. And don’t expect them to be carbon copies of western cities. They look, feel, and behave differently. Following the steps of two resident journalists, we’ll absorb the scent of Seoul and Hong Kong’s iconic past. From the top of their skylines we will see our future rising / by Darcy Paquet and Mathew Scott 76 PHOTOREPORTAGE Growth and the city: USA vs ASIA Through the eyes of a pair of top photographers, we examine the effects on our daily lives of two growth phenomena: the expansion of Asian megacities and the technological evolution that stems from the USA / photo by Lek Kiatsirikajorn and Laura Morton 04 05 PART 1 Community First BRIEF SUMMARY Community First BRIEF SUMMARY Community First Our society, and the communities small wearable voice-activated which form it, is constantly computers connecting us to a vast transforming. Citizens are growing database of real-time information, from both a cultural and genetic spurring historically high productivity perspective into new social roles, rates. Meanwhile, in China, the fast whereas technology is shaping new pace of urbanization will create at digital communities and collective least 1 trillion yuan in annual behaviors. Expanding cities are investment opportunities and turn establishing new lifestyles and the country into an architectural internal dynamics. laboratory where the new megacities will be designed, guaranteeing Individuals are the key to future satisfactory living conditions to global growth. They balance the millions of new ‘citizens’ while analog and the digital, looking for a respecting the environment. sustainable way of living and a new role in a world increasingly dominated by technology, where robotics will replace millions of workers. Today’s international organizations are facing increasing globalization, rapid organizational change and tougher competition. For the past 12,000 years, our species has been adept at change: farming instead of gathering, herding instead of hunting, living in villages, towns and cities instead of roaming. Necessity and inventiveness has enabled us to alter our world. The West Coast of the USA leads in creating new meanings through digitalization, while futuristic sci-fi applications no longer seem impossible. Current projects include by the Editorial Office 06C 07 PART 1 Community First CONTEMPORARY SCENARIOS Ten technological years that have revolutionized our lives CONTEMPORARY SCENARIOS Ten technological years that have revolutionized our lives by Loïc Le Meur PREFACE Whatever you were doing ten years ago, you won’t be doing the same thing now. Smartphones, social networking, messaging, Uber, e-commerce and e-learning, drones and streaming. Each in its turn has rocked our world. PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER MICHEL 08 09 PART 1 Community First CONTEMPORARY SCENARIOS Ten technological years that have revolutionized our lives CONTEMPORARY SCENARIOS #WhatHasAlreadyHappened? more the need for disconnecting emerges. new owner to declare them. A license could Mindfulness and meditation are becoming a become compulsory soon. Drone applications phenomenon everywhere. The need to care are getting more creative and useful, like live about your mind is becoming as important as ocean data collection (Saildrone2).