Abstract
Evidence of span of concern with future time is sought in the incidence of permanence in stocks of buildings. Some contrasting attitudes to permanence in four different historical periods are considered. Manifest long-term future concern among providers of buildings appears to have grown from rarity to universality and to have conferred status. Latterly permanence, which was associated with manifest long-term future concern, conflicted with short-term unpredictable change in human activities and processes in buildings. Various design strategies intended to provide building flexibility were a response to the conflict.
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