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Early Development

(2015–2019)


Philosophy


Sharon Chang explores future architecture as a practice of cultivating elevated beauty within the fabric of complex systems.

Elevated beauty arises when individuals respond—intelligently and reverently—to the intricate interdependence of all living and nonliving systems. It can be understood as the convergence of consciousness and culture, evolving in tandem toward a more just and generative world.

She further defines it as “experiencing life with a profound appreciation of our connections to one another and to the worlds within and around us.”



Frameworks




01
  

INE:
Imagination, Narrative and Embodiment

The interplay of imagination, narrative and embodiment (INE) determines how well we can design and build regenerative systems that foster collective wellbeing and shared prosperity. In this context, imagination is defined as how we understand the actual and potential world; narrative is defined as how we communicate that understanding, which is embedded in individual and collective identity; and embodiment is defined as how we experience that understanding through mind-body integration.
 
02

SRM:
Story, Rule and Money

Story, rule and money can be used as interdependent forces to affect any culture-based system. Story shapes identity; rule defines relationships; money facilitates exchange. The interactions between these primary forces become exponentially more complex as society expands in size and diversity.
 
03

ACD:
Agnostic Contextual Design

Agnostic Contextual Design prioritizes context over method. This framework also favors condition over solution. In order to design for emergent complexity, shifting context is observed and evaluated on a regular basis to determine appropriate interventions. Design responds to changing conditions instead of fixed relationships between problem and solution.
 
04

5C:
Curiosity, Curation, Coordination, Commitment, Creation

Five skillful means (curiosity, curation, coordination, commitment, creation) can be connected to the five elements (air, fire, water, earth, ether) to achieve self-actualization and group cohesion. This framework provides intangible building blocks for deep transformational work.
 

Praxis



Evolving future architecture pedagogy includes five pillars of practice:


01

Speculative Narrative:


aims to expand collective imagination


02

Systems Dynamics:


aims to understand and leverage complexity in systems for regeneration

03

Community Commerce:


aims to design community-oriented growth strategy
 
04

Personal Transformation:


aims to cultivate individual development
 

05

Group Cohesion:


aims to build capacity for co-creation





What is a Shared Future?



Shared futures are the living expression of future architecture—projects designed to transform systems through collective imagination.

A shared future is a co-created potential reality shaped by common vision and aimed at collective wellbeing and shared prosperity. Like a startup, it organizes resources to bring a vision to life—but its values are different. It exists to counter the long legacy of colonial and capitalist harm by advancing:

  • Inclusive economies
  • Equitable societies
  • Pluralistic cultures
  • Responsible technologies

A shared future has the following identifying characteristics: 

  • It operates with the mindset of abundance instead of scarcity
  • It prioritizes the benefit of the commons over the expansion of the market
  • It engages in regenerative rather than extractive production
  • It favors stewardship over ownership of resources and assets


    A shared future can be young or mature—which is determined by the age of the shared future, not its degree of success—and can experience any of the following four modalities in non-linear and recurring manners:



    01

    Discovery:


    A fluid state of curiosity and curation to identify the shape of collaboration: passions, values, challenges, opportunities, collaborators and resources.

     

    02

    Incubation:


    A focused container to articulate visions, align values, build capacity, attract resources and prototype concepts and processes.



    03 

    Cultivation:


    Characterized by steady growth to iterate, learn and integrate. The growth of a shared future is measured by values alignment and stakeholder engagement that lead to demonstrable shared prosperity.



    04

    Fractal:


    In entering this modality the shared future has become scalable, portable, translatable and replicable. It is a shared reality fully embedded into the daily lives of its community. It will be up to the community to contextually determine its own self-organizing patterns.


    Additional Sources of Influence




    Many theories, frameworks, praxis, movements, organizations, collectives, and individuals have directly or indirectly influenced or actively contributed to the development of future architecture. The ever-expanding list includes, but is not limited to, the following:



    Community of Practice

    (2019–2024)


    Guild of Future Architects



    In 2019, Sharon Chang founded the Guild of Future Architects (GoFA) to bring together practitioners—whether or not they identified with the term future architecture—to co-create long-term societal transformation rooted in beauty and justice.

    GoFA emerged alongside the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic, facing both rare opportunities and significant challenges. Resource constraints revealed a core truth: future architecture requires radically rethinking what an organization can be.

    In January 2025, GoFA formally dissolved as a nonprofit and evolved into a decentralized organism continuing its mission through distributed, member-led work. Some initiatives have flourished, while others have composted into wisdom for future growth.

    With the intention to steward a decade of theory and practice, Sharon reacquired GoFA’s assets upon its dissolution. To find out more about GoFA’s work, visit its 2021 annual report, which captures the heart and soul of a passionate community in the midst of a global crisis. In addition, peruse Portals to Beautiful Futures and 20 Decades of 2020, two publications that showcase GoFA members’ collective imagination. For a deeper dive, visit GoFAr, an editorial space featuring a selection of member-led projects and insights.