As the saying goes: it’s hard to make predictions, especially about the future. Famous forecasts that proved spectacularly wrong include the president of IBM in 1943 stating “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers”, while in 1876 Western Union dismissed Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone as having no value. But it is human nature to speculate about what lies ahead, particularly when change is on the horizon, as is the case in the construction industry. Right now there is a palpable sense from you – the people who work in the sector – of being on the cusp of radical upheaval.  

 This year, as part of our Building Your Future editorial campaign, which celebrates our publication’s 175th anniversary, we have been talking to industry professionals about the disruptors that are altering the way they commission, design, construct and occupy buildings. Here in these pages, we explore some of the major themes that have emerged, ranging from the rapid uptake of modern methods of construction and customisation in housebuilding to the latest digital tools being applied and the refreshing aspiration for buildings to promote residents’ and workers’ wellbeing.

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