Interconnected: Automation and Architecture for Future Communities

The project Interconnected by Jesse Martyn and James Simpson explores how automation, war, and social transformation shape the future of urban design. Positioned within the context of post-war recovery and the rise of machine automation, the proposal envisions a new architectural typology: centralized hubs where living, working, and recreation are seamlessly integrated. This vision contributes to the ongoing discourse of futuristic architecture, addressing the challenges of automation, labor transitions, and urban connectivity.

A futuristic skyline introduces an interconnected hub for living, working, and playing.

Layered spaces for public, private, and automated functions merge into one structure.

Evolution of the City: From Humans to Automation

The timeline begins in 2018 (Age of Humans) where automation technologies were still experimental. By 2028 (Second Machine Age), machines advanced enough to replace manual labor, driving precision and productivity in construction. However, this rise of automation also led to social unrest, culminating in the 2030 Anti-Intellectual War. This conflict fractured society, leaving millions displaced.

By 2035 (Post Anti-Intellectual War), the government initiated rebuilding efforts with advanced technologies, promising displaced workers jobs and housing. Finally, in 2040 (Age of Automation), rapid construction reshaped cities into vertical, interconnected hubs. These hubs became spaces where automation, production, commerce, and human life intertwined at unprecedented levels.

Centralized Community Hubs

The heart of Interconnected lies in its proposal for multi-functional community hubs. These hubs combine:

Automation zones for production and machine-driven labor.
Public and private spaces layered vertically for housing and recreation.
Transport systems such as hyper-loops and elevated rail to connect hubs globally.
Service economies where human jobs focus on relationships, creativity, and care sectors.

The design fosters efficiency and sustainability while addressing the societal divide caused by automation. Instead of isolating functions, it merges them, creating vibrant, round-the-clock spaces.

Automation zones and services anchor the community at the base.

Integrated transit, living, and recreation define higher levels of the hub.

The Role of Architecture in Automation Utopia

The architectural language of Interconnected emphasizes adaptability. Buildings are no longer static; they are dynamic frameworks accommodating:

Machine automation for labor-intensive tasks.
Augmented intelligence with humans integrated into digital networks.
Human service economies relying on social interaction.
Live-work typologies eliminating commuting and emphasizing multifunctional homes.

This layered, interconnected urbanism reflects an architectural response to automation-driven societies, positioning design as a mediator between technology and humanity.

Living, Working, and Playing Together

Renderings of Interconnected highlight a futuristic city where:

Skyscrapers double as housing, workspaces, and entertainment hubs.
Elevated transport corridors connect nodes of activity seamlessly.
Interior spaces shift from living rooms to workspaces to play zones within a single ecosystem.

The result is a 24-hour architecture where productivity, leisure, and community coexist without boundaries, reshaping the human experience of the city.

Interconnected presents a provocative vision for the future of futuristic architecture in the age of automation. By merging living, working, and recreation into centralized hubs, the project imagines a world where communities thrive on adaptability, interconnectivity, and machine-human collaboration. As automation continues to redefine urban life, architecture’s role will be to humanize technology while designing resilient, multifunctional spaces for the generations ahead.