The Unbound Issue

In the cover feature of January's edition of Modus, we focus on the trend for repurposing imposing former industrial buildings as state-of-the-art hubs of creativity and collaboration.

Elsewhere we examine the emergence of megaregions defying the traditional cultural, administrative and international borders that once constrained them, creating economic powerhouses in America, China and Scandinavia. We also investigate the challenges people face when attempting to build infrastructure resilient enough to survive an unpredictable future.

And we take a look toward to the introduction of 5G in the UK and ask whether the revolution it is predicted to bring forth could be at risk if it's unable to integrate with the built environment.

Also in this edition:

• We consider what can be learnt from Buy Clean California Act – could it be the benchmark for future of carbon-control legislation, or is it mark a missed opportunity to implement tighter controls?

• We investigate the impact that the growth of online shopping is having on housing provision: as shoppers shun big-box retail parks, could the spaces be repurposed as housing?

• Also, we evaluate the benefits of taking a strategic approach to the management of built assets across their lifespan, and we ask if reusing wastewater could bring an end to water shortages of the future.