D1: Administrative and industrial buildings

Architectural and engineering structures are, of course, very different, but particularly so in cne respect. Engineering structures seem generally to be designed to serve one purpose indefinitely, whereas a building is likely to have to serve many changes of use throughout its life. This paper is concerned with change; with increasing rates of change affecting both the location and existenceof buildings - the outside factors - and the uses to which they are put. In recent years theincreasing rate of change in requirements in use provides, in my view, a particular "challenge ofthe 30's" which demands serious consideration.

The paper first makes a brief historical survey of the outside factors which have, in the past, affected buildings and their very existence. It shows how, with the passing centuries disruptive developments have appeared with increasing frequency but concludes that this trend may notcontinue and that the situation - as far as'outside factors' are concerned - may be reasonably static for seme time to come at least.