Futurizing “Good Construction(s)”: ‘low-carbon’ and ‘labor’ futures in the construction sector in Belgium

This paper explores, through a foresight exercise, how the construction sector in Belgium imagines its transition by 2050. Drawing on the notion of the ‘good economy’ (Asdal et al. 2021), which addresses the relationship between normativity and economic practices, our approach considers both ‘low-carbon’ and ‘quality of work’ as two forms of good that are troubled by the participants. Envisioning the transition of the construction sector in Belgium in terms of 'good economy’ shows that there is an asymmetry between the two forms of good explored. Priority is given to the assessment of what ‘good’ environmental problems and ‘good’ material futures should be. Materials ought to be reintroduced into the policy and economic perspectives of the transition, while a sustainable and circular approach to the
(re)use of materials ought to be strengthened. Quality of work is expected to depend on the new knowledge and training that a structurally scarce workforce should ideally possess.