Technological scenarios of posthumanism: which [built] environment towards sustainability

Abstract Human kind has always been an explorer and technological innovation over the centuries is been implemented thanks to his thirst for novelty. Technological progress today clashes with the limitations of available resources and environmental impacts. The acceleration in the introduction of technological innovations determines rapid obsolescence of human artifacts and the need for continuous replacement, reducing the useful life of products. Having exhausted the physicality of planet Earth, human exploration now continues in two directions: on the one hand, the colonization of Space, on the other, the construction of new virtual worlds (Metaverse) and new physical and cognitive capabilities (biotechnology and artificial intelligence). However, these explorations are the source of considerable energy consumption (e.g., of space flights and data centers) and contribute to climate change, increasing the critical issues regarding the sustainability of lifestyles. Technological and scientific progress, after having changed the natural environment, today comes to change human nature (posthumanism), and consequently the living environment of human kind. The research is approached through the comparison of different philosophical and scientific positions (literature analysis), transferring some general considerations to the building sector. What next generation built environment will be?