The Lifetime Design Brief, Part 2

Summary: One of the most dramatic impacts on architectural practice from computer technology is the shift to the Lifetime Design Brief. This opportunity will make or break the architectural profession!

How long does your typical design brief last for? Three months? Six months? 12 months?

This would be typical for 90% of architectural projects depending upon the scale of the project. In terms of cash flow, this can make life a little difficult. You get a job in and then you don't, you get 2 jobs and then none. Wouldn't it be good to be able to extend your design briefs so they lasted forever?

The Digitalization Effect

If I use the word 'digitalization', would you understand what I'm referring to? Digitalization means that all data is converted into digital code. In other words, data is converted into either a series of on-off bits, or as a series of ones and zeros.

What this means is that all forms of data can be sent down phone lines and interchanged easily. The digitalization effect is the source of convergence. The effect of digitalization can be seen in multi-media, which simply means multiple media. Like a rock video clip, now we have sounds and images linked together in a single package.

The Architectural Brief

So what's this got to do with architecture? The key is that the architect as designer is the creator of the information.

Monitoring
As such the information that describes the building is the same information that can be used to monitor the building, as in the 'intelligent building' we talked about previously. In terms of time, the monitoring will extend the architects design brief the longest. As long as the building stays functioning there is an opportunity for the architect to manage and monitor the building’s performance. Given that architects are ‘experts in buildings’, then it would only be natural they be placed in charge of managiing this task.

Manufacture
It is also the same information that can be used to have machines make components for your buildings. For example, the laser cutting of a timber stair. The architect designs the stair and simply sends the information down the phone line to the machine that cuts out the stair.

Assembly
In a few years, it will be the same information that will be fed to robots to have the building assembled. The shift to off-site prefabrication will speed up the introduction of this push.

Modify, Recycle, Re-use, Demolish
If a building needs to be modified, the same information will be needed. Likewise if the building is to be demolished, if the materials are to be recycled or re-used, then the same information will be used again.

Information Creator

As the creator of the information, the architect is the key player in managing these processes. As such, the architects' brief is extended from simply a couple of months in the design phase, to one, not of the lifetime of the building, but of the lifetime of the materials because the architect knows the specifications of the materials. This will become even more important as man-made materials are increasingly used. The Lifetime Design Brief is the greatest opportunity facing the architectural profession. As with all opportunities, if you don't take it, someone else may…


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