Week 7 | BIM and new technologies in practice

Through building information technology we see a major shift in the way buildings are conceived and delivered. The technology can offer a single platform for developing most design ideas into construction digital models. This lecture will discuss the cultural impacts of this technology in design practice.

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An example of different contributors to a traditional building information model.

http://www.varisys.com/vs2007/images/BIM_Cycle.jpg

The “asynchronous manner” – Holzer, D, (2011), Page 477 [1], that designers, consultants and the contractors operate in has been simplified with the introduction of building information models. Building information models have merged into a single platform - or hub - which becomes an important information exchange mechanism, particularly for the project execution plan. Marble, S, in his, “Digital workflows in architecture”, addresses this further with Bernstein’s acknowledgment that “BIM and IPD were not developed to encourage innovative design, but rather to address procedural inefficiencies” – Marble, S, (2012), Page 73 [2].

It is about adopting, “an entire process change that impacts nearly all activities related to the planning, delivery and operation of buildings on a social, a business and even political level” – Holzer, D, (2011), Page 466 [3], that will refine projects in practice, widen participation and democratise design. It should be a, “workflow for exploration rather than exploitation” – Benjamin, D (2012), Page 23 [4], one that seeks multiple best-performing designs – known as Pareto-efficient designs – as we use algorithms and digital processes to debate values. Values of which should be inclusive of, “a larger collective beyond design professionals. Artists, philosophers, residents and citizens of all backgrounds could join the discussion and debate” – Benjamin, D (2012), Page 23 [5]. As these “Pareto-efficient designs could be understood as the exact location where computation meets design-as well as where computation meets society, politics and even culture” – Benjamin, D (2012), Page 24 [6].

Benjamin, D, in his, “Beyond Efficiency”, delves into the way that architects should be contributing to the developments of design programs that assist them in everyday practice. This is as they begin to develop the scientific mind - that of an engineer - by utilising very scientifically based tools. Almost as if they have gained the scientific language learned from becoming proficient with tools, “written by programmers whose training… comes from [a] very scientific, engineering-based mindset” – Benjamin, D (2012), Page 18 [7]. It is for this reason he stresses how, “designing the design is designing the algorithm” – Benjamin, D (2012), Page 18 [8]. It is because, “machines and humans both make errors, but the errors of machines are easy to compute, while the errors of humans are difficult to encapsulate in a formula” – Benjamin, D (2012), Page 21 [9].

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r e f e r e n c e s

[1] [3] : Holzer, D. (2011). "BIM's Seven Deadly Sins." International Journal of Architectural Computing 9(4): 463-480.

[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] : Benjamin, D. (2012). Beyond Efficiency. Digital workflows in architecture: designing design -- designing assembly -- designing industry. S. Marble. Basel, Birkhäuser: 14-25.

[2] : Marble, S. (2012). BIM 2.0. Digital workflows in architecture: designing design -- designing assembly -- designing industry. S. Marble. Basel, Birkhäuser: 72-73.