Restructuring design
The ExamplesBox, a design decision support tool for
sustainable and tenant oriented restructuring of existing residential urban
areas
Geert-Jan van den Brand[1], Maurits Dekker[2], Karel Dekker[3]
Abstract
The SUREURO project, funded by the European Commission, deals with the
sustainable and consumer oriented refurbishment of post war residential areas.
SUREURO provides practical management and design tools and new flexible and
sustainable technical concepts. One workgroup - called
Design and Construct - concentrates on the refurbishment design process. In the
project existing tools are inventoried and new tools are developed.
One of the new tools is called the ‘ExamplesBox’. Dutch housing company wonenCentraal, XX architects, Heeling Krop Bekkering architects and TNO Building and Construction Research created the tool. It contains stimulating concepts, sketches and ideas for the refurbishment of residential areas on the tissue level, the support level and the infill level. It can be used in the conceptual design phase to generate alternative design solutions. The ExamplesBox can never replace the design team, for uncritical copying of concepts leads to an unwanted repetition of design solutions. The application of the ExamplesBox fits into a new design approach, called Strategic Design. This approach stimulates thinking in concepts within an interdisciplinary team before elaboration of solutions in detail. The ExamplesBox can support the communication between the participants within the team.
In the conceptual design phase the principal’s demands are transformed into architectural solutions. An important feature is the exploration of the design problem definition through the examination of solutions or partial solutions. The ExamplesBox can also be used to support this process.
All SUREURO participants from different countries
will fill in the ExamplesBox. Thus a European state of the art view of
sustainable and consumer oriented refurbishment examples is created.
Keywords
Refurbishment urban areas, sustainability,
consumer orientation, conceptual design, thematic solutions, open building.
SUREURO [1]
In Europe 170 million people are living in
approximately 80.000 post war mass housing areas containing approximately 56
million flats that were built after 1950. The SUREURO project deals with the
sustainable and consumer oriented refurbishment of these areas. The main focus
of the project is the strategy of the housing companies in dealing with this
challenge. Further attention is paid to tenant participation in the design
process and the application of sustainable technical solutions. Sustainability
can be achieved only with an intensive and constructive participation of the
tenants. This is a topical challenge throughout Europe. Investigating the design process concerning refurbishment of urban areas
by providing stimulating concepts and creative ideas in the conceptual design
phase is an effort worth making.
The SUREURO project is funded by the European Commission and develops practical tools for the sustainable and consumer oriented transformation of (big most post war) housing areas. The project is aimed at the support of housing companies and their refurbishment project partners such as local authorities, urban planners, architects, construction companies and consultants. SUREURO provides:
- The development and implementation of practical management tools for integrating sustainable development and tenant participation in their refurbishment management including training of housing companies to work with these tools.
- The development and design of monitoring and simulation tools for town planners, local decision makers, construction companies, designers and engineers and models for better planning, design and technical specifications of refurbishment projects, both at housing and neighbourhood level.
- The testing and implementation of new and flexible technical concepts for sustainable transformation of existing housing areas.
Figure 1 Model for the
information about the Refurbishment project [1]
For refurbishment a general European scope exists, but the focus of each country is different. Every country has its special experiences that can be useful for other countries. In the Netherlands the increase of choice for individuals and livability of neighbourhoods are key issues. The Dutch participating housing company is specialized in defining housing corporation management strategies. In general the Scandinavian partners are more experienced in developing and applying various sustainable solutions for the decrease of water and energy use and waste reduction. This diversity on European scale produces a complete set of refurbishment tools within the project and by that an optimal exchange of experiences between the participating countries.
Refurbishment
design process
Within the SUREURO project several workgroups are
dedicated to a specific task. One workgroup - called Design and Construct -
concentrates on the refurbishment design process. This workgroup has specified
a process model (Figure 1) and an accompanying matrix dealing with the process
phases, decision levels and (sustainability) issues (Figure
2) [2]. This structure is the backbone for the project and a
way to arrange and select suitable design tools. Different countries provide
tools. In the project also new tools are developed. One specific tool is
situated in the early design process, the ‘ExamplesBox’. This tool supports the
design team in generating alternative design solutions in the early conceptual
phase of the design process. At the same time the tool is a means for the
exchange of experiences between different project teams and even between
countries.
Figure 2 The SUREURO
matrix
Looking at the refurbishment design process we find
that, traditionally, principals and contractors are strongly aimed at reducing
risks within strict time and money boundaries. Designers often feel restricted
by this and will try to intensify the attention for aesthetic and spatial
quality. Conflicting interests of different parties lead to sub-optimal design
results. In order to meet the ambitious goals of the SUREURO project
substantial innovation is necessary. Better communication and collaboration of
design team members can achieve this. Design team members therefor are not only
selected for their specific knowledge, but also for their capacity to
co-operate in a team. The ExamplesBox can also be used to stimulate the
communication in the team by visualising concepts.
Alternative
design process
Several researchers and practitioners work on
alternative design processes. They respond to the disadvantages of the
traditional approach. In the late 60’s Habraken initiated the Open Building
approach [3], primarily to improve the position of the individual
citizen. He established the SAR research foundation. An essential Open Building
principle is thinking in levels and a generally known SAR distinction in
decision levels is: tissue, support and infill. The SAR foundation developed
several design tools, such as the tissue method. These methods are demonstrated
in various projects [4]. The Open Building initiative also lead to the
development of a completed consumer oriented fit-out system: Matura.
Rutten introduces an alternative design approach,
called Strategic Design. This approach is one of the research themes at the
TU/e and TNO based Knowledge Centre ‘Buildings and Systems’ [5]. Within this centre a group of researchers and PhD
students elaborate theories and accompanying decision support tools to enable
Strategic Design [6]. Another paper in this symposium deals with the
blueprint of this alternative design process [7]. Strategic Design is aimed at developing buildings
with a higher future value. In summary the essential features for an
alternative design approach are:
-
Thinking in scenario’s and design strategies:
change is essential. Starting point of the process can be not just one (linear)
program, but different development scenario’s that possibly shape the future of
the neighbourhood. Uncertainties on future development strengthen the idea of
designing flexibility.
-
Distinction of decision levels:
tissue, support and infill. Each decision level has its own design process and
a group of decision-makers. Anticipating to change within each level, with
minimal impact on the other levels is essential.
-
Extending conceptual and thematic design:
executing thematic studies at the different territorial levels of
neighbourhood, building and dwelling in order to generate variants on a global
level and at the same time getting better understanding of the real design
problem(s) without considering the complete project context. After all, too
often the context passes some trivial argument to reject a good idea in an
early phase.
According to Rutten design teams run to quickly to
technical solutions without really understanding the design problem. Also
Moughtin [8] endorses Ruttens point of view: ‘… an important feature of the design process is the exploration of
problem definition through the examination of solutions or partial solutions.’
In these alternative design approaches ‘change’ is an important issue. Enabling
change in the built environment means improving individuals’ participation and
sustainability. Participation and discussion on issues is only possible when
you have the right knowledge and information.
The
conceptual design phase
A crucial phase in the design process is
situated between initiative and the first design sketches and is called the
‘conceptual design phase’. According to Rutten
and Trum: ‘During the conceptual design the “genetic code” of the building
is determined. In a very short period in time more than 80 percent of the total
costs and performances of the future building will be determined at design
costs which are about 8%. This is therefore a very important phase in the
design process and also a very difficult one as designers must think and
communicate in concepts’ [6].
In the conceptual design phase the principal’s demands are transformed into architectural solutions. This is the transformation of ‘words’ to ‘images’. One solution or idea captured in an image often deals with several problems at the same time. This conceptual design phase is an integral decision process strongly determining the success or failure of a project. Choosing one solution too quickly and working this out in depth can cause many risks. It is better to consider several concepts for - for example – entrances and vertical transport, and to consider them from a conceptual an integral perspective before ‘jumping to solutions’. The SUREURO ExamplesBox offers a way to communicate soft issues and combining them with harder issues such as costs and time.
During the design process many ideas are developed and rejected. The reasons why certain ideas are come up with and approved or rejected are too often forgotten. In the design process it is only the end result, projected in the building, that counts. This means an almost inevitable loss of many good ideas. Every refurbishment project asks within its specific context for these ideas. The workgroup developing the ExamplesBox wanted to prevent this loss by assembling good examples by design principle and operational level. The structure of the ExamplesBox is based on the earlier mentioned SUREURO process model in combination with a first draft of XX architects. Dutch architectural companies ‘Heeling Krop Bekkering’ and ‘XX architects’ fill in the first draft of the box with their concepts. In the next phase all participating countries in the SUREURO project will do the same. As Habraken emphasized in the 1981 published Grunsfeld Variations [4] such concepts - thematic solutions - are never prescriptive end results but ideas to stimulate the mind of principals, architects and tenants. In specific projects these concepts will be elaborated in a unique configuration attuned to the local conditions. They can not be copied without question. The ExamplesBox can never replace the design team, for this might lead to an unwanted repetition of design solutions.
The
ExamplesBox – demonstration
The ExamplesBox provides two possibilities for searching for concepts. The first one is a structured search. The team has a few possible entrances for the search operation. They can either search for concepts on a certain level and / or they can indicate an issue or a design principle. When more entrances are used, the results will be more defined. The second possibility is searching for concepts by using keywords. The team can fill in a word or choose one of the possibilities in the index. Depending on the way of searching, the ExamplesBox generates a screen with results.
To show how the ExamplesBox works a small case is presented. A design team is working on the refurbishment of a residential area. The area consists of several apartment buildings, situated in a green environment and water. One of the challenges for the team is the reduction of the use of water in the neighbourhood.
The design team will look for good examples on all levels and chooses for the structured search. They select the design principle ‘Water savings’. Figure 3 shows the screen with results for this search operation and gives various examples for the saving of water on the tissue, the support and the infill level.
Figure 3 Screen with
results for the search operation
The ExamplesBox
also gives information where the team can find more specific explanation about
the concept. In the near future it will be possible to associate these examples
with other design principles, themes and other examples, only by clicking on
the example.
Conclusions
and further development
The SUREURO ExamplesBox
is a design tool for the conceptual design phase for the refurbishment of
residential areas on the tissue, support and infill level. A design team
employs this tool for the translation of words from the brief to images and
solutions. Collecting good ideas from different projects in various countries
enables the re-use of these ideas. It supports the communication of soft issues
and combines them with harder issues such as costs and time.
The application of the ExamplesBox fits into a new design approach, called Strategic Design. This approach stimulates ‘thinking in concepts’ before elaboration of solutions in detail. The tool supports the practical implementation of this important principle of Strategic Design. Within the strategic design approach other (open building) principles such as thinking in levels, thinking in value domains and disentangling of technical systems are applied. Integral application of these concepts will increase both sustainability and consumer friendliness (mass customization).
All SUREURO participants from different countries will fill in the ExamplesBox. Thus a European state of the art view of sustainable and consumer oriented refurbishment examples is created. This results in an effective exchange of ideas and possibly a stimulation of European wide product development. The same idea can be elaborated in other sectors of the building industry such as offices. Also extension of the ExamplesBox to other process phases is thinkable. Behind each concept detailed technical information and practical examples can be linked. Also the box can be completed with national design guidelines, for example the Dutch National package for sustainable building.
References:
[1] Dekker, K.H., 2001, ‘SUREURO: “Sustainable Refurbishment Europe”’, TNO Building and Construction Research, Delft, The Netherlands.
[4] Habraken, N.J., et al., 1981, ‘The Grunsfeld Variations’, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
[7] Brand, G.J.W. van den, Quanjel, E.M.C.J., Zeiler, W., 2001, ‘Sustainable flexible process innovation. Practical implementation of a new building design approach’.
[8] Moughtin, C., et al., 1999, ‘Urban Design, methods and techniques’, ISBN 0 7506 4102 9, p. 8.