Working From Home

Now is the time to develop our abilities to work remotely 

with online applications for communication, conference calls,

interactive white boards, document sharing and editing, etc.

Platforms include Zoom, DropBox, MS Whiteboard, Skype, 

Go To Meeting, Adobe Connect, WhatsApp, Google Classroom, 

and others.

The outbreak of Covid-19 is obviously very concerning for everyone.  It has presented the necessity for some of us to work from home and this brings to light important opportunities on how we might develop future working methods to enable us to work successfully, without the need of a desk in an office.  Communication and the productive management of  our work-loads can increasingly be handled remotely with a selection of developing internet-based applications, which might become the way more of us work in the future.

Internet-based phone calls, video conference calls, webinars, document sharing and editing, interactive whiteboards and VR access to events and remote locations are becoming more commonplace, allowing us to communicate, be productive, and attend events, meetings and site visits without travelling.  It seems the USA is leading the way with this, but as the technologies take hold it might ultimately become the next revolution in our work place.

One strategy in innovation is to ask what if the opposite were possible.  We currently live in a society with the precept that a business needs an office.  The idea that we don’t need to be stationed at a specific desk, or even that a business does not need an office, might not only enable us to work from home or our favourite coffee shop, but break down current geographic, time-zone and language restrictions, allowing the businesses themselves to develop on many different levels.

It might seem to promise a more utopian work / life balance, but the technology will no doubt ensure that we can never be too far beyond the reach of our bosses, even if you do relocate to a neighbouring continent, but at least the choice of coffee should be better.

The Shape of Things to Come (for Architecture)

Technology is breaking the Survival Rule of Threes.  This lists out our basic needs as humans.  We can survive 3 weeks without food, 3 days without water, 3 hours without shelter, and 3 minutes without air, but not one moment without wifi!

The Survival Rule of Threes

Technology is changing the world at an incredible rate.  It is not easy to see how progress will change our lives and what it will do for architecture but there are definitely structures in place which point towards how it will affect us in the future.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been developing rapidly and is becoming a natural and organic part of our lives,   AI allows us to interact efficiently with our environment but also has the power to control and direct our environment.

Robotics and Automation advances promise opportunities for groups of items to work together more efficiently.  Developments will take the form of automated systems and robots working independently of humans, and collaborative robots (Cobots) where machines and humans interact in shared workspaces.  Advances in lightweight, mobile power sources supports these advances.

The 5G Network promises an explosion of what we can do to access and control items on 'the internet of things'.  3GPP focuses on industrial applications to improve on connectivity within factory buildings.  5G promises flexible mass-scale connectivity to the worlds of manufacturing, industry and logistics.  The label 'Industry 4.0' is used to describe the smart factory.

AI, 5G networks and automation creates a powerful structure representing the next wave of technological developments which will affect our lives over the next decade.  Beyond this and longer term, other developments on the horizon include quantum computing, blockchain, nanotechnology and genetics bringing even more radical developments and integrating the structures above.  Nuralink for example is working to directly link the human brain with computers, connected to globally networked AI.

The Shape of Things to Come

What does this mean for Architecture and the built environment?   For example, we can connect current technological developments in BIM (Building Information Modelling) and BMS (Building Management System) servicing agreements with the bigger picture of AI, network and automation.  It's not a stretch to see how BIM could be used in the service life of buildings to monitor and manage building and services assets, and call up orders for replacements when required.  Likewise, advances in network technologies will enable much greater connection and control of buildings by facilities management companies via their BMS systems.  Each active component of a building (services and anything that moves or has a control) will be a smart devise linked to the building's BIM and BMS, creating smart buildings.  BIM with AI will also develop as a data gathering tool to optimise buildings for the requirements of the owner, users, specific groups of users and individuals.  This should assist the economics of the property in use and efficiency of its life cycle.

There are still a bigger picture beyond this.  Innovation begins with people and the individual is not tied to the building or the work place.  Technology developers will be following their markets so if individuals provide the greatest revenue stream, buildings might need to accommodate changes in how they are used.  Architecture might need to address new issues involving flexibility and adaptability of spaces and services, mobility of buildings in part or whole, and how building fabric and services meets the demand for greater virtual connectivity with other locations across the globe.  Walls, floors, ceilings, doors and windows might transform out of current recognition to meet these requirements.  The building industry has a fantastic opportunity to develop with innovations in materials, adaptive environments and the design / construction work-flow.

Needs, Material Wants and Aspirations

Meanwhile, individuals are riding the crest of the technological wave.  I'd bet the tech that each of us have on our phones, wrists, in our ears and in our homes has advanced more quickly than the tech in the work place.  It is making us more independent and aspirational.  In addition, technology is offering a growing range of personalised and bespoke goods and services, tailored specifically to individual needs; a big departure from industrialised mass produced products.  This will transfer to the work place with pressure for remote working and flexible hours.  Depending on affordability and personal aspirations, your staff might be anywhere in the world to suit their cultural, climatic, family and schooling requirements, possibly working from a virtual workstation which brings them right inside business HQ!

These innovations might affect the building industry directly, but could have greater pressure from the developing needs and aspirations of individuals.

Chair-ish Creativity

Year 6 (11-year olds) at Furzedown Primary School
design and model solutions for a chair, using structural kits, paper and card.

Creativity should be cherished in schools!  It is something which allows us to think around a problem and come up with ingenious, novel and innovative solutions.  It helps kids to think for themselves and means our minds never dwell with a dead-end problem.  Creative thinking is also a learnt skill which can be applied across any subject, but it does not appear to be a central part of the national curriculum. 

The UK is focused on STEM subjects; science, technology, engineering and maths.  These objective subjects teach us how things are supposed to be, rather than prompt us for possibilities of alternative or parallel solutions.

The counter argument for STEAM proposes to add Art based subjects to the curriculum.  Subjective and more questioning subjects are essential to develop thinking skills.  Art based subjects are also important to add depth and dimensions in support of the STEM subjects.

In addition to both, creative thinking techniques can be incorporated into the classroom to help students make the most out of learning.  Creative thinking helps the student take ownership of the subject, promotes engagement and can add fun.  For example, our architectural workshops for primary and secondary schools examine structures, materials, space, colour and light.  These bases are objective and a general brief is set, but the solutions are not prescribed.  The workshop dynamics are generally lively and a big part of their delight is witnessing the creativity of kids when they are allowed to let their minds run free. 

We are in a rapidly transforming world; job markets are changing, technologies are reshaping industries, working practices and life-styles, and globalisation is breaking down geographic barriers.  In such a dynamically changing world, creative thinking must surely be an essential component of our children's education.

Developments with Building Materials

GRP and Buildings, A J Leggatt, first published in 1984

GRP and buildings by A J Leggatt has proved a very useful reference for some recent projects. First published in 1984 it raises a number of points relating to the use of GRP in the building industry, which seem just as relevant today as they were 35 years ago. Not only is the book still relevant as a technical guide for composites, but it is also useful as a reference for managing innovations with materials in the building industry.  Key points are in blue with my comments below:

There are no bad materials, just bad designers
Using unfamiliar materials, such as GRP in 1984, to carry out important roles on buildings requires careful consideration and ‘whole process thinking’ to avoid unwanted consequences. It is important to understand how a material will perform in any given situation and not rely ‘design intent’ as a clause to avoid responsibility against failure. Any performance gaps should be identified and closed out by an appointed team member, preferably the lead designer and coordinator.  Involving innovations often requires additional design and technical experts. Leading the way with innovative design, fabrication and assembly generally comes with a cost premium.

Technology brings a short childhood and adolescence to [innovative] materials compared to traditional materials
The pace of technology accelerates and becomes ever more diverse. As innovations become available, their rate of evolution proceeds at a much faster rate than traditional materials.  This also requires design professionals to work at a fast pace to keep up. The building industry works with its established set professional structures, which support some innovations more easily others. Innovations in materials, mechanics, electronics, environmental services and BMS, AI, mobile communications, software applications and ‘the internet of things’ offers incredible opportunities for the development of the building industry, if we can harness them effectively.

Errors occur from not understanding the material’s performance and the building’s performance
As the technology of building materials and systems becomes ever more intricate and diverse, more specialists might be required to ensure successful progress in a project. The design team structure might grow with additional consultants including material engineers, cladding consultants etc., and with the architect taking a greater role in the coordination and integration of the entire team’s input. Working with innovation often means the architect needs to know not just all the elements to a project, but how they work and how they go together too, down to the nuts, bolts and fixings.

Fabrication is a skill, not a factory process
Architects and designers can easily work in isolation, without knowing the processes involved to realise a design from the drawing page into reality. It was a surprise, working with curved glass, GRP cladding panels and gasket seals, the extent of craftsmanship that was involved to realise a successful product.  Knowing how a material performs in fabrication, curing, release from the moulds, and in final machining, might easily be considered a black art by those that merely observe the process.  When robotics, computerisation, 3D printing and automation catching up it will only be to the loss of skilled knowledge.

GRP is a multi-aspect material
It is a composite material and because of this can perform many functions at once. It’s design and specification might require the consideration of structure, aesthetics, fire resistance, thermal insulation, thermal movement, thermal performance range, electrical conductivity, strength to weight ratio, weather resistance, chemical corrosion resistance, format (large or small scale), geometrical complexity, stiffness vs flexibility, ease of production or integration with other elements such as services or structure. These might require a range of trained minds and a delegated coordinator working around a single material.  This way of working is not always common practice in the building industry but definitely offers advantages if one product can perform the same task as several others and save time and processes on site during assembly. The GRP of the 1980’s os not the only composite or multi-functional material now available to the building industry. A new way of designing will de required to accommodate a new series of innovative materials.

GRP is after all a ‘composite material’ and therefore it’s application might require careful coordination with a team of specialists which is not usual practice in the building industry.  The usual project team structure of design consultants working largely isolated in their respective disciplines might well have contributed to some of the mistakes in early architecture projects involving GRP.  By comparison, GRP has been used successfully in other industrial sectors for several decades, noticeably transport industries, with streamlined and sufficient design and fabrication routes. A J Leggatt’s book is a prompt that the building industry and architectural profession might benefit from some more modernised procedures to successfully incorporate innovative building materials into projects. Becoming more efficient and contemporary in this way to keep pace with innovations in materials might also enable the building industry to integrate more directly with procurement structures of other industries such as the automotive, ship or train building sectors which could have very exciting prospects.

The Three Pavilions Challenge

Celebrating Architecture 2019 with Urban Learners have been holding Architecture workshops this summer for groups of creative school children at three London pavilions; at the Architecture Foundation, Serpentine Gallery and the Dulwich Picture Gallery.  I was fortunate to attend the last two and assist some of the children with their design creations.

Workshop at the Serpentine Pavilion and RCA.
Workshops were held with a variety of age groups from key stage 1 to 4.

The workshops began investigating the pavilions.  The children experimented with drawing, measuring and photographing aspects of the pavilions to understand form, space, scale and proportion.  This knowledge was taken by the children into the studio after lunch, to design and create model pavilions of their own.

Workshop at the Dulwich Picture Gallery and Colour Palace Pavilion.
The workshop kits and materials were developed to match the design and aesthetics of the actual pavilions.  

The days were fast-paced and fun.  The working dynamic of children with architects created an infectious buzz of excitement.  The work-flow focused the children towards the highlight of the afternoon's creative events; designing, building, documenting and presenting their own pavilion.  Everyone came away with a strong sense of accomplishment!

Thanks to Venetia and Neil for organising the events and giving so much creative enjoyment to the school children and grown-ups alike.  Keep an eye on out for their next series of events. 

Project Management

To further DesignBox's credibility in project management, we are pleased to announce that we now have PRINCE2 Practitioner certification.

PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) is a process based methodology for effective project management.  It is used widely in the profession of project management internationally and used exclusively by the UK government.  PRINCE2 protects the business justification of a project, builds a planning approach focused on achieving the project products, and divides the project in to manageable and controllable work stages.  The PRINCE2 methodology helps to provide greater control of project resources, focus on the business goals and manage project risk.  This helps project teams work efficiently and gives assurance to Clients.

For architecture and project management, PRINCE2 will prove invaluable to DesignBox for assisting the development of building projects, realising wider project and programme items, and tackling any innovation requirements.  We look forward to applying it to our next relevant projects.

The Human Bug Hotel

Furzedown Primary School's year 6 class (11 year olds) have been doing a series of Architecture workshops investigating

• structure and materials,  
• space, form and light, 
• scale and proportion,
• design narrative and story-line,
• response to a chosen site and its environment.

The workshops were carried out with a sequence of lessons following the methodology documented in our 'Architecture for Kids' post, which include a progress of design sessions developed around structure, drawing, making and building.

Designing spaces: 
Models representing individual spaces developed from
the children's design narratives and story-lines.

With the brief of creating a space (pavilion, shelter or den) one design that stood out was for a kid-sized human bug hotel.  This clever design played with scale and proportion, shrinking children down to the scale of a bug to experience life in a bug hotel.  It also was a very simple solution to a design proposal requiring only a few components to make it work.

Drawing in 3D is a skill. 
Here axonometric paper was used to recreate the designs in drawn format,
to understand how this drawing technique works,
and to develop the designs with annotations and details.

The bug hotel chambers were cut from plastic water barrels from Smiths of Forest Dean with the acrylic domed lenses from Project Plastics.  The class assisted with fabrication, cutting the barrels with a jigsaw and drilling holes for the fixing points which were make with bolts, washers and wing nuts.

One very simple and playful design to create a kid-sized bug hotel;
creating an environment where children can imagine what life might be like for
insects living in an environment of vegetation and greenery. 

Building the human bug hotel.
Measuring, cutting, drilling, bolting and assembling.

The assembly was placed next to a willow frame which had lots of foliage to dress around the chambers which made it look in place.  To add to the fun, the willow frame had a space inside where the children used to play.  The resultant human bug hotel gave a project where kids could engage in an insect-world, observing more bug-like kids in the play space habitat beyond.

Experimenting with the spaces of the human bug hotel.