Design the "Building in Construction" for the progress-users: a 4D perspective

Abstract

The implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is driving and enabling a paradigm shift in building design methods. Traditional architectural design process focuses on the design of “form, space and order” of the built environment, responding to the need and demand of the clients, the “end-users”. Under this professional paradigm, construction workers, the builders, are part of the construction machine to turn the design into reality. However, the “building in construction” is the working environment of builders, in which they spend most of their time in their everyday lives. They are “progress-users” of the building environment, a changing environment composed of building components, scaffolds, moving equipment and temporary facilities. They are performing various activities, which has a great impact on their physical and psychological health, and more importantly, their safety. If we add the time dimension into the building process, the concept of “user” needs to be extended and the dynamic environment needs to be taken into account at the stage of architectural design. This paper argues for an alternative perspective on the built environment and proposes a methodology for sustainable architectural design through the implementation of BIM.