After an inspiring event at Carlton University, organized by Sheryl Boyle and with amazing speakers Cooper Lane from Brave, Steve Powney from ABB, Joshua Miller from Porsche Consulting, and Philippe Fleischmann from ETH, I can't help but wonder how the role of the architect will change as our industry undergoes industrialization and productization. If we want to take the housing crisis seriously, we can't keep designing individual buildings as if they were tailored suits or custom motorbikes (I believe Daniel Davis made that analogy once). We are on the brink of a transformative shift – from crafting one-off structures to designing customizable product families. 🤖 At Intelligent City, we've developed a groundbreaking product platform for mass timber urban housing. Our architects are no longer solely focused on designing and managing individual projects; they're designing a product family of buildings, with each project customized while based on a shared design logic. 🏗️ This evolution is not just about buildings; it's about reimagining how we shape our cities and communities. It's about sustainability, efficiency, and adaptability. It's about delivering innovative solutions that benefit everyone. But change is hard, especially in construction. 💡 So, as we venture into this exciting future, let's embrace the opportunity to redefine our profession, foster collaboration, and drive positive change. The future of architecture is a collaborative landscape, and I couldn't be more excited about the possibilities it holds. Let's continue the conversation. What are your thoughts on the evolving role of architects in today's world? 🌍 #Architecture #Innovation #UrbanDesign
There have always been three aspects of Architects: the artist centric, designing wow factor; the does it satisfy all the codes and production schedule, and the concerned about how long term living is going to happen in their buildings. I am glad to think the money is going to start facilitating more time to develop of the third.
OD thanks so much for your invaluable contribution to the discussion at Carleton and for the inspiration you projected to our students. Looking forward to the next steps as we enable our students to take leadership roles in this important transformation.
Yes, especially high-performance modularised homes like passivhaus-certified kit homes. Does the future have space for a Sears catalog 2.0?
Excellent. It is time to transition from project to product centric design and build.
This is a great read!
A good read Oliver David Krieg. Can’t agree more!
Head Project Acquisitions at CREE Buildings I PhD Mass Timber I ULI Austria
11moToday, architects face a unique challenge: figuring out how to incorporate manufacturing and production factors into their plans. This is especially important when working with mass timber materials, which differ from traditional concrete. If architects don't plan well for mass timber, it can significantly increase project costs. Companies like Intelligent City and CREE have developed systems that assist architects in considering manufacturing processes. They provide guidelines to expedite and simplify the planning process. This doesn't mean projects are less complex; it means they can achieve the best balance between quality, cost, and speed. I believe this is the right direction to scale effectively the realization of sustainable buildings.