Building Flexibility Management

Abstract

A building may have three types of flexibility: a) service flexibility is important to the building's users, b) modifiability interests especially the owner, and 3) long-term adaptability is a key factor especially in the stratification of the urban structure and the cultural environment. A new indicator, the Flexibility Degree, was developed as part of this study to measure building modifiability. Clear phasing of the design process facilitates consideration of modifiability in the construction process. In the goal-setting phase the design team analyzes the client's expressed needs and commits together with representatives of the client to set flexibility goals. In the design solution phase the designers work out a solution proposal, a modifiability concept, which describes the principles of how flexibility is implemented in different parts and systems of a building. Only in the third phase, the implementation design phase, are detailed technical plans drawn for implementing the solutions.