Building-design pattern books that have been out of favor for decades are now finding a new digital life that is disrupting the global construction industry. Andrew Watts, CEO of building design engineers, Newtecnic, discusses the trend for digitalization.
In the past, construction pattern books that allow designers to develop and popularize building styles, were widely used to let clients see what they were buying. With easy to understand images, customers could request changes to layouts and finishes to get a ‘mass customized’ building to suit their needs.
The great advantage of pattern books was that the designs were tried and tested – known to work. There were no surprises, and each stakeholder understood exactly what the outcome would be. Mixing and matching details was simply achieved.
Pattern books fell out of favor especially with architects who saw them as un-creative and limiting their design options. Digitalization however has changed pattern books updating the concept and positively disrupting the processes of designing, engineering, constructing and maintaining 21st century buildings.
