Tag Archives: BIM

The Power of Building Information Modelling (BIM): A Comprehensive Guide for Developers and Homeowners

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Welcome to the future of architecture! At RISE Design Studio, a small contemporary design-led architecture firm focused on low energy and low embodied carbon designs, we have embraced the power of Building Information Modelling (BIM) in our practice. With over 20 years of experience, we have witnessed the transformative impact of BIM on the way buildings are designed, constructed, and managed. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the world of BIM, its benefits, and practical applications for architects, developers, and homeowners.

Architects reviewing a BIM model on a computer screen
The impact of using BIM on our projects has been transformative

Section 1: Understanding BIM

1.1 What is BIM?

Building Information Modelling (BIM) can be defined as the “use of a shared digital representation of a built asset to facilitate design, construction, and operation processes to form a reliable basis for decisions” (BS EN ISO 19650). BIM utilises digital parametric modeling to create comprehensive architectural design models and construction workflows. It is the present and future of architecture, revolutionizing the industry.

Using BIMx app on smartphones and tablets, giving Clients more control over decisions right the way through a project

1.2 The BIM Process in Architecture

The BIM process is all about creating a collaborative environment where all stakeholders can access and share a virtual model that contains detailed information about the building. Traditional methods involve numerous separate documents that are often lost or inaccessible. BIM eliminates these inefficiencies by providing a centralised digital model that ensures better visualisation, coordination, and development of designs. It streamlines communication and minimises errors, benefiting the entire project lifecycle.

Section 2: BIM in Architectural Practice

2.1 The Role of BIM in Architectural Services

As early adopters of BIM in the UK, we have experienced firsthand the advantages it offers in architectural services. Regardless of project scale, BIM’s 3D capabilities enable us to effectively communicate design concepts to clients and collaborators. We create digital representations of buildings that contain detailed information, from technical specifications to cost estimates, facilitating the development of construction projects. Our specialisation in using BIM for residential architecture allows us to collaborate with stakeholders, consultants, and authorities in a BIM environment.

2.2 Advantages of BIM for Developers

For property developers, BIM offers significant advantages beyond traditional architectural services. By demanding a higher level of information, developers gain better control over their projects. For example, by commissioning a point cloud laser scan survey, developers can obtain a detailed 3D digital model of the building. Through the BIM process, any changes made to the design are automatically reflected across all dimensions, ensuring consistency and reducing errors. BIM’s compatibility with the construction industry enables efficient coordination and seamless integration of project teams, resulting in cost and time savings.

2.3 Enhancing Design Communication for Homeowners

Homeowners can also benefit greatly from the implementation of BIM. Traditional floor plans and elevations often fail to convey the spatial experience of a design. However, by utilising BIM’s 3D modelling capabilities, architects can provide homeowners with a more immersive understanding of their projects. Tools like BIMx allow homeowners to explore 3D models on their phones or tablets, providing a sense of the space, flow, and atmosphere of their future homes. For those seeking an even more immersive experience, virtual reality models offer the sensation of walking through the building.

Everything is drawn in 3D when a project is drawn up in BIM, allowing for much greater understanding of the proposals prior to construction stage
Everything is drawn in 3D when a project is drawn up in BIM, allowing for much greater understanding of the proposals prior to construction stage

Section 3: BIM and the Building Lifecycle

3.1 Streamlining Construction and Building Control

The benefits of BIM extend beyond the planning phase, proving invaluable during construction and building control. By ensuring that all stakeholders use the same core information, BIM eliminates inconsistencies and reduces the risk of errors. The coordinated approach ensures that custom-manufactured elements, such as windows or kitchens, fit perfectly into the design, mitigating delays and additional costs. Furthermore, BIM proves indispensable for the post-construction phase, facilitating repairs, alterations, and maintenance by consolidating all relevant information in a single computer file.

3.2 BIM’s Role in Sustainable Design and Performance Monitoring

Sustainability is a key concern in modern architecture, and BIM can play a vital role in achieving environmentally conscious design and monitoring building performance. By integrating BIM with sustainable design strategies, architects can optimise energy efficiency, reduce waste, and minimise embodied carbon. Additionally, BIM enables the accumulation and sharing of data on building performance, allowing owners, architects, and local councils to make informed decisions for ongoing sustainability improvements.

Section 4: The Future of BIM

4.1 The Need for BIM in Planning Applications and Building Control

While BIM has become integral to the design and construction phases, its adoption in planning applications and building control processes is still limited. However, there is a growing consensus among architects and industry experts that BIM should be an essential component of these procedures. Integrating BIM visualisations and assessments into online planning platforms would improve coordination, reduce costs, enhance community involvement, and expedite decision-making. By incorporating building regulations into BIM effectively, architects and engineers can easily ensure compliance, resulting in faster and more efficient processes.

4.2 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing a Digital Future

Despite the potential benefits of integrating BIM into planning and building control, significant hurdles remain. These challenges encompass not only technological considerations but also the need for a cultural shift within planning departments and increased engagement with building performance. While the path towards a fully digitised planning system may be long, architects can lead the way by embracing BIM and leveraging its capabilities to design and construct buildings efficiently and sustainably.

By leveraging BIM's comprehensive digital models, architects can effectively communicate design concepts and collaborate with clients. Developers benefit from improved coordination and reduced errors throughout the construction process
By leveraging BIM’s comprehensive digital models, architects can effectively communicate design concepts and collaborate with clients. Developers benefit from improved coordination and reduced errors throughout the construction process

Conclusion

In conclusion, BIM has emerged as a transformative force in the field of architecture, offering architects, developers, and homeowners an array of advantages. By leveraging BIM’s comprehensive digital models, architects can effectively communicate design concepts and collaborate with clients. Developers benefit from improved coordination and reduced errors throughout the construction process. Homeowners gain a deeper understanding of their projects, making them active participants in the design process. Furthermore, BIM’s integration into planning applications and building control holds the promise of increased efficiency, sustainability, and transparency in the built environment. As architects with a strong commitment to low energy and low embodied carbon designs, we are proud to be at the forefront of the BIM revolution, utilising its power to create innovative, sustainable, and visually stunning buildings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Q1: What is the BIM process in architecture?

A1: The BIM process in architecture involves creating and coordinating information in a structured way using digital modelling. It allows for the sharing of a virtual model containing detailed information about a building among all project stakeholders, facilitating better visualisation, coordination, and development of the design.

With our expertise as BIM architects, we have a proven record of delivering projects using BIM. We can offer you the opportunity to explore a 3D model of your building on your phone or tablet through BIMx. This interactive model allows you to navigate and visualise the spaces from different angles. Additionally, if you desire a truly immersive experience of walking through your building, we can provide you with a virtual reality model. We strongly believe that the more you comprehend the design, the better equipped you’ll be to articulate your preferences, enabling us to fulfil your aspirations more efficiently.

Q2: What are the advantages of using BIM for developers?

A2: BIM offers several advantages for developers, including better control over projects, improved coordination among project teams, reduced errors, and time and cost savings. Through the BIM process, developers can ensure consistency across all dimensions of the design, resulting in efficient construction and streamlined project management.

Q3: How does BIM benefit homeowners?

A3: Homeowners can benefit from BIM by gaining a better understanding of their projects through immersive 3D visualisations. BIM allows homeowners to explore their designs in three dimensions, providing a realistic sense of space, flow, and atmosphere. This enhanced communication between homeowners and architects leads to a more collaborative design process and better outcomes.

Q4: Can BIM be used for sustainable design?

A4: Yes, BIM can play a significant role in sustainable design. By integrating BIM with sustainable design strategies, architects can optimise energy efficiency, reduce waste, and minimise embodied carbon. BIM also enables the collection and sharing of building performance data, allowing for ongoing monitoring and improvement of sustainability goals.

Q5: What is the future of BIM in planning applications and building control?

A5: The future of BIM in planning applications and building control holds great potential for improved efficiency, coordination, and transparency. Although challenges exist, such as technological integration and cultural shifts within planning departments, the benefits of incorporating BIM into these processes are undeniable. As the industry evolves, BIM is expected to become an integral part of the planning and building control systems, revolutionising the way buildings are designed, constructed, and managed.

If you would like to talk through your project with the team, please do get in touch at mail@risedesignstudio.co.uk or give us a call on 020 3290 1003

Contact us

RISE Design Studio Architects company reg no: 08129708 VAT no: GB158316403 © RISE Design Studio. Trading since 2011.

Virtual Reality in Architecture

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The 21st Century has seen innovations in technology like never before. From self-driving cars to Bluetooth and 3D printing to fibre optics, these rapid advances are impacting people’s lives and workplaces in a way that was not thought possible only a decade ago.

Virtual Reality (VR) joins that list, a fast-growing immersive technology pushing the boundaries of human experience.

Emerging in the 1970s and establishing itself through the entertainment and gaming industry in the late 1980s, its use is being adopted across education, healthcare, business, manufacturing, architecture, and design.

With the global market expected to grow to 12.19 billion USD by 2024, we examine virtual reality in architecture, the benefits it brings to architects and those in the design and construction cycle including clients and builders, and its future potential.

Showing our Clients their project in VR is a game-changer, as it allows them to walkthrough the proposals prior to being built.

Emergence of VR in architecture

We can trace the early adoption of VR applications for architecture back to the mid- 1980s as this was in line with early advancements in VR research and hardware.

It wasn’t until 2014 with the launch of Occulus Rift alongside improvements in accessibility and affordability such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) software advances like BIMx and cost-effective VR head-mounted displays like Google cardboard both of which we use here at RISE Design Studio, that it entered the architectural mainstream.

Up until this point the traditional methods of floor plans, 3D models and renderings were the ‘go to’ for communicating design ideas and concepts with clients. However, these presented pitfalls in conveying the true vision of the architect to the client, resulting in a lack of technical understanding, delayed feedback, frustration, and sometimes miscommunication.

VR’s ability to transport the user into an interactive 3D environment where they could explore a virtual representation of every room and floor of a building meant that architects could now immerse the client into the design at every stage, offering a true experience and deeper understanding from the beginning.

Arches House in West Hampstead, NW London
Arches House in West Hampstead, NW London

Why VR is the architectural client game-changer

Think about walking into a room of a newly designed building, experiencing the space, the natural flow of the interior, the scale of the rooms, opening doors and windows, now imagine doing that before building starts. This is what VR brings to the client journey, the ability to experience and understand a building before construction even begins.
From initial design mock-up to finalising finishing touches, the use of VR can occur at every stage of a project to help a client visualise the complete design. Thanks to its powerful immersive yet user-friendly capabilities it helps to build confidence in the scope and feel of the project, achieving buy-in and engagement early on.

It is this which offers real benefits to all involved throughout the process. The ability to convey what a building will feel and look like from the beginning allows everyone to understand the capabilities of a project.

This is invaluable when clients and sometimes contractors struggle to visualise the result and see how a design will work when viewing it through traditional design approaches.

Together this to-scale detailed representation helps to convince stakeholders of the integrity and value of the design, makes them more confident, allows for accurate and effective feedback and better use of time, and makes the entire process more efficient in cost terms and man hours.

Arches House in West Hampstead, NW London
Arches House in West Hampstead, NW London

VR the key to architectural collaboration

Many industries now use VR to collaborate when team members and clients are spread over remote locations.

In the field of architecture which involves a wide range of moving parts and individuals across many industries including the client, engineers, technical consultants, construction managers and specialist contractors, it is proving to be as effective.

VR collaborative tools such as Arkio and Trezi allow each individual with different perspectives and skills to experience the design seamlessly in a 3D environment, bringing the building to life no matter the location and losing nothing in translation.

They can engage in co-ordinated and in-depth discussion; mark-up designs or leave voice notes with feedback; meet within the virtual building to go through materials, designs for different floor spaces, or make real time changes such as the position of fire sprinklers and exits, the wall colour, lighting, and furniture.

BIMx is incredibly useful at RIBA Work Stage 4, of the planning, design and build process, the technical design stage prior to the project going out to tender for construction. It allows the architect to develop and refine the detail design more efficiently as all the components can be reviewed digitally in 3D and any troublesome areas, risks, or clashes with the mechanical and electrical services (supply pipes, waste, and ducting) as well as structure are identified and minimised.

Queries are addressed and resolved quickly with all relevant parties, either through the use of 3D stills or a video walkthrough, and the tender process is therefore much smoother.

Such effective collaboration and sense of presence between stakeholders from design through to build, negates wastage, costly design changes or planning issues, which can sometimes occur throughout a project.

It helps to identify, assess, and solve problems before construction begins saving all parties money as well as valuable time, and ensuring that the entire process is efficient, and everyone is satisfied.

Herbert Paradise in Kensal Rise, North West London
Herbert Paradise in Kensal Rise, North West London

Incorporating VR at RISE Design Studio

Early adopters of VR, here at RISE Design Studio we used ArchiCAD and VR via the BIMx app on smartphones on our recent Light House project in South London.

We are committed to a rigorous approach on all our projects and as discussed previously, the technology allowed us to work out fundamental technical and design elements in comprehensive detail prior to work starting on site, this included:

– the positioning of the Mechanical Ventilation Heat Recovery ducting routes
– the best position for the Solar PV and battery, and the cabling
– the positioning of drainage pipes from the bathrooms and the utility
– the Sun Shadow path for window openings

All of which meant we were able to design and deliver the result the clients envisioned as well as work collaboratively and with enhanced clarity with each of the specialist contractors.

As with all fast-moving technology, VR continues at pace opening opportunities for those working in architecture and design, as well as everyone involved in the life cycle of a building.

Its capabilities to transport not only the client but consultants, contractors, and engineers, into an immersive real-time environment means that it offers endless possibilities for how projects are created, communicated, managed, and delivered.
In an industry in which innovation and evolution are fundamental to creative growth, embracing such technology would appear now to be essential as opposed to a ‘nice to have.’

At RISE Design Studio, we have considerable experience utilising the most advanced software including BIMX Hyper Model to deliver high quality projects with improved visualisation, productivity, increased delivery speed and reduced costs.

Herbert Paradise in Kensal Rise, NW London. Showing the full width garden studio at the end of the rear garden
Herbert Paradise in Kensal Rise, NW London. Showing the full width garden studio at the end of the rear garden

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Virtual Reality (VR) in architecture?

Virtual Reality in architecture is the use of immersive technology to create a lifelike, three-dimensional representation of architectural designs. This allows architects, clients, and builders to explore and interact with a virtual building at every stage of the design and construction process.

2. How did VR become a tool in architecture?

VR began to be utilized in architecture around the mid-1980s, alongside advancements in VR research and hardware. It wasn’t until 2014, with the advent of more affordable VR technologies such as Occulus Rift, BIMx software, and Google cardboard, that VR entered the architectural mainstream.

3. What benefits does VR bring to architecture?

VR offers numerous benefits in architecture, such as improved communication of design ideas, enhanced client understanding, and early stakeholder engagement. It allows clients to experience a building even before construction begins, offering a deeper understanding of the project and fostering confidence in the design. VR also optimizes collaboration, time efficiency, and cost management throughout the design and construction process.

4. How does VR facilitate architectural collaboration?

VR serves as an effective tool for architectural collaboration, especially in projects where team members and clients are in different locations. Collaborative tools like Arkio and Trezi allow stakeholders to experience the design in a 3D environment, discuss designs in-depth, leave feedback, and make real-time changes, enhancing the overall efficiency of the project.

5. What’s the role of VR in the client journey within architectural projects?

VR significantly enhances the client journey in architectural projects. It allows clients to walk through a newly designed building, experiencing the space, scale, and layout even before construction begins. This immersive experience helps clients visualize the complete design, fosters early engagement, and builds confidence in the project.

6. How does VR improve communication in architecture?

VR allows for a more realistic and interactive representation of architectural designs, which can be a game-changer in terms of communication. Traditional methods such as floor plans and 3D models can sometimes fail to convey the architect’s vision completely. VR helps overcome this issue by providing a to-scale, detailed 3D environment that can be explored and interacted with, ensuring a more accurate understanding of the design.

7. What are the cost and time benefits of using VR in architecture?

Using VR in architecture can lead to significant cost and time savings. By allowing stakeholders to identify and resolve potential issues before construction begins, VR reduces the risk of costly design changes, planning issues, or wastage. It also helps to streamline the design and review process, making it more time-efficient.

8. How is VR used at RISE Design Studio?

At RISE Design Studio, VR is incorporated through ArchiCAD and the BIMx app on smartphones. This technology has been used on recent projects to work out fundamental technical and design elements in comprehensive detail prior to work starting on site.

9. Does VR have a future in architecture?

Absolutely. VR is an innovative technology that offers limitless possibilities for architectural creation, communication, management, and delivery. As it continues to evolve, it is expected to play an increasingly important role in architecture and construction.

10. How does VR contribute to the life cycle of a building?

VR plays a significant role throughout the life cycle of a building. From the initial design stages to the final construction, VR allows for immersive visualization, interactive collaboration, and effective problem-solving. By offering a realistic, 3D representation of the building at every stage, VR ensures that all involved have a clear understanding of the project, leading to a more efficient and successful construction process.

If you would like to talk through your project with the team, please do get in touch at mail@risedesignstudio.co.uk or give us a call on 020 3290 1003

Contact us

RISE Design Studio Architects company reg no: 08129708 VAT no: GB158316403 © RISE Design Studio. Trading since 2011.

What is Building Information Modelling (BIM)?

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Building Information Modelling (or ‘BIM’) is a way to create and mange information about a construction project throughtout the project’s lifecycle. The main output is the ‘Building Information Model’, a digital depiction of all aspects of the project. Not only is BIM innovative in the way it allows the building process to be optimised, it also offers a platform for collaboration between everyone involved in the project. In this short post, we write a bit more about BIM and why it is a useful tool for the modern architect.

Buidling Information Modelling architect west london

More than just a 3D image

BIM can mean different things to different people – it really depends on what you are using it for. However, it is generally understood that it is more than ‘just a piece of software’ that creates a 3D geometry of the structure. It also provides a series of co-ordinated processes that provide all of the information about the structure seen in the image.

In practice, this means that a BIM provides more than just a digital representation of the building, as it is made up of objects that are related: the building itself; the spaces that make up the building (rooms, hallways, etc.); the systems in the spaces (heating, plumbing, etc.); the products that make up the spaces (furniture, appliances, etc.); and the relationships between the objects.

Enabling collaboration

Another key function of BIM is that it can help a design and construction team communicate and work together well with one another, their client(s) and the public, to deliver real benefits. By building the digital design first, the team can be confident that all the elements fit together properly, avoiding unexpected difficulties in the actual build process. The digital design requires input from the architect, structural engineer, services engineer, etc., before handing over the information to the construction team.

Confident construction

There are also benefits for the construction team. When purchasing materials, detailed specifications can be extracted quickly from the model, and information about how materials should be installed/maintained can also be included.Rather than this information being kept in hard copy brochures, the model acts as a central database for all queries.

The model can also be handed over to the owner of the building so that it can be used for reference in the future (e.g. for refurbishment).

Managing risk

By understanding the project really well, any risks are significantly reduced. Today’s building projects can be very complicated – the more that everyone understands each other’s needs (e.g. design team, subcontractors, owners, etc.), the less risk there is. This also has positive effects on profitability and the level of customer service delivered to clients.