Super Integration: A cross-disciplinary approach towards design

R. Torsing, R. Kieft, A. Bhattacharya

ZJA, the Netherlands

Digitization signifies architectural opportunity driven by the rise of digital capabilities and competences, but it also means something more essential: an architect's longing for the agility, authority, and ability to predict and control the very nature of architectural design. Our practice has transformed significantly in the last decade. We have been exploring various tools that would inform an architectural outcome.

Architects today are expected to design and detail in a manner that uses fewer resources, while still innovating, adding value, and being sustainable. Deliverables must take less time and cost less money to produce, while not compromising on quality. Traditional linear thinking no longer works. We are moving towards an era of "Super-integration", which is marked by blurring of lines, disciplines, and roles brought about by interdisciplinary collaboration. Today, the architectural design has become a complex workflow in which geometric, spatial, and technical datasets are filtered through simulation, analysis, and optimization processes, with the aim to create integrated parametric models that can generate an array of outputs ranging from energy usage to production and management. Our design workflows are a means to increase efficiency, while focusing on exploring new design potentials, largely driven by parametric or associative modelling. This has enabled us to advance our office's philosophy of design and technology integration such that structure, material and production methods become the foundation of creative thinking.

ZJA, as a practice has always been keen in redefining the relationship of architecture to engineering and production. We have been advocates of cross-disciplinary collaborations to achieve outstanding levels of innovation Software interoperability among different disciplines continues to be one of the main causes of fragmented working environments.

Key words: Informed design, computational design, optimization, data, workflow, collaboration, fabrication, BIM, virtual, interoperability

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	Super Integration: A cross-disciplinary approach towards design R. Torsing, R. Kieft, A. Bhattacharya ZJA, the Netherlands Digitization signifies architectural opportunity driven by the rise of digital capabilities and competences, but it also means something more essential: an architect's longing for the agility, authority, and ability to predict and control the very nature of architectural design. Our practice has transformed significantly in the last decade. We have been exploring various tools that would inform an architectural outcome. Architects today are expected to design and detail in a manner that uses fewer resources, while still innovating, adding value, and being sustainable. Deliverables must take less time and cost less money to produce, while not compromising on quality. Traditional linear thinking no longer works. We are moving towards an era of "Super-integration", which is marked by blurring of lines, disciplines, and roles brought about by interdisciplinary collaboration. Today, the architectural design has become a complex workflow in which geometric, spatial, and technical datasets are filtered through simulation, analysis, and optimization processes, with the aim to create integrated parametric models that can generate an array of outputs ranging from energy usage to production and management. Our design workflows are a means to increase efficiency, while focusing on exploring new design potentials, largely driven by parametric or associative modelling. This has enabled us to advance our office's philosophy of design and technology integration such that structure, material and production methods become the foundation of creative thinking. ZJA, as a practice has always been keen in redefining the relationship of architecture to engineering and production. We have been advocates of cross-disciplinary collaborations to achieve outstanding levels of innovation Software interoperability among different disciplines continues to be one of the main causes of fragmented working environments. Key words: Informed design, computational design, optimization, data, workflow, collaboration, fabrication, BIM, virtual, interoperability