Beyond BIM. Next-generation building information modeling, to support form, function, and use of buildings

This paper argues that current building modeling tools, including popular BIM (Building Information Models) systems, provide a poor, inadequate representation of buildings: , because they represent only its physical and material characteristics. But buildings, unlike other products, cannot be understood independently of their intended use and of their intended users. Roughly speaking, a building cannot be understood without knowing how and by whom it will be used, but current building models are not able to represent such information. This paper describes research aimed at developing a more comprehensive building modeling method, which includes form, function, and use(er) information. Such a model will allow designers, and their clients, to make more informed decisions about the product they are designing, and its potential impacts on the people who will use it. The significance of this approach lies in the centrality of the ‘model’ as it applies to the design of buildings. A better building model will allow designers to visualize their product as it will be used, not only how it will look, much like designers of other consumer products can. This will eliminate function-related errors, potentially improving, even saving the lives of the buildings' inhabitants. In an era when the irrevocable impact of the built environment on the cost, quality, and perhaps even possibility of life on earth has been recognized, the need to make every effort to improve the tools used by building designers is self-evident.