Manufacturing and assembly processes can be carried out in off-site or near-site factories and consolidation centres and also within the site itself.. DfMA means the designer needs to consider the construction methods that will be used from early in a project.

The tool is also integrated into the Brick Link marketplace, so once a design is complete (and even as it is being developed) the price is constantly displayed, parts can be interrogated, and the bricks can be ordered direct from the marketplace.. What can we learn?.The marketplace hosts its own configurator, making it possible to see how the price changes as design decisions are made, and then to procure the exact components needed.

This capability would be enormously powerful for Platforms, helping clients and designers see the effect of decisions in real time, in terms of cost but also potentially carbon, social and other value criteria..The configurator is a piece of software developed to leverage standard components made by the original manufacturer; for construction Platforms it is entirely possible that a range of configurators will be needed, albeit built on some common, open protocols and using common components.Repeat clients may want to create their own configurators linked to their internal business processes, for instance, but the ‘Spatial Analysis’ work could help create a common ‘operating system’ for construction.

Brick Link hosts thousands of third parties from which one can select by region, rating, price etc.In a Platform context this would mean selecting the most local supplier, or one that best aligns to your choice of value driver.

It’s a community; as well as a transactional marketplace, people can also share ideas and designs.

As we move forwards, this will be vital to transforming construction; creating a community or ‘movement’ and sharing best practice will benefit us all.. IKEA enhancement.This is in contrast to a UK Part L1a compliant building, which in order to become net zero would require a PV array larger than the area available on its roof.

The difficulty in installing adequate PV on multi residential developments will be even greater.The only immediate pathway for these dwellings to become net zero is to invest in either a zero carbon PPA or carbon offset scheme, both of which come with significant increases in the cost of purchased electricity..

Embodied carbon in sustainable building design.On one hand, a Passivhaus building will need triple glazing, additional insulation and airtight membranes.