Flexibility and costs in the design process: A decision support model

A decision support system was developed to increase flexibility and reduce costs in the design process of buildings. The most important terminology is presented as a set of building blocks to support the theory. Quality control is becoming increasingly more important in view of decreasing quantitative demands, increasing qualitative demands for differentiation in buildings, and shrinking financial means. Several terms related to the time dimension of buildings are discussed. Buildings are described in terms of systems (consisting of individual elements) and building oriented flexibility models. A financial economic calculating model for buildings is presented. The process model implements the flexibility model and the calculation method in a decision support system. Suggestions for further research are given.