* - Bryden Wood's female architects make up 54% of the architectural team, which is significantly higher than the Architects' Journal stats for AJ100 practices in 2019, which states the average to be 34%.
http://bit.ly/BWNewsUpdatesAt Bryden Wood, we strive to create exceptional design solutions that deliver better value for clients and a better built environment for society.Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) has long been part of our philosophy and it is exciting to see an increasing focus on DfMA in the construction industry around the world.
My recent article.“Construction Platforms for Asia: Thoughts on the DfMA Journey in Asia-Pacific”.discussed some recent developments in my region but the interest in using DfMA on construction projects to drive benefits related to cost and programme, quality, productivity, health and safety and sustainability is growing worldwide.. As DfMA grows from a niche topic into a mainstream conversation in the construction industry, more and more government and private sector stakeholders are getting involved developing strategies and finding opportunities.
However, there is a fundamental challenge hindering newcomers to DfMA and MMC – understanding what these terms actually mean.. Confusion is a barrier to change: talking about Modern Methods of Construction.The DfMA landscape is littered with acronyms, abbreviations and terminology that is often poorly defined and even more poorly understood.
Terms such as DfMA, MMC, Offsite construction, Prefab, PPVC, MiC and many more are often used interchangeably resulting in great confusion not only for newcomers but also established players in the industry..
I believe the lack of clarity around nomenclature in the DfMA landscape has become a major barrier to change.The planning process in the UK touches all of our lives.
It is integral to the way in which the built environment develops around us; affecting where we live, where we work, where we eat, shop and play, how we walk, cycle and drive, how we produce, manufacture, generate, store, dispose and recycle.And yet the system we use has not changed since the 1940s.
It is arcane, complex, fragmented and hard to access and navigate – especially for the public who are, ultimately, its most important stakeholder.It has not even adopted technology that is virtually standard in other areas.. As such, planning is an excellent example of a process ready for digitisation.