PRiSM housing design automation configurator app by Bryden Wood

We are not software developers, but we do make software.  We don’t want our design automation technology to be used only by us – we want it to be available to as many people as possible. That means we build computational design apps that aren’t just for architects and engineers. We make construction technology that is available for use by people who would not usually engage directly in the design process – whether that is our clients, or the wider public.  We do this because we want to share the intelligence that we embed into our apps. 

Digital construction: engaging beyond the usual

Whether building for web, mobile or XR, our apps aren’t just about re-presenting fixed design content. They are about the user being able to create and control the content themselves, interacting, designing and having fun with transport, buildings and - even - robots.

We aim to make our digital design apps as exciting and as engaging as possible so that people will want to use them. 

The role of configuration in construction technology

There is a common thread that runs through the wide range of computational design apps that we build: configuration. 

We build configurator apps to give users the ability to configure a building in minutes – using pre-engineered components and according to pre-determined assembly rules – rather than design it in weeks or months. They allow users quickly and intelligently to develop designs that have different aspects of compliance built in – in terms of regulations, but also in terms of delivery, safety and ultimately quality. 

Configuration technologies allow clients to control standardisation across their projects. They also free up designers and architects to focus on the parts of the design process where they can be most useful and add most value. And because our computational design configurator apps encode logic and rules by which design systems work, they can allow many more users to participate and engage in parts of the design process that may otherwise be seen as too technical. The app takes care of that part of the process and allows the users to explore and be creative. 

BIM and beyond: from configuration to delivery

Of course, we want to take our designs beyond the configurator and integrate them into other aspects of the digital delivery process. From our design configuration apps you can automatically generate your detailed design models that go beyond industry standards – for both Building Information Modelling (BIM) and fabrication – in minutes. 

As an example, take a look at the latest release of our configurator web app for housing, PRiSM.

 

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