DP’s design ecosystem leverages on the power of ‘we’: the collective design experience and knowledge of DPians. This spirit of designFIRST crystallises into a foundational framework of four Ds – drivers, database, discourse and digitalisation.
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Through these drivers, we seek to build on our design expertise in breadth and depth, by developing specialisation in 11 key typologies, namely, residential, retail, healthcare, hospitality, education, office, transport and mobility, master planning, mixed-use developments, theme parks, and community and sports. These focus groups research and develop architectural design unique to the typology clusters, leveraging the wealth of DP’s experience and knowledge through the expanse of projects worldwide.
In parallel, the firm is actively developing various clusters of design expertise based on methods and materiality such as Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), as well as leads in geographical territories. In some cases, these core groups collaborate with external consultants and experts from research and higher-learning institutes to further enrich our design processes, system and products, to strengthen our thought leadership in these design sectors.
Our design database is chiefly categorised into two groups: typology and component.
The typology database is a shared-knowledge depository comprising evidence-based inputs from typology research groups within the firm. In each typology category, information such as design norms, templates, 3D libraries, precedents and benchmarks, specific codes and compliance, trend studies as well as unique requirements that influence design and planning are collected and organised.
The components database is a system-based depository which contains a collection of design standard details, components and intelligent object libraries and materials research. Our unique DP database, amassed over five decades of positive design solutions, ensures that the knowledge is well organised, categorised for effective transfer to various teams in DP. In this way, design processes can be streamlined, with past compliant and workable solutions as ready reference.
Platforms to showcase thought leadership and trade design expertise promote constructive discussions among teams. An example is designGATE — a weekly design critique session led by the firm’s directors for on-going projects.
This platform encourages a culture of open discussion and cross-team collaboration. During designGATE, the projects are assessed with a key design assessment tool, known as the Attributes of Purposeful Design (APD).
The APD wheel lays out a set of design values in four key design pillars: economics, environment, people-centricity and architecture. It is used at designGATE and review sessions to achieve greater consistency among teams. The APD also helps to encourage better collaboration among disciplines, i.e. the integration of sustainable design, landscape and engineering in the design process, to strengthen buildability and integrative environmental design. The APD can be used as an analytical design tool for evaluating trends and inclination of projects or typologies, as well as benchmarking and optional studies, allowing a more evidence-based design approach.
In keeping with the speed of change fuelled by the increased incidence of new technologies, it is essential for the design ecosystem to continually evolve by embracing innovation. Our designINTELLIGENCE initiative has been crucial in ensuring enhanced connectivity across regions and communities to power active participation of our One Global Studio in vital sharing sessions and discourse, regular design charrettes, moving towards developing virtual design studios to facilitate seamless collaboration with our overseas partners. Central to this initiative is the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM), with a greater advance towards the adoption of productive design methodology such as VDC.
Beyond enhancing operations, designINTELLIGENCE also aims to empower our designers by equipping them with essential skills to fully capitalise on technologies as vehicles for innovation, to facilitate greater cross-disciplinary integration and the development of cutting-edge design methodologies. These tools further contribute to the exploration into areas of new hybrid typologies, digital prototyping and advanced geometry, investigated through experimental projects such as the 2016 Archifest Pavilion, Rhizome House (Amsterdam Light Festival), Every Cask Smells of the Wine it Contains (Logroño’s Architecture and Design Festival) and Project Bus Stop.
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