Ventana software support forum

Posted: **Tue Nov 28, 2000 2:47 pm**

While I have no formal education in architecture (buildings) and
construction, architecture is one of my non-professional interests and
passions. Perhaps one reason behind my passion for both architecture and
SD/ST is that they both are part science, part art. They both seem to
combine engineering precision and analysis with creative design, attention
to detail, and the opportunity to do something new while remaining faithful
to authentic/historic traditions.

I’m querying the SD/ST community through this channel to see if anyone has
any thoughts on how one could potentially exploit SD/ST
expertise within the context of architecture, or architectural consulting.
With respect to the construction industry, SD/ST and supply chain design and
management seem like a natural fit. I’m having
more difficulty, however, seeing the connection between architecture and
SD/ST.

From: "river side" <riverside226@hotmail.com>

Posted: **Wed Nov 29, 2000 10:29 am**

Riverside asks about system dynamcis and architecture.

Im out of my depth here, but ...

If you havent read Christophe Alexander, you might find his books
intriguing. __The Timeless Way of Building__ and __A Pattern Language:
Towns, Buildings and Construction__ are wondeful. Alexander, oddly enough,
has had a huge impact on software development with his idea of patterns.
But, I feel that somehow he connects even more directly with system
dynamics.

Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk are architects and town planners
who have a lot in common with Alexander and are known for producing town
designs that work. They designed SeaSide in Florida and have been very
influenctial in the new design of Providence and Palm Beach. They also
have a couple of books out, and some wonderful tapes. At one time they were
intrigued by system dynamics, and I feel that their work somehow relates to
what we do. As an aside, they invented "the Charette" which is a kind of
intense several-day-long meeting that results in the design of, say, a town.
Rachel Gaffney and Bill Lennertz adapted the Charette to business problems
and have combined it with system dynamics.

Regards,
Jim Hines
jhines@mit.edu

Posted: **Wed Nov 29, 2000 11:37 am**

If one chooses, they may use SD to define the requirements of an
architectural design. The requirements may address specific building use,
construction costs, costs of ownership. These may be looked at from an
internal view - the building with respect to its owner/operator and from an
external view - the value in brings to the community.

Building use may be looked at from the work processes that it will support.
Part of this support is the infrastructure load - how it will use light,
heat, water, communications, etc.

The basis of a building requirement is typically how it will be used. This
implies that the work processes need to be defined. Such an analyses are
richly addressed in SD.

Ray

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