Integrated design is a collaborative method for designing buildings which emphasizes the development of a holistic design. (In philosophy, any doctrine that emphasizes the priority of a whole over its parts is holism.)

Conventional building design usually involves following a path from owner to design professional to builder to occupant. This path doesn't always invite all affected parties into the planning process, and therefore does not take into account their needs, areas of expertise or insights. In some cases, using the conventional method, incompatible elements of the design are not discovered until late in the process when it is expensive to make changes. In contrast, the integrated design process requires multidisciplinary collaboration, including key stakeholders and design professionals, from conception to completion. Decision-making protocols and complementary design principles must be established early in the process in order to satisfy the goals of multiple stakeholders while achieving the overall project objectives.

In addition to extensive collaboration, integrated design involves a “whole building design” approach. A building is viewed as an interdependent system, as opposed to an accumulation of its separate components (site, structure, systems and use). The goal of looking at all the systems together is to make sure they work in harmony rather than against each other.

With current technologies, every object and connection detail are virtually built and keynoted on a single working model. Consequently, this working model generates accurate drawings from conception to completion, creates stunning presentation material for every phase and develops accurate takeoffs.

Welcome to the future of INTEGRATED HOME DESIGN.