Urban fit. Briefing is usually focused on the interior of the building because that is where most user activities take place. It is obvious, however, that a building also has an urban context to which it has to relate. Especially when the project concerns the construction of a new building, it will be important to look at the projects urban fit.A very basic question is whether the client is aiming for a building that is highly visible and stands out from its context (iconic), or a more of fabric building that blends modestly with its context. Another strategic consideration is the extent to which the project should contribute to its surroundings in terms of the provision of public spaces or services. Office buildings, for example, tend to be closed and introverted entities with little to offer their surroundings, but clients may also choose to build permeable buildings with public functions such as a coffee shop, an exhibition area or parking spaces that can be used by the local community outside office hours.A very practical consideration in relation to a buildings surroundings is logistics. Buildings attract different kinds of logistical flowspedestrians, cyclists, cars, delivery vans, garbage trucks. The brief should explain which of these flows are relevant and what the associated requirements are. What are the ways in which employees, visitors and goods arrive at and leave the building, and what is the consequent need for access, drop-off areas, loading areas and parking space? This last issue tends to be most difficult. Most projects need parking spaces for staff and visitors, but these are space-consuming and their numbers are likely to be governed by local zoning regulations.Other relevant requirements may concern the provision of outdoor spaces such as playgrounds, sporting facilities and landscaped areas. Requirements for these spaces may concern security (e.g. lighting levels in evenings and perimeter protection), sustainability (e.g. use of local vegetation) and the placement of outdoor furnishings (e.g. benches, flagpoles, signage). In the case of high-rise buildings, requirements should also address the microclimate around the building (e.g. avoiding undesirable shadow effects or wind gusts at street level).Strategic brief-Make a site assessment, looking at the plot, the neighbouring buildings, public spaces and infrastructure.-Determine whether the project should incorporate public areas or public functions.-Investigate local zoning constraints in terms of restrictions on height and volume, protected sightlines and car parking.Functional brief-Indicate which outdoor functions need to be realized on site (e.g. parking areas, bicycle paths, areas for waste disposal, kiss & ride drop-off points, smoking areas, etcetera). Technical brief-Consider requirements for outdoor inventory (seating, flagpoles and signage).-Formulate requirements for the safety and security of outdoor spaces (e.g. lighting levels and visual overview, need to establish a secure perimeter around the site).-Set requirements for the maintenance and sustainability of possible landscaping (e.g. use of local vegetation, water storage, creation of habitats for local animal species).