b'Construction briefingGijs Rikken, Associate Design Director at MVRDVGijs Rikken is Associate Design Director at MVRDV, one of the worlds most exciting architectural practices. Within MVRDV, Gijs has been responsible for large-scale, complex projects across the world.At MVRDV, how do you work with a brief? How do you see the future of briefing?Essentially, we take three steps. First, we analyseDigitalization will play a large role, I expect. it. We go through the entire brief to see whetherImmersive technologies may allow us to explore there are any ambiguities, uncertainties, ordifferent design options together with clients missing pieces of information. Then, we visualizein 3D environments. Similar technologies can it. We translate the clients data into schedules,be used to get an insight into the preferences flows, and chartswhich is a great way toand requirements of the various stakeholders make the data your own and to get an in-depthof a projecte.g. interest groups, local understanding of what the client is asking for. Andresidents, different kinds of end users. Increased then we confront the client with our findings. Weparticipation comes with a certain risk of more discuss the consequences of their requirementsbureaucracy and delays. But, investing extra with themin terms of design, but also in terms oftime in the early phases of a project can be budget, usability, and planningand establish acompensated in the construction phase as basis for further, collaborative development. construction activities can be sped up by applying smarter, more flexible, prefabricated, and What makes a good brief? modular construction elements.A good brief manages to find a balance between accuracy/completeness and design freedom.Any recommendations for construction Full design freedom may sound appealing to anclients?architect, but I dont think it leads to innovation.I recommend that clients seek more contact with In my experience, innovation comes from havingtheir design teams during the design process. to deal with particular constraints, targets orSo, not just those formal meetings at the start ambitions that push your creativity. Havingand end of a design phase, but also intermediate said that, it is just as true that having too manycontact moments. This would give clients more constraints stifles creativity and leads to generic,possibilities to steer the design process. And standardized solutions. So, it is all about balance.with the term steering I do not mean controlling or dominating the process, but to be actively Do you have any examples of good briefsengaged in itexploring concepts together with from practice, or bad ones? the design team and giving new, innovative ideas a I am not at liberty to share any concrete examples,maximum chance of succeeding.but generally our clients create pretty good briefs, although I do recall a brief for a theatre project that was so extensive, and so detailed, that it was like a maze in which you could get lost.183'