TRIZ to Solve Challenges for Designing Sustainable, Intelligent and Inclusive Buildings

Abstract

Concurrent Multi-Function Deployment method is used to study a multitude of criteria that give the performance of a building. Performance criteria such as costs, health and comfort of the inhabitants are weighted. They are in relation with target functions, such as sustainability, intelligence and inclusivity. TRIZ is included to solve several conflicts in relation with these target functions. An iterative process of combining target functions for solving conflicts is included. The methodology was tested for the case of a residential house. The beneficiary was questioned regarding his expectations on the building’s sustainability, smartness and inclusiveness. Beneficiary’s expectations are deployed into weighted engineering specifications. This information is relevant with respect to those specifications that are negatively correlated. With TRIZ, the generic directions of innovation have been identified. Following the iterative algorithm for combining target functions, generic directions of innovation have been converted by the architect into practical solutions, allowing the authors to demonstrate that such design of buildings is possible. The novelty of this paper is that it focuses on using CMFD and TRIZ on the entire design of a building, not just certain materials or parts of a building.