Introduction

Why is interdisciplinary design in the built environment important? After all, architects and engineers in Britain are renowned for their ability to deliver innovative and exciting buildings. Aren’t they already performing well? Such a perception tells only part of the story. While at its best the construction industry is recognized as excellent, govern-ment task forces on both urban design and construction have suggested the need for a step change in the way we design and deliver the built environment. With the support of several government initiatives to promote innovation, the whole construction sector is being expected to raise the quality of its products and the efficiency with which it delivers them. Design is central to the production of the built environment, and designers themselves are not immune to the need to embrace change. As much as every other part of the industry, designers need to review their business processes and identify what improvements are possible. This book is offered as a contribution to the debate. It suggests that interdisciplinary working is one of the most important improvements that the design professions need to address. It describes the experi-ences and achievements of leading design practitioners, together with pioneering educational initiatives, and reports the findings of several research projects into interdisciplinary design processes.