Building regulation codes and potential constraints on creativity

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether TEK10 has an effect on creativity in the engineering design. This thesis also targets to determine which among the six strategies; blackboxing, removing, revision, introduction, abstraction and crucial constraints is the most used in a handling a constraint in engineering design when implementing building code 2010. Sources and constraints to creative thinking between building regulation code (TEK10) are critically analysed in the thesis. The study was carried out in Norway, Oslo. A sample size of 10 respondents from Oslo participated in this study. 5 of the respondents were consulting engineers while 5 were architects. The study also involved 10 more respondents from distant cities. This was done in order to ascertain whether the same results would be obtained. The main data techniques used in this research study were semi-structured interviews, and secondary sources from previous researchers. Personal interviews constituted one of the most important and valuable sources of information. The interviewees were selected on the basis of their closeness to the topics of the study project and their levels of experience in the building project. The data collected was analyzed critically and the different views of the respondents were taken into consideration. The constraints in the building industry are discussed in details. The discussion part of the thesis discusses the findings and the different theories that are employed often times. The research found out that TEK10 limits the creativity of the architects, but has no effect on the creativity of the consulting engineers. This has been attributed to the nature of the work performed by these two parties. The consulting engineers are expected to countercheck the standards of designs that the architects have drawn. The drawing of the new designs requires creativity and innovation, which is limited by TEK10. The thesis concludes that, the blackboxing strategy was the most preferred by the architects and the consulting engineers. In addition to this strategy, the thesis also concludes that the architects mostly solve their constraints using removing strategy while the consultant engineers use revision strategy. The recommendations and limitations of the discussed theory are also discussed. The thesis concludes with a reflection of the written theory.

The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether TEK10 has an effect on creativity in the engineering design. This thesis also targets to determine which among the six strategies; blackboxing, removing, revision, introduction, abstraction and crucial constraints is the most used in a handling a constraint in engineering design when implementing building code 2010. Sources and constraints to creative thinking between building regulation code (TEK10) are critically analysed in the thesis. The study was carried out in Norway, Oslo. A sample size of 10 respondents from Oslo participated in this study. 5 of the respondents were consulting engineers while 5 were architects. The study also involved 10 more respondents from distant cities. This was done in order to ascertain whether the same results would be obtained. The main data techniques used in this research study were semi-structured interviews, and secondary sources from previous researchers. Personal interviews constituted one of the most important and valuable sources of information. The interviewees were selected on the basis of their closeness to the topics of the study project and their levels of experience in the building project. The data collected was analyzed critically and the different views of the respondents were taken into consideration. The constraints in the building industry are discussed in details. The discussion part of the thesis discusses the findings and the different theories that are employed often times. The research found out that TEK10 limits the creativity of the architects, but has no effect on the creativity of the consulting engineers. This has been attributed to the nature of the work performed by these two parties. The consulting engineers are expected to countercheck the standards of designs that the architects have drawn. The drawing of the new designs requires creativity and innovation, which is limited by TEK10. The thesis concludes that, the blackboxing strategy was the most preferred by the architects and the consulting engineers. In addition to this strategy, the thesis also concludes that the architects mostly solve their constraints using removing strategy while the consultant engineers use revision strategy. The recommendations and limitations of the discussed theory are also discussed. The thesis concludes with a reflection of the written theory.