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Briefs

The lectures available are listed below. A Microsoft PowerPoint presentation, including all notes, and a printer-friendly PDF version, can also be downloaded.

Briefs: an introduction

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Despite their critical importance to the successful realisation of a construction project, the preparation and use of briefs are not taught to any great extent at UK universities. A course at the University of York’s former Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies has long been scrapped.

Of interest is the Design Brief Management Targeted Briefing Method, from Building Use Studies and William Bordass Associates.

References

Barrett, P. & C. Stanley (1999) Better construction briefing, Blackwell Science.

Blyth, A. & J. Worthington (2001) Managing the brief for better design, Spon Press.

Construction Industry Board (1997) Briefing the team, Thomas Telford Publishing.

Hyams, D. (2001)  Construction companion: briefing, RIBA Publications.

Institute of Housing & Royal Institute of British Architects (1983) Housing design brief, IH/RIBA. [one in a series]

ISO 9699:1994 Performance standards in building – Checklist for briefing – contents of brief for building design.

O’Reilly, J.J.N. (1987)  Better briefing means better buildings, BRE. [the basis of ISO 9699]

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