Slimbouwen®: A strategy for innovation

Slimbouwen® (SLIM in Dutch stands for both smart and lean, BOUWEN is the Dutch word for 'to build') starts from the appointment that the traditional way of building does not fit the today's requirements anymore. Building does substantially affect the environment in many ways and the building process became quite complex. In the last century step by step services were added to the already known building structure, without re-evaluating the building tradition. Slimbouwen® is based on a skeleton structure and the separation of services from the building structure. A crucial development for this approach is a floor system which enables the installers to mount their prepared and prefabricated services as a whole. The separation of services facilitates a simplification of the process and a substantial gain of time. Slimbouwen® is a new approach and source for research in the frame of the chair 'product development' at the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven.