Perceiving space from multiple perspectives for buildings using BIM

The way that space is being perceived during the building design stage affects the way it is delivered. This becomes more complex when considering not only the geometric view of space, but also the building as a whole with all its uses. It is recognised that different users have different needs particularly as regards their use of space. It is proposed that building information modelling (BIM) can accommodate different perspectives on space held by the building design team, facility management team and building occupants. This paper investigates various views on the way that space is perceived from different perspectives. Data have been attained from a university building under construction in the United Kingdom using interviews with the building design team, and questionnaires with the facility management team and building occupants. The collected data demonstrate the complexity of space including the effect of 2D and 3D views on perceptions. The paper concludes with highlighting these different perspectives emphasizing the need for collaboration. Further work is needed to explore different space algorithms, which can accommodate these different perspectives in the BIM model. The paper provides an initial basis towards understanding the problematic nature of space from a holistic approach and its implications of the way it is being perceived.