ABSTRACT
Considering the long life span of buildings, it may be assumed that the usage will change as time progresses. Different usages require different spatial and material properties of a building. Therefore, buildings need a certain degree of flexibility. This paper describes a model of a building which makes it possible to specify the flexibility of buildings in relation to their life-cycle costs. The model can be used as a design decision support tool to assist in making decisions about flexibility and life-cycle costs in the different stages of design processes for new buildings and also in making decisions about the rehabilitation of buildings. The model supports decisions about the number and kinds of building components, their connections, and their life spans. A case-study is used to demonstrate the possibilities for practical implementation.
