ABSTRACT
Architectural design is object-oriented and involves decision making on form, space and the organization of technical systems. It is also a process of decision making by all the involved parties including potential users throughout the entire life of the building. This chapter discusses the design process and Project Books of Baumschlager Eberle Architects (BEA), both of which are based on a classification of five social–spatial levels: urban public spaces; permanent (base) building structure/mechanical systems; façades; functional layouts; and interior fit-out per occupant. The five levels of BEA’s design process enlarge the social and functional capacity of buildings to accommodate multiple uses over time, including but not limited to residential occupancies.
