A new study has found that architects often take shortcuts by copying previous designs, and by relying too much on others to handle complex tasks without double-checking. The recent Grenfell Tower Inquiry found that a similar approach was taken at the London tower block which tragically caught fire in 2017, resulting in 70 deaths.
Dr Diana Osmólska and Dr Alan Lewis from The University of Manchester have studied how architects make decisions – they have discovered that architects often rely on their instincts when deciding which information to use and how to solve design problems.
Unlike maths or science, where solutions are more straightforward, design problems depend on the architect’s understanding and ideas. The researchers used a theory from psychology to look at these decisions more closely.
Their findings show that architects can sometimes make mistakes without realising it, by using what worked in previous projects without checking if it is still the best approach. This shortcut is called “intuitive substitution.”
Instead of carefully analysing a new problem, architects may just reuse an old solution, which can be risky. For example, the Grenfell Tower Inquiry found an architect on that building had assumed that cladding panels used on other projects were suitable without checking them properly beforehand.
Another shortcut is “intuitive outsourcing”, which happens when architects rely on other professionals for information and don’t check it themselves. In the Grenfell Inquiry, it was found that architects trusted subcontractors to provide the right materials without verifying them. This kind of outsourcing can create a false sense of security, making architects feel they have all the needed information even when they don’t.
Dr Osmólska explains that these shortcuts can make architects overlook important details:
The researchers are now developing a new framework that will help architects assess their design choices more thoroughly. They plan to test this framework by working with architects to see how it can improve their decision-making in future.
