Towards More Rational Approaches in Architectural Design: the Use of Multi-Criteria Decision Methods

Abstract

Today, scientific approaches are far from being adequately exploited in these fields of design and physical planning. However, the structure of these disciplines requires the use of rational techniques particularly during the decision process. In the paper, the structure of decision problems encountered in physical planning is analyzed and the need for the use of rational methods is demonstrated. Available methods are compared and a multi-criteria technique is put forward as the most suitable method for architectural design. The proposed methodology is illustrated through the case of the design of patients’ floor in a hospital.