Understanding the Characteristics of Regional Building Construction Systems

Abstract

Background: Pandemics have increased the importance of understanding future building construction systems' regional characteristics due to the increasing number of country-specific industrial systems and the growing potential for international collaboration through video conferencing. Objective: This study aims to develop a method to objectively understand the characteristics of regional building construction systems. Methods: The “architecture concept” tool was used to develop the proposed idea and ensure objectivity. This concept focuses on the interdependence of the components to be created. However, considering that all construction projects are conducted under different conditions, a relative discussion between projects tends to exist. This study aims to transcend this relative discussion to achieve sophistication in the proposed approach. Therefore, this work focuses on a detailed view of the most complex construction parts standardized in each region. Results: As a case study, we examined the approaches adopted in the UK and Japan, i.e., in Europe and Asia, respectively. The proposed concept confirmed that the approaches adopted in the UK exhibited modular characteristics, whereas those in Japan had integral characteristics pertaining to the fundamental design concept of construction. Conclusion: This study developed a method for the utilization of the characteristics of each region by understanding the trends of the unique fundamental design concepts of building construction in the UK and Japan. Based on the results, the characteristics of many other regions in the construction industry can be understood.