DEVELOPMENT OF DESIGN BRIEF FOR

A SHOPPING COMPLEX
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA UITM

ICP 814: DESIGN PROCESS & CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Prepared for:

PM Sr. Dr. Hajjah Faridah Hj. Ismail

Prepared by:

Abdullah Muslim Bin Ahmad 20155

A Rasyid Bin Gani 2015749071
Syarifah Nabilah Binti Syed Abu Bakar 2015773789

Date Submitted
April 2016

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 DEFINITION
Traditionally, briefing was understood as a process of discrete steps where design
could not begin until the briefing stage was completed. Design of large buildings was
confronted with much volume of detailed technical requirements of the proposed
building. The information contained in the brief was seen as critical to the success of
the project. It was often implied as a single-stage process. As redefinition a brief,
which is a product of the briefing process is a formal document containing the written
instructions and requirements of a client for a building project. (Blythe & Worthington
2001)
The Design Brief is the full and completed statement of the Sponsoring Agencys
functional and operational requirements for a project. It defines all design
requirements for a project including performance standards and quality thresholds. It
is the foundation on which design will be developed and is the benchmark for
measuring future design development. It also includes a detailed outline of the
preferred option, supported with design studies where appropriate, and with reasons
for the choice. Starting point for the development of the Design Brief normally begins
after the Feasibility Study has been sign off. ( (Department of Finance Government
Buildings Upper Merrion Street Dublin 2, July 2009)

2.2 IMPORTANT OF DESIGN BRIEF

The success of a procurement process, in terms of both the services provided and
the final built outcome is directly related to the quality of the briefing documents
provided to the project team. The project brief is the document that starts the
dialogue between the Client and their project team, gives the direction and scope of
the project and forms the basis of the 'contract' between the Client and their
Professional Services Providers.
The design brief document provides the necessary information to describe the
rationale, purpose, goals, costs, risks, constraints and time and performance
requirements of a project. Design is the process by which information about a Clients
needs is translated into three-dimensional physical solutions: such as buildings,

roads, bridges, and so on. Design activities take place at all stages in the creation of
a facility. (Department of Finance Government Buildings Upper Merrion Street Dublin
2, July 2009)

A quality brief will improve project outcomes; reduce risk, cost overruns, time
delays and conflict for the Client.

It will also ensure that the price provided to

complete the services reflects the work required. The failure to provide a wellprepared and comprehensive brief is one of the core reasons projects experience
problems and delays.
The approval in principle is based upon the best information available at the
time and in the absence of facts for some issues, on certain assumptions. Once it is
given, the information and assumptions on which it is based must be examined,
disaggregated (if necessary) and assigned across the Sixteen Project Parameters
that are used to help refine in greater detail what constitutes the projects. Essentially,
the project parameters are broad categories under which information relating to the
project can be gathered.
Each of these parameter

is continually developed, enhanced, expanded,

amended and clarified throughout the project definition process, so that the final
output (and the input to the design process) is a Definitive Project Brief that is as
detailed, comprehensive, final and certain as possible. The Sixteen Parameter are
objectives,

purpose,

scope,

deliverables/desired

outcomes,

performance,

assumptions, governance and reporting, preferred option, known risks, value

management strategies, project execution plan, expected functional life, design
restrictions/ requirements, locations, budget and constraints. ( (Department of
Finance Government Buildings Upper Merrion Street Dublin 2, July 2009)

2.3 ELEMENT OF DESIGN BRIEF

The key issue when preparing a brief is to ensure that all relevant information is
provided in sufficient detail to enable the Professional Services Provider to
understand fully the Clients intentions, aspirations and constraints for a project.
A good brief will:
be easy to use
fully explain who the Client is and how the project will be managed
fully explain the Clients requirements for the project
fully explain the range and scope of services required on the project

 provide comprehensive information on the physical factors relevant to the

project
provide comprehensive information on the budget and time constraints
relevant to the project
allow accurate pricing
make evaluation of the tenders easier, on a more comparable basis and fair
minimize the likelihood of variations, cost over-runs and disputes
A good brief provides clarity to the project, with a better understanding of the
requirements by all parties.

This will allow the final design to reflect the actual

requirements. Research has shown that it is considerably easier and more cost
effective to allocate resources at the commencement of a project to address and
clarify the needs of the project than later within the procurement process.
A good brief results in:

more accurate and detailed pricing, with the result that less risk is priced into the
project

reduced opportunity for variations, which are usually priced at higher rates

reduced risk associated with time increases

( (Department of Finance Government Buildings Upper Merrion Street Dublin 2, July

2009)
2.4 DESIGN BRIEF CONSTRAINTS
At this stage constraints are fully identified and the necessary actions taken so that
they can be surmounted. Constraints are to be respected in devising the solution
under any of the following categories. Those that are mandatory are distinguished
from those that are a matter of preference:1. Financial
2. Technological
3. Legal/ regulatory
4. Environmental
5. Physical inputs and raw material
6. Availability of manpower and skills
7. Time
8. Administrative and managerial ability

9. Distributional, social, spatial and land use plan

10. Cooperation required from other interests and
11. General policy considerations
3.0

Developing A Design Brief for Shopping Complex

The critical success of a Design Brief depends on the quality of the contents such
on the ability to clearly describe the coherent design understanding from the planning
stages to the outcome of the product for shopping mall proposed development or any
particular development. The design brief should act as to define all design
requirements for a project including performance standards and quality thresholds. It
is the foundation on which design will be developed and is the benchmark for
measuring future design development. It is a factual record and a document of
importance where the brief should contain the followings:

Background of the project

Site Appraisal

Design Concept & Requirements

Design & Development Component

Budget

Programme and timeframe

3.1 Background of Design Brief

This section should provide an introduction to the project as in overall, who you
the clients and their project objective which would help the designers get a feel
for clients business and operational. Describe the project in as much detail as
you can or need to. How has the project been raised, what is it designed to do,
where does it fit with other initiatives within the business, does it have to work
with any of them? Detail the project objectives if available particularly with
respect to business impact and what the project needs to do for the business or
organization.
i.
ii.
iii.

A description of the client's brand, culture and organization.

A description of the client's vision, mission and objectives.
A description of the client's priorities and the criteria that will be

iv.
v.

used to measure success.

Organizational structure and decision-making processes.
Changes to the client that the project will bring about.

vi.
vii.

Interfaces with other projects.

Client policies that may be applicable to the project (for example;
transport policy, energy policy, natural

viii.

ventilation policy, sustainability policy).

Client preferences for the project (for example; image, use of local
materials, use of landscape etc) and quality expectations

ix.

(including health and safety, sustainability and design quality).

A description of the principles that will be adopted in the
development of the design.

Example: Clients Background, Objective, Philosophy, Companys Descriptions and of

CapitalMall Asia

3.2 Site Appraisal

An appraisals of the potential sites for a Shopping Mall development may be
carried out by consultants at early stage, where it might be inserted in the
Design Brief. They are also an opportunity for the consultant team to
familiarize themselves with the site and assess the detailed surveys that
might be necessary. Specific appraisals that might be made by
individual consultants include:

Architect:
1. Desktop study of site history.
2. Study of site context including access, boundaries, levels, landscape
(including possible ecological issues such as the presence
of japanese knotweed), transport and traffic and an assessment of
neighbouring properties and views.
3. Appraisal of possible hazardous substances such as asbestos and
other deleterious materials.
4. Photographic studies.
5. Assessment of the local planning authority's local development plan.
6. Climatic conditions.

Cost consultant:
1. Abnormal features that might impact on cost.

Structural engineer:

1. Desktop study of geological issues or contaminated land.

2. Cursory study of neighbouring or existing structures that might
require demolition or might otherwise be impacted by development.
3. Desktop study of foundation solutions adopted by adjacent
developments.

Services engineer:
1. Location and nature of underground site services.
2. Cursory investigation to establish 'cut off' for diversions of existing
services.
3. Statutory utility drawings for the site.

3.2 Design Concept, Strategies & Requirement

Shopping centers are one of the most dominating structures in the cities of
Malaysia. Considering the number, the body structure and the area of shopping
centers, the importance of sustainable approaches in shopping centers have
become more important in the country. Architects, planners and interior
architects have a great responsibility to help creating the receptiveness for the
emergence of a new kind of architecture, which easily translated in the Design
Brief.
Example: Conceptual Design Plan & Component of Shopping Mall Inside a Design
Brief

Example: Design Checklist

3.4 Detail Development Component / Building Component

(Architectural & Structural)
This section of the Design Brief is prepared in detailing the earlier schematic
conceptual design and requirement gathered from the earlier feasibility studies. In
this chapter, DB will detail up areas of spaces where the development enlarges the
scale of considerationgreater detail is developed for all aspects of the buildingthe
collaborative process continues with the architect in the role of facilitator for the
various contributors. Greater detail is achieved for all aspects of the building.
1. Area and Activities spaces
2. Structural strategy (columns and gridlines to be adopted, special loads, floor
to ceiling heights).
3. Servicing requirements, including specialist requirements.
4. Comfort conditions and level of user control.
5. Acoustic requirements.
6. Equipment requirements.
7. Specialist requirements for furniture, finishes, fixtures and fittings.
8. Information and communications technology (ICT) requirements.
9. Requirements for specialist processes and plant.
10. Fire compartments.
11. Maintenance and cleaning requirements.
12. Likelihood of future change (for example staff numbers) and flexibility
required.
13. Sustainability objectives and energy use targets.
14. Safety and security requirements.
15. Resilience to potential hazards or threats.
16. Waste and water management.
17. Pollution control.
18. Flexibility and future uses of areas.
19. Durability and lifespan.
20. Other performance requirements.
21. Benchmarking information.

Example: Plan, Detail Drawing & Design illustration of Shopping Mall

3.4 Budget
A budget is a statement of the amount of money that is available to spend over
a period of time, or on a specific thing, such as a building. It may include an
outline plan for how that money will be spent, and a breakdown of the items it
will be spent on.
Budgets help determine what is affordable and should be set as early as
possible. It is important that they are based on evidence and that they are
realistic.
A budget can be established by:

Assessment of projected income and expenses through the life of the

project.

Comparison with similar projects.

Assessment of the funds available.

Pre-design analysis of requirements.

Analysis of preliminary design options.

The budget is set by the client and is distinct from cost plans prepared by
a cost consultant , which are likely to focus on the construction cost.
3.4 Timeframe & Programme
This may be in the form of project planner by listing the timeframe with list of
dates that you need to hit. Programmes will often identify:

Dates and durations allocated to tasks.

A critical path (the sequence of critical tasks upon which the overall
duration of the programme is dependent).

Tasks which can only be carried out after other tasks have been
completed.

Tasks which can be carried out simultaneously.

'Float' within tasks that are not on the critical path (that is, delays that can
be incurred without affecting the critical path). Identifying float can be
helpful in highlighting where it may be possible to transfer resources to
tasks that are on the critical path.

The need for specific resources such as plant, services or materials and
their lead time.