The word multidisciplinary can be defined as consisting of or involving several disciplines. In the world of Ollech+Tol, professionals are encouraged to look beyond their specific expertise in order to produce work that is holistic, creative and meets more of their client’s needs than they could have done if involved in one discipline alone.
professionals are encouraged to look beyond their specific expertise in order to produce work that is holistic, creative and meets more of their client’s needs than they could have done if involved in one discipline alone.
Advantages of a multi-disciplinary perspective
A multidisciplinary perspective on design challenges can lead to new ways of thinking. It allows architects and designers to approach problems from unexpected angles that lead to unique solutions. Architects, urban planners, landscapers, environmentalists, construction experts and other professionals are brought together early in projects for integrated design strategies that result in better design outcomes. Every architectural project is complex and requires multi-level strategies for success and that’s why an integrated, multidisciplinary approach across sectors and scales has the potential to deliver better outcomes.
The challenges of a multi disciplinary design firm
Integrating different areas like art, architecture, landscaping, engineering, project management and others into one process is not easy at all. Different disciplines tend to view the world from different angles and give prioritization to different criteria. For example, an architect may prioritize design and creativity while a project manager may lean towards budget control and construction feasibility.
Integrating opposing views
Architects and designers go through intense education and internship periods, establishing strong and established world views. When collaborating with colleagues who possess a conflicting perspective due to another area of expertise, tensions may arise; When dealing with these, we understand that integrating opposing views takes effort, time and mutual respect. We consider each viewpoint equally, understanding that viewing an issue from different sides will help us make better decisions when deciding what makes something truly great.
Towards a holistic architecture
Understanding how architects, design and construction professionals from different disciplines can work together in a holistic, integrated architectural firm can be rewarding. When striving to capitalize on strengths as well as finding meaningful points of intersection, architects and their colleagues from different disciplines may find that the views they once thought to be conflicting are in fact, very complimentary.