When comparing construction’s journey to the evolution of other sectors, such as aerospace and automotive, we find clear examples of the progression that’s possible when shifting from a bespoke and artisan product, to a focus on standardised processes, mass production and mass customisation.
The MoJ was, for example, the pathfinder department for Government adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and lean construction.. Standardised solutions.A key aspect of PETP was to develop standardised solutions at a range of scales that could be deployed across multiple buildings and sites, from components and rooms to entire building types and continues through the new capacity programme(s).
There were many reasons for this approach:.Standard solutions allow for a greater level of design and refinement – if a solution is going to be used multiple times then the benefit of good design is multiplied and amplified.It afforded us a far greater level of stakeholder engagement and buy-in than we would typically achieve for a one-off design (see below).
This resulted in, for example, designs that were highly optimised in terms of layouts, space allocation, adjacencies and functional flows – which could then be deployed across the PETP programme and wider prison estate.It creates further efficiencies.
For example, the standard building types can be used across a range of sites.
For each, the site-specific design activities can be focused on the placement of the buildings relative to each other, arranging orientation to minimise overlooking and overheating (for both the comfort of prisoners and to reduce energy use), maximise views of landscape, and so on.A review of other models of incarceration and a comprehensive literature review relating to carceral geography.
Clearly, no prison design concept will inherently rehabilitate people.‘Buildings don’t heal people; people heal people.’ However, design choices can support positive social interactions and preclude or reduce negative interactions..
The design aspects that support this include:.Facilitating contact with family and society.