Multi-functional design

The ‘Multifunctional design’ principle stimulates the search for multiple functions and a maximum combination of functions that can best be served by the design. The crux is to surprise stakeholders with an extra function and therefore extra added social value through a relatively small design modification.

The ‘Multifunctional design’ principle encourages engineers to consider adding functions to the design. Important questions here include: ‘How do I optimise the use of space?’ and ‘How many functions can I use side by side and how do they reinforce each other?’. It is also important to make the best possible use of existing values in an area, such as cultural-historical, landscape, recreational, social and natural values.