Contradictions of Designing with Building Information Modelling - A Case Study with an Activity Theory Perspective

Building information modelling (BIM) offers a great potential for increasing efficiency in the building industry. However, this potential remains largely unfulfilled; substantiating the need for a sound understanding of the existing practices involved in the building design process, to implement BIM efficiently. The aim of this article is to discuss the unfolding activity of a building design process and the role of BIM as a mediating tool. A case study was carried out to investigate contradictions related to the use of BIM in an inter-organizational design process of a naval rescue station in Denmark. Aspects of the design activity and the development of practices during the project were explored through the lens of Activity Theory. We were able to examine how BIM-mediated the production of the building design, how BIM use evolved. The article presents and discusses four main contradictions identified through the analysis of the case study. We found that even though BIM promises increasing productivity, it was challenging to apply in current inter-organizational practices of developing building design. Despite its intentions, the chosen implementation of BIM did not necessarily result in a simplification and optimisation of the design process. This article contributes to the body of knowledge that seeks better understanding of the usage of BIM and Information Systems (IS) in the construction industry, to improve both development and implementation in the future.