A method for integrated and sustainable design: Five design stages

Multifunctional flood defenses combine several functions into a single system. Therefore, several disciplines need to be combined to design such complex systems. An “integrated design” is a collaborative method that combines several disciplines for designing systems or structures, emphasizing a ‘holistic’ approach. Holism is the concept of considering systems and their properties as wholes, not just a collection of parts. The functioning of the entire system cannot be fully understood solely in terms of their component parts. A holistic, integrated approach is believed to be more cost-effective and sustainable.