Programming-a tool at the service of the curator, the commissioning authority and the architect 79

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Functions
Policies Object¡; Needs, , Correlation
~

I Project

Commis
authority

Planning
*Subject to acceptance -Execution-

Although the roles and responsibilities of each of the participants are clearly
defined from the outset of the operation, it is important that an effective network
of interrelations should be organized between them so as to facilitate a permanent
dialogue. It is this which makes possible the feedback essential for the successful
carrying out of the operation. Here the programmer plays the important role of
regulator.

Role of the programmer

The importance of the programmer’s role may be less evident in the case of a
small, simple museum than of a large, complex one, but it is none the less essential
in every case that he should be involved throughout the operation, i.e. that he
should participate fully in all the actions and tasks inherent in every phase of
the process. This means:
I n the feasibility phase: systematic analysis of general objectives formulated by
the curator; taking account of general and specific policies; taking account of
economic requirements and completion schedule; estimating the scope and
extent of the objectives.
In the research phase: survey of baseline data, constraints and requirements; sur-
vey of functions to be fulfilled; formulating needs corresponding to functions;
preparing files on baseline data, constraints and requirements; checking suit-
ability of site to needs; checking that needs are compatible with budgetary
resources and possible completion dates ; drawing up the programme document
and conveying it to the architect.
In the development phase: correlating the project and the programme; adjusting
the programme; preparing a user’s manual.
It is obvious that these various actions and tasks involve studies varying in
exhaustiveness according to the nature of the museum involved and the circum-
stances in which it is being built (Fig. 6). 6

Resources

General
policy and
objectives
0
Objectives

- Work

Objectives
Commissioning authority
---- -___--
-
 80 Claude Pecquet and Patrick O’Byrne

Programming studies

Programming studies proceed by successive stages, going always from the general
to the specific, i.e. progressively coming to grips with the key factors, without,
a priori, listing them in order of relative importance.
Studies undertaken in the ‘investigation’ and ‘formulation’ periods consist
essentially in working sessions, discussions and inquiries at a general level. They
make it possible: (a) to specify: a general policy, specific policies, general objec-
tives; (b) to define: activities and their objectives; (c) to determine: the nature
and relationship of the studies required, the programme of actions involved,
the scheduling of the studies, needs in terms of consultants, the overall budget
. - ceiling.
During the periods of ‘collection’ and ‘analysis’, studies are specially directed
to accumulating and processing detailed information decisive for the carrying
out of the programme. These studies make it possible: (a) to compile: a ‘base-
line data’ file, a ‘requirements’ file, a ‘constraints’ file; (b) to define: the func-
tions to be fulfilled.
Studies carried out in the ‘synthesis’ period involve various ways of combining
and cross-tabdating the information previously collected and analysed in order
to work out scenarios for the use of the site (and/or premises) and draw up
the pre-programme. These studies make it possible: (a) to ascertain: administra-
tive needs, architectural and techical needs, equipment needs ; (b) to deter-
mine: estimated overall costs.
O n the dual basis of the pre-programme and a selected scenario, studies carried
out in the ‘orientation’ period continue those that have gone before. They
make it possible to draw up: a rough plan of intent, the basic programme, an
estimate of admibaistrative costs, scheduled o v e r d costs.
7 During this period, the programming studies are sufficiently advanced for the

Phase 7. Feasibility Phase 2. Research

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O V E R A L L COSTS OVERALL

! Definition 1. I-P