ZEMCH 2015 - International Conference Proceedings | Page 298

Function analysis
The function analysis was based on aspects observed during the site visit and the way of achieving the ZEMCH concepts adapted to the Brazilian reality. The Functional Analysis System Technique (FAST) creates a graphical representation to show the logical relationships between the
functions of a project, prod uct, process or service based on the questions “How” and “Why”. It
enables participants to think about the problem objectively, identify both the scope of the project, by showing the logical relationships between functions, and all the required functions and
verify if a proposed solution has achieved the design needs. It also enables the identification of
unnecessary, duplicated or missing functions.
The following questions should be approached for the creation of a FAST Diagram: “How can this
function be obtained?”, “Why have you adopted this function?” and “What other functions should
you adopt?” (Fig. 4).

Figure 4: Function Analysis.
The FAST Diagram was developed in two hours and according to aspects of social housing production observed by the students during the site visit, the ZEMCH concepts and some categories
of sustainable design from the CSH. An example of a FAST diagram, developed by group A, is
showed in Figure 5.

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ZEMCH 2015 | International Conference | Bari - Lecce, Italy