The built environment sector knows how to innovate technically. Collaborating differently is harder and it may be the most important transition still ahead of us.
Together, but how?! is a research programme by Studio Possible Futures. We collect real-world examples of new ways of working and translate them into visual storytelling, tools, and training for professionals in the sector.
We are at an early stage and looking for partners, projects, and professionals who recognise this challenge. The first results will be presented at Dutch Design Week 2026.
Do you know a good example? Share a best practice.
What we do
Collecting Best Practices
Real projects and experiments where collaboration is already being done differently.
Visualizing Insights
Research findings translated into visual storytelling, workshops, and installations.
Developing Tools
Practical, creative sessions and tools to help professionals apply these insights in their own work.
The Challenge
The built environment sector has no shortage of technical innovation. New materials, methods, and technical solutions are emerging everywhere. The way we collaborate changes much more slowly.
Our roles, contracts, and procurement models were designed for a different era. Moving from transactional to relational ways of working, where trust and shared goals replace adversarial risk allocation, is one of the sector’s biggest unsolved challenges.
This raises urgent questions:
- How do clients and contractors build genuine partnerships?
- How do we share risk and responsibility more fairly?
- How do we meaningfully involve citizens and end users?
In other words: Together, but how?!
The research
We are collecting inspiring examples of collaboration, examining three levels:
Project Level
Collaborative project delivery between clients and contractors, including early contractor involvement and alliance models.
Supply Chain Level
Collaboration on materials, construction, and shaping coalitions.
Community Level
Collaboration between government, market, and society through participatory methods, co-development, and civic governance.
We translate these insights into actionable formats and tools for professionals in the sector. All shared openly and available for everyone to use.