EXPERIMENTING PERFORMANCE BASED GENERATIVE DESIGN : INTEGRATING SUN SHADE DESIGN ON NON-STANDARD ARCHITECTURAL GEOMETRY

Abstract

In today’s age of digitalization, due to the power that computational tools possess, the practice of contemporary architecture has taken a new paradigm where computational tools are playing major roles in the design process, especially in the creation of non-standard geometries. Previously, as Peter Szalapaj noted, computational tools were used only for the production of drawings for either presentation or documentation. Architectural practice in this manner limits what these tools have to offer, and prevents the design process from taking architectural design to an elevated level in the area of form-making. It is likely that current practices in architecture will need to reinvent themselves by adopting a shift in the digital design process, when issues pertaining to sustainability and performance are being widely addressed. Can computational tools such as CAD [Computer Aided Design] software and simulation software become more intentional and active in their roles to evaluate performance in the area of contemporary architecture? And where complex geometries are involved, when is immediate feedback necessary for the generation of variations and optimization? This dissertation seeks to investigate the potential of Performance Based Generative Design in aiding the architect, create non-standard geometrical constructs. Performance Based Generative Design shall be tested through a design experiment using GRASSHOPPER as a plug-in of RHINOCEROS to bridge the domain of ECOTECT in order to create linkages that could offer instantaneous feedback to aid environmental non-standard architectural design. In the course of setting up this bridge, the vehicle in which this test will take place focuses on the integration of sun shading devices on non-standard architectural forms. The process will be documented to better understand the relationship of synthesis between RHINOCEROS and ECOTECT and its generated results, and the interactivity between the architect and the computer.