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Agile Performance-based Building Massing Design Exploration and Optimization
Computational Design | Online Workshop | English | Asia-Pacific
Description:
Key Words: Building Massing,Design Optimization,Building Performance,EvoMass
Required Skills: basic knowledge of Rhino and 3D modeling, basic knowledge of building performance simulation and computational design optimization
Required Software: Rhino6-Grasshopper (version 6.15 or above), EvoMass, DIVA/Honeybee, ClimateStudio
Required Hardware: a WIN-OS computer
Maximum number of participating students: 20
Computational design optimization is increasingly popular in architectural design, particularly for performance-based and performance-driven design. By incorporating parametric models, building performance simulation, and optimization algorithms, computational design optimization can automatically evolve high-performing design solutions for architects. However, the technical requirement and the complexity in parametric modeling make computational design optimization is still demanding to apply in real-world design scenarios. In this regard, it is important to provide architects with an applicable and handy design tool that can be integrated into their routine design tasks.

With this background, this workshop introduces a new generative and evolutionary design tool built on Rhino-Grasshopper called EvoMass (food4rhino.com/node/2974). EvoMass is an integrated design toolkit encapsulating components for building massing design generation and optimization. Compared with other design optimization tools, EvoMass is able to generate and evolve building massing designs for a variety of performance objectives without requiring the users to conduct parametric modeling in advance. In addition, EvoMass can deliver informative optimization results that allow the user to extract architectural implications in relation to the given performance objective. Thus, instead of purely providing architects with concrete and specific solutions, EvoMass is aimed to provide design information, free designers from design fixation, and empower them to achieve a performance-aware and performance-informed design process.

In this workshop, the participants will learn the basic operation of EvoMass and experience how performance-based design optimization can be integrated into early-stage architectural design exploration and synthesis. Additionally, the participants will run a simple trial design optimization process and discuss the architectural implications revealed by the optimization result and how to synthesize this information into architectural ideation.
Schedule:
Jun 27 - Jul 1
  • Day 1 / Jun 27

    19:30 - 21:30 (GMT+8:00) Beijing,Shanghai

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    07:30 - 09:30 (EST)

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    13:30 - 15:30 (CET)

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    19:30 - 21:30 (China)

    1) Introduction and lecture on performance-based building massing design using computational design methods; 2) Technical tutorial part 1: building massing design generation
  • Day 2 / Jun 28

    19:30 - 21:30 (GMT+8:00) Beijing,Shanghai

    |

    07:30 - 09:30 (EST)

    |

    13:30 - 15:30 (CET)

    |

    19:30 - 21:30 (China)

    Technical tutorial part 2: performance-based design optimization and result analysis
  • Day 3 / Jun 29

    19:30 - 21:30 (GMT+8:00) Beijing,Shanghai

    |

    07:30 - 09:30 (EST)

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    13:30 - 15:30 (CET)

    |

    19:30 - 21:30 (China)

    Design push: analysis of optimization result, reformulate design problem, and re-iterate the optimization process
  • Day 4 / Jun 30

    19:30 - 21:30 (GMT+8:00) Beijing,Shanghai

    |

    07:30 - 09:30 (EST)

    |

    13:30 - 15:30 (CET)

    |

    19:30 - 21:30 (China)

    Design push: analysis of optimization result, reformulate design problem, and re-iterate the optimization process
  • Day 5 / Jul 1

    19:30 - 21:30 (GMT+8:00) Beijing,Shanghai

    |

    07:30 - 09:30 (EST)

    |

    13:30 - 15:30 (CET)

    |

    19:30 - 21:30 (China)

    Delivery and final presentation
Instructors:
  • Likai Wang Nanjing University,Postdoc
    Likai Wang is a Postdoc researcher at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning at Nanjing University, China. He is also the developer of EvoMass, which is a Rhino-Grasshopper plugin for building massing design generation and optimization. He received his Ph.D. degree and Master in Architecture at Nanjing University. Likai conducts research into optimization-based design exploration, parametric and evolutionary design, and performance-based design optimization at building and urban scale. In addition, he has experience in developing different customized tools or algorithms in Rhino-Grasshopper for solving various design or research problems. Apart from his research and development, he has participated in different real-world building design and urban design projects, which allows him to incorporate the practical needs of architectural design into his research.