Computational Design Analysis of Height Scenarios in Residential High-rise under BENG 2020

Abstract

In the Netherlands, the building sector accounts for more than one third of the total primary energy consumption. In response, new regulations, BENG 2020, are implemented and applied to all new constructions as of the 1st of July 2020. Regarding the high-rise typology that is known for its extensive energy consumption, those regulations present a constraint to its height increment. Despite being a potential solution to the shortage in the housing sector, residential apartment high-rises still make up for a minimal part of the country’s skyline. The aim of this research is to investigate whether the regulations turn into a limitation to the target height despite the implementation of optimal design solutions. The performance of a building is an outcome of the environmental conditions, the context, the early stage and the facade design. Under the large number of possible combinations, and being interrelated, the impact of different design scenarios of a residential high-rise in the temperate climate are evaluated regarding the energy performance, the energy loads and the user’s thermal comfort. With a computational methodology of work using parametric modeling in Grasshopper, energy simulation in plug-ins and modeFRONTIER platform, the setting of an integrated work ow provides the tool for the exploration and optimization of the parameters. Based on the near-optimal final design, a gradual height increment is performed on the residential high-rise that is marked by limitations at two different levels under both of the primary fossil usage BENG 2 with 49.25 kWh/m2 and the energy generation BENG 3 with 40.2%. To serve the high-rise typology in achieving the target height of 160 meters, amendments to those regulations are proposed according to the building’s volume, envelope surface and height. Based on the optimization results, additional design guidelines are provided to serve architects in achieving a closer ranking to the BENG indicators for residential high-rises.