Houscaper: Developing a tool for easy access of architectural polygonization using the Boolean Marching Cubes Algorithm

The demand for lower construction costs comes at the price of duplicating architectural designs. As a result, the misperception that modular architecture is repetitive prevails. However, the developments in computational design and MMC (modern methods of construction) can suggest a standardized manufacturing approach to provide mass...

Topological Stereotomic Design of System of Interlocking Stackable Modular Blocks for Constructing Multi-Storey Masonry Buildings

With the advent of Computer-Aided Design, the design and fabrication of complex free-form shells have become easier to achieve. However, this results in extensive usage of custom-made formworks for the production of shell components and falseworks which provide support for the shell during the construction process. Therefore, a modular design...

A Participatory Design Game for Social Housing Configuration in the Context of Manaus, in Brazil

The emic structure of space heavily depends on the social, cultural, and economic context (Hillier, 1989). Yet, many social housing projects disregard this crucial aspect by standardizing the configuration of space (Sanoff, 2000). To be able to avoid the standardization of configuration and benefit from the cost-efficiency of mass production ...

Measuring Daylight: the New European Standard and the effect on Green Building Certificates: A study about the effect of EN-17037 on green certificates

In 2018, a new standard was released for daylight in buildings: EN 17037. This is the first standard for daylight in buildings for Europe. In the Netherlands it will replace the NEN 2057. The determination method for daylight provision for EN 17037 is based on internal illuminance. Additional ambitions for the design quality factors: view,...

Generating building envelopes using multi-objective optimization techniques

This thesis concerns the application of different multi-objective optimization (MOO) methods and strategies for finding the optimal envelope for a given building plot and lighting performance indicators. More specifically, the PV potential and daylighting potential of the building are maximized using different optimization solvers. Auxilliary...

Opto-Geometric Modelling of Complex Urban Landscapes

The injection of renewable energy into the grid requires meticulous planning and execution due to the unpredictable nature of weather and in-turn the energy generated by these sources. Moreover, the inclusion of grid-independent energy generators requires accurate tools to predict energy yield in order to simplify matters such as grid-congestion...

GEN:ARCH: Platform for developing Architectural Configurations using Generative design Methodologies

The Constructing industry around the world is growing exponentially. In the Netherlands itself there is a need of constructing 1 million affordable new homes by 2030. Such a massive demand for new buildings has given rise to a need for a solution for mass customization of architectural configurations. Simple repetition or a badly configured...

Generative Solar-Climatic Configuration: A model for feed-forward optimization of building envelopes as to solar energy potential

The typical solar energy potential simulation workflows used in the AEC industry require an abundance of information regarding the detailed geometry and materialization of the design. These requisites render them incompatible with early-stage design decision-making pertaining to form-finding. By performing solar energy potential simulations at...