Repository logo
 

Knowledge-rich optimisation of prefabricated façades to support conceptual design

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Sauchelli, M 
Jin, Q 

Abstract

One of the principal challenges in façade design is to support the architectural intent by devising technically viable (i.e. standard-compliant and manufacturable) solutions from as early as possible in the design stage. This is increasingly relevant as prefabricated façades increase in complexity and bespokedness in response to current societal, financial and environmental challenges. In this paper a process that addresses this challenge is presented. The process consists of two sub-processes 1) to build product-oriented knowledge bases and digital tools for supporting design on a project-by-project basis and 2) to help designers identify a set of optimal solutions that consider the façade-specific trade-off between architectural intent and performance requirements, while meeting the largest number of production-related constraints. This process was applied to a case study and the results were compared with those obtained from a recently-developed façade. It was found that, although the proposed process produces optimal solutions that are approximated, designers can benefit from more control over the product’s manufacturability, performance and architectural intent in less time.

Description

Keywords

Facade design, Design optimisation, Knowledge-based approaches, Design for manufacture and assembly

Journal Title

Automation in Construction

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0926-5805
1872-7891

Volume Title

97

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
EPSRC (1488804)
Laing O'Rourke plc