Integration of interactive optimisation in the conceptual design stage of shading devices

Abstract

Optimisation strategies and evolutionary algorithms have been widely used in every design field with the sole purpose of finding the ’best’ solutions in relation to a set of previously defined performance requirements. While this approach is welcome and desirable for most design problems, architectural and product design always have to take in account personal preference and cultural acceptance. Methods and design tools that combine the interactive behaviour inherent to conceptual designing with the formal rigour of optimisation are therefore desirable. A software construct will be presented which in the initial stages of the design process combines parametric design with evolutionary principles, with the intention to maximise explorative research. The proposed design method will be applied to the design of shading devices and based on the results from analysis and simulation software a group of solutions will be generated. One of those optimal solutions will be chosen for further development. Integration with rapid prototyping techniques will allow for physical testing on a real scale. A prototype of a complex geometrically optimised solution made in a lightweight composite is under construction and will be tested for its thermal and lighting performance, and the results compared with a reference solution in a test cell located in the University of Minho in Guimarães.