Workflows for Conceptual Architectural Design Optimisation (ADO)
The workshop will explore applications of mathematical optimisation to architectural design. Participants will learn about major classes of black-box optimisation algorithms—Metaheuristics (including Swarm Intelligence), Direct Search and Surrogate Model-based Optimisation—and experiment with algorithms from each category: Genetic Algorithms, Particle Swarm Optimisation, DIRECT, and optimisation with Radial Basis Functions. Participants will use state-of-the-art optimisation tools in Grasshopper and test them on benchmark problems. In a second step, they will develop customised optimisation objectives and workflows and apply them to a predefined parametric geometry. Participants also are encouraged to bring optimisation problems from their own practices and research to the workshop. The objective of this workshop is to provide participants with both the conceptual background and technical skills required to integrate optimisation into their architectural practice and research. The workshop will yield benchmark results for the test problems and provide examples of how different formulations of optimisation objectives can inform conceptual architectural design processes.
Find out more here.