Optimization of sustainable design through Archicad and Grasshopper

Synopsis:

Sustainability is a fundamental principle for building design. The first stages of the design process are crucial for the overall outcome as far as sustainability is concerned. The BIM methodology can incorporate parametric, generative, and optimization tools to achieve this goal through data. Archicad and Grasshopper combined to create the workflow needed to solve sustainable issues without compromise.

Learning Objectives:

1. Optimize sustainable design solutions using generative design and BIM
2. Use Grasshopper as a parametric and generative design tool in real-time with the Archicad model
3. Learn how to establish meaningful articulation between Archicad and grasshopper3d in sustainable terms

Body:

Sustainability is today a crucial and mandatory goal in building design. Buildings consume energy and resources like few other industries in the world today. Efficiency and optimization are important features that a designer must solve to achieve the desired goals as far as building impact is concerned. BIM as methodology, and becoming the standard for the AEC industry, is able to generate large amounts of data that provide important feedback for design decisions. However, this process alone, based on trial and error can become time-consuming and cost expensive. When combined with parametric and generative design tools incorporating optimization algorithms and mechanisms, under the correct workflow, the same process becomes more accurate and automated, saving time and effort, even under more complex situations. Archicad can be combined with energy evaluation tools, parametric design tools and optimization processes. This allows the designer a new approach on the incorporation and analysis od sustainable principles through BIM and parametric tolls. EcoDesigner Star allows sustainability analysis and data that can be extracted at the level of interior comfort, building systems, energy needs and emitted CO2. However, this is a consequence of the first stages of the design process. When not optimized for efficiency, the compromise of the other stages is guaranteed. At this point the articulation with the parametric design tool like grasshopper represents a very important feature that will broaden the scope of tools available. The integration of optimization algorithms will act as a partner of the designer proposing solutions based on evaluation, analysis and refinement of the building from the first sketches. The end result is a more efficient design concerning building orientation, exposure and mass. Through grasshopper, these decisions can be optimized by parametric and generative procedures always under the Archicad original model. This method will broaden the already powerful tool that Archicad represents integrating features that will contribute to a truly sustainable design of future buildings. The focus will be on these features and processes:
-Export of geometry and information from Archicad to Grasshopper
-Analysis of the urban context
-Import information from Grasshopper to Archicad
-Optimize positioning and massing of the building through an evolutionary algorithm
-Import optimized building shape and position as native Archicad elements
This method can truly inform and contribute to informed sustainable decisions at all stages of the design process.