Abstract
This study explores how designer interacts with the computational model. This research intends to demystify how “design knowledge” is obtained, used and processed in the age of computation. The paper shows how the computational modelling tools associated with performance-based parametric design help support design decisions during the initial design phases. Building Energy Performance (BEP) is chosen as the main context to develop a set of criteria for the iterative development, testing, evaluation, and validation of a prototype model. Therefore, as a practical work, the research explores a series of new energy simulation modelling techniques based on parametric design and multi optimization-based design. Specifically, it aims to explore, develop, and test new approaches in parametric modelling that can support energy simulation, using multi optimization, where designers can easily state the design parameters and use them in energy-performance-based design. The exploratory research approach is the main theme of this research. However, during the development of the research it was found that there is a need to blend this research design with the descriptive research approach. One of the key contributions of this study will be the development of a more direct link and useful methods for the translation of information into data inputs to support computational thinking and modelling processes.
Highlights
“I’ve seen many low-carbon designs, but hardly any low-carbon buildings” Andy Sheppard, Arup, 2009. Architects regularly construct their models based on data and assumptions– either individually or collectively constructed through interpretation as a result of an internal thinking process, mental model– which are translated into a computational model, Figure 1
It is essential to understand how incomplete and ambiguous information is best utilized in the Conceptual Design Stage (CDS) to deliver more accurate outputs
Most designers refer to ―default assumptions‖ for the initial building energy performance (BEP) modelling, which eventually lead to uncertain outputs [4]
Summary
Architects regularly construct their models based on data and assumptions– either individually or collectively constructed through interpretation as a result of an internal thinking process, mental model– which are translated into a computational model, Figure 1. The process of translating/linking/maintaining information into the computational model at the right stage in the design process. At the later stages of design, energy experts usually calculate the BEP based on more accurate, contextual information specific to the building in question. These detailed models are usually compared with early design/simulation models, which do not provide reliable progress as the comparison is between two different energy models with two completely different input sets. This study intends to demystify how ―design knowledge‖ is obtained, used, and processed in the age of computation We conduct this investigation through ―energy performance modelling‖ whereby we create the crucial link between ―information‖ and ―modelling‖ as the two components of computational processing of design knowledge
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