Architectural Design Process Research Articles

Viewpoints of the Architects on Using Artificial Intelligence in Green Architectural Design: A Case Study in the City of Kerman, Iran

In architecture, AI can perform many tasks during the architectural design process, so it is necessary to understand this technology and its advantages and disadvantages, especially for those concerned with environmental and sustainable aspects. There are gaps and ambiguities in relation to the effect of using AI in architecture, especially when it comes to the principles of the green architecture, particularly in Iran. Therefore, the current study was formulated to determine the possibility of AI in supporting green architecture design, to determine the possibility of AI in achieving the principles of green architecture, to examine the architects' viewpoints regarding the role of AI in achieving the principles of green architecture by using a questionnaire, and to determine the most common AI programs used by architects the most. To address the research objectives, a questionnaire was adopted, and back-to-back translated, and distributed among 46 architects who worked in Kerman city, Iran. The data was collected during October 2024, and to analyze, SPSS Version 25 was used. The results of the study showed that to a great extent, AI can support green architecture design because majority of the respondents confirmed that AI can give multiple alternatives to environmental treatments and can help the designer make design decisions to achieve the green architecture principles. Overall, it was concluded that AI can achieve principles of green architecture.

A Study on the Creative Problem-solving Effects of Using Image-based Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Atypical Architectural Design Process

A Study on the Creative Problem-solving Effects of Using Image-based Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Atypical Architectural Design Process

Bantuan perencanaan dan sosialisasi desain Balai RW 06 Medokan Asri Barat Surabaya

The Community Hall is a vital public space for the community, serving not only as a venue for government activities but also as a hub for educational, recreational, and interactive events. To better support community harmony, the Community Hall in Surabaya’s residential areas should be designed to be functional, comfortable, and aesthetically appealing. Architectural expertise plays a key role in creating an attractive, contextually appropriate design. This community service project focused on the architectural design process for the Community Hall in Medokan Asri Barat, Surabaya. The process included consultation, site analysis, architectural exploration, presentation, and design development. The design incorporates neo-vernacular architecture, blending traditional Indonesian elements with modern touches. The result received positive feedback from the community. A participatory design approach involving local residents was essential in creating a design that aligns with their preferences and needs. This collaborative effort ensures that the Community Hall is both functional and meaningful to the community it serves.

Depth and Embodiment Being Present in Architectural Space as an Experience of Meaning

Following philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s unique phenomenology of embodiment and his understanding of three-dimensional space as existential rather than geometric, the article claims that despite sophisticated algorithmic imaging tools, architectural space as a space of meaningful experience does not subject itself to both two-dimensional and three-dimensional representations and simulations. Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology is instrumental in helping identify a “blind spot” in contemporary architecture design process. Our experience of built space is always far more saturated (with regard both to the input of the senses and our cultural and personal background) than any sophisticated tool of representation. This paper draws a direct link between the invention of linear perspective and the use of digital three-dimensional visualization and the popular opinion that these are reliable tools with which to create architecture. A phenomenological analysis of Beaubourg Square in Paris serves as a case study that reveals the basic difference between experiencing space from the point of view of the actual subjective body who is present in space and experiencing designed space by gazing at its representation on a two-dimensional screen. Relying more and more on computation in architectural design leads to a rational mathematical conception of architectural space, whereas the human body as the actual experiencing presence of this space is overlooked. This article claims that in cases of great architecture, such as Beaubourg Square in Paris, the lived-experience of the built space is also the experience of bodily presence, which is a unique mode of existential meaning, which cannot be simulated or represented.

Getting Under The(ir) Skin: Applying Personas and Scenarios with Body-Environment Research for Improved Understanding of Users’ Perspective in Architectural Design

The aim of this paper is to move established positions in architectural design by discussing a more refined user perspective. The motivation is threefold. Firstly, fields like environmental psychology and cognitive science for architecture have in recent years brought novel insights on the embodied nature of human spatial experience, and the extensive effects of the built environment on people’s psychosomatic health and behaviour that are not well-captured by existing building standardization systems. Secondly, while the fast growing trends of user-centred and research-based design in architecture have showed that users’ experience is a valuable source of design knowledge, the methods for incorporating this wealth of new insights in the architectural design process are still underdeveloped. Finally, the example of the newly built psychiatric department in Aabenraa, Denmark, whose interior, despite an international architectural award in 2016, had to be re-designed one year after construction due to poor understanding of the users, indicates existing discrepancies in the current approaches to translating research information in user-centred design. To address these issues, we discuss the experiences from a new masters’ course in ‘Architecture, Health, and Well-being’ and propose that user-centred methods like ‘personas’ and ‘scenarios’ used in IT, marketing, and product development also have a potential to develop more in-depth research-informed user perspectives. As well as, to help students envision and strengthen the architectural quality of the programming and building design throughout the architectural design process, by supporting a ‘design empathic’ understanding and immersion in user perspectives.

Implementation of Virtual Reality Technology in Architecture Field, and Education: A Review

Abstract Nowadays, the architectural design process became more complex, the exponential growth of the architectural field, Made the design more critical for the designers, and student to understand. While creating an outstanding building, it must be free of clashes and well-coordinated. The rapid development of computer technology has accelerated the progress of architectural technology, and the application of virtual reality technology has become more and more common. Virtual reality (VR) provides a completely digital world of interaction that enables the users to modify, edit, and transform digital elements responsively. It has strong integration and comprehensive characteristics and covers many technologies such as computer graphics, simulation, artificial intelligence, sensing, display, and network processing. This paper focuses on adapting the already-existing methods and tools in architecture to the VR environment under the sustainable and architectural design domain. For this purpose, this literature benefits from the semantically enriched data platforms of Scientific Articles on Virtual Reality, BIM, Architectural design, and green building, which in the end state the potentiality of Virtual Reality in the Architectural field through different aspects. It plays an important role in optimizing and simulating architectural buildings and improving them to an optimum design. It facilitates the design process to get the optimum design through different programs, which leads us to BIM and collaboration between team members in order to Imagine and coordinate between different trades. The VR illustrates the important role of Green Building, through simulation and tests of the building before initiating it. Not only the simulation but the life cycle. Whereas its importance in education for both Students and teachers.

Criteria for enhancing comfort and liveability conditions in homogenous built contexts through innovative façade interventions

This research is conducted within the framework of the Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem (iNEST) project, funded by the Next Generation EU and the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The global project focuses on developing sustainable solutions for the built environment in Northeastern Italy, aligning with both UN Agenda 2030 and European directives on energy transition, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation. This research refers to the methodology Renovation through Design for Adaptability/Flexibility/Change to analyze and enhance existing buildings, with particular emphasis on façade systems and spatial concepts. The research applies to the case study of the Panzano residential District (1907–1927), a historic workers’ village associated with the Monfalcone shipyards, comprising of over 600 dwellings. This district exemplifies the challenge of balancing the general requirements for adapting dwelling units to contemporary needs, providing additional spaces, and mitigating energy impacts while preserving the historical value of the built heritage of a 20th -century company town. In the research approach, technology should become an integral component of the architectural design process, focusing on façade systems as a key point. These interventions aim to enhance environmental comfort, to ensure the transformability of interior spaces, and to foster inclusive interactions between individuals and their environment, while maintaining compatibility with the principles of heritage preservation. The developed methodology contributes to defining effective approaches for renovating existing buildings, while addressing both the technological and social aspects of sustainability.

Discretisation strategies in the architectural design process: a procedural classification system

This study addresses the issue of optimizing architectural production processes through discretisation methods. The primary aim is to develop a classification system for these methods, facilitating their application in digital design and robotic assembly. The central research questions are: What are the fundamental discretisation methods in architecture? How can these methods be classified for practical application? To answer these questions, we conduct a comprehensive review of existing discretisation methods and evaluate their core attributes. Our methodology involves a detailed evaluation of these methods, focusing on their adaptability, geometric predictability, and broadly repeatability. The findings highlight the potential for digitally controlled discretized design processes to innovate architectural practices, making construction faster, more affordable, and capable of producing complicated geometries. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to integrating digital design and modular discretisation in architectural production, moving toward advanced and adaptable production systems.

A Review of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Architectural Design Efficiency

At present, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is developing rapidly, and the construction industry is facing three major trends: industrialization, greening, and digital intelligence. This paper explores the application of AI technology in the field of architectural design and its impact on design efficiency, with 1810 articles screened from the Science Direct, Web of Science, Scopus, and China National Knowledge Network (CNKI) search engines, 92 of which were selected for meta-analysis and review. The results show that AI has great potential in the architectural design process, including creative development, data analysis, and problem-solving. In addition, AI has other applications throughout the building lifecycle, such as predictive analytics, construction supervision, and facility maintenance. In addition, through the discussion of traditional architectural design methods and AI-driven architectural design methods, this paper summarizes the advantages and challenges of AI technology in architectural design. Finally, through case analysis, this paper believes that the future of AI in the field of construction is full of infinite possibilities; through the correct guidance and regulation of its development, it will certainly bring more innovation and progress for the construction industry.

Research on the Reform of Architectural Acoustics Education Based on Noise Measurement and Simulation

This paper aims to enhance students' comprehensive practical abilities in the field of architectural acoustics through teaching reforms, especially in terms of how to effectively apply acoustic knowledge to the entire process of site planning and architectural design. In response to the disconnect between theory and practice in traditional architectural physics courses, this paper proposes the introduction of a combined experimental teaching model that integrates field noise measurement and simulation. Through this model, students can not only master the basic theories and principles of architectural acoustics but also deeply understand the impact of noise on the functional quality and environmental quality of architectural spaces through on-site noise monitoring and digital simulation technologies. The course content covers noise control and management from the early stages of building planning, design optimization, to later stages of building renovation, with a focus on the application of architectural acoustic simulation techniques in practical design. This approach not only helps students improve their practical application of architectural acoustics knowledge but also cultivates their ability to address noise issues effectively during the design process, ultimately promoting the organic integration of architectural design and environmental sustainability. The teaching reform proposal put forward in this paper seeks to enhance students' ability to solve practical problems by combining theory and experimentation and provide theoretical and technical support for acoustic optimization in future architectural designs.

Artificial intelligence, collaboration and BIM in the methodological process of architectural design: using the Architechtures tool

The field of artificial intelligence (AI) has been considered as a means capable of promoting significant changes in the dynamics of the architectural design process. This paper presents methodological questions and reflections, as well as cultural and financial challenges related to the feasibility of adopting the Architechtures generative AI tool, which is aimed at collaboratively proposing volumetric architectural parties and floor plans for preliminary studies. The focus is limited to the Brazilian design field, which has traditionally been peripheral and/or outdated compared to foreign technological advancements and applications. Integration with the BIM environment is sought to address local challenges and explore design possibilities. The assessments include the development of high-rise residential building projects, positioning AI as an active partner or co-pilot in the design process, as well as the Avaliação Pré-Projeto methodology for the qualitative dimension. The results highlight both positive aspects and shortcomings, but they suggest a promising future given the possibilities in the field of AI.

Designing schools and situating future pedagogies – how visions are transformed and materialised in school architecture

ABSTRACT Guided by two research questions: 1) What emerges as important in the reciprocal relationship between the pedagogical and architectural spaces in the design of a new school? 2) What has a significant influence on the design process of school architecture? This paper examines the taken-for-granted in school architecture when a new school is envisioned and designed. Through observations of a design process, four themes are identified where the reciprocal relationship between the pedagogical and architectural spaces is present: location, learning, communication and previous experiences. To demonstrate the significant influence on the design process, four so-called transactants are identified: 1) the signal value, i.e. the non-verbal message that the pedagogical and architecture relation provide, 2) vibrant learning environment, i.e. the pedagogical actions that are made possible in the architectural space, 3) words as space signifies, i.e. how a word incorporates associated behaviours and actions and 4) tacit professional knowledge which is based on previous experiences and leads the person in evaluating the design. Various experiences, the use and societal concerns in school architecture are further discussed in relation to designing new schools.

Pirandello’s Spatial Use in the Odescalchi Theatre: The Architectural Representation of Henry IV and Six Characters in Search of an Author

The interdisciplinary nature of theatre studies often results in research that places greater emphasis on literary analysis than on architectural considerations. Consequently, theatrical literature tends to focus more on the relationship between text, author, and context, rather than on the interaction between the text and the spatiality shaped by the architecture of the performance space of the building. This research introduces and applies a mixed methodology to examine the use of theatrical space in dramatic works, concentrating on the architectural study of paratexts, which shows the influence of literature on the architectural design process of the theater building. This study focuses on the works of Luigi Pirandello, particularly Henry IV and Six Characters in Search of an Author, exploring their influence on the Odescalchi Theatre in Rome, and vice versa. This combined approach, alongside the theatrical qualities of the texts, allows for a detailed analysis of how architecture and spatiality are represented in Pirandellian metaproductions. The findings and their architectural modelling highlight the relationship between literature and theatrical spatiality, providing a quantifiable connection in each of the works examined.

Uncovering the implicit dimensions of empathy in architectural design: seeing through empathy

ABSTRACT This article examines the implicit dimensions of empathy in the early architectural design process, utilizing think-aloud protocols to reveal how designers engage empathically with their creations. Grounded in early 20th-century empathy theories, phenomenological philosophy, and design cognition, we developed the ‘Feeling AS’ empathy framework, which identifies three core modes of empathy: (1) user, (2) space, and (3) movement. Analysis of design protocols demonstrates how empathy shapes design thinking, influences problem reframing, and uncovers spatial affordances tied to user embodiment. Empathy contributes to the design process in two key ways. First, it aids in problem identification, ideation, and a deep understanding of users’ needs during the conceptual stage. Second, empathy enables designers to refine design solutions by revisiting decisions and reframing problems from the users’ perspective as the process evolves. The study portrays empathy as a perceptual and reflective tool, akin to sketching, that facilitates diverse perspectives and establishes embodied connections with users and spaces. We frame this process as ‘seeing through empathy,’ encompassing empathic framing, spatial affordances, and embodiment. This research broadens the scope of empathy research to include spatial dimensions, emphasizing its inherent role and extending it beyond conscious strategies to become an embedded aspect of the creative process.

Multi-dimensional performance-based intelligent optimization of atrium building prototype with informed approach

In the initial design phase, decisions about building programs significantly influence the energy, physical, and space performance of a building. However, as the design process advanced, the potential to optimize building physical properties, space, and related performance gradually diminished, and the costs to achieve the same benefits were progressively increased. In this study, an enclosed atrium-style office space was chosen as a case study, and an intelligent optimization method for the atrium prototype space was proposed. This method, which integrated multi-dimensional performance data such as light environment, thermal environment, energy consumption, space, and cost, was used to investigate morphological optimization strategies for the atrium prototype space under the influence of multiple environmental factors during the architectural design phase. Furthermore, the ranges for optimal solutions when pursuing different design objectives were analyzed, series of global optimal solutions were identified, and the optimization process was accelerated using machine learning technology. Ultimately, architects were provided with prototype forms of the atrium space in an "Informed" manner, which expedited the architectural design process. The case study is based on a light industrial building at Hubei University of Technology, which was evaluated through 377 building form prototypes generated by this "Informed" design platform. Compared to the existing building, the optimized building form showed significant improvements in cost, lighting, energy consumption, spatial performance, and sunlight and solar radiation quality, with an overall assessment score of 15.15 to 73.35, a performance improvement of 380%. The effectiveness of the method in improving building performance and accelerating the design decision-making process is demonstrated, providing an innovative optimization tool for the field of building design.

Automated generation of circulations within a floorplan

Abstract Various factors are considered when designing a floorplan layout, including the plan’s outer boundary, room shape and size, adjacency, privacy, and circulation space, among others. While graph-theoretic approaches have proven effective for floorplan generation, existing algorithms generally focus on defining the boundary of the plan or different room shapes, lacking the investigation of designing circulation space within a floorplan. However, the circulation design in architectural planning is a crucial factor that affects the functionality and efficiency of areas within a building. This paper presents a graph-theoretic approach for integrating circulation within a floorplan. In this study, we use plane graphs to represent floorplans and develop graph algorithms to incorporate various types of circulation within a floorplan as follows: i. The first phase generates a spanning circulation, that is, a corridor leading to each room using a circulation graph. ii. Subsequently, using an approximation algorithm, the circulation space is minimized, that is, generation of minimum circulation space covering all the rooms, thereby enhancing space utilization in the floorplan. iii. Furthermore, customized circulations are generated to cater to user preferences, distinguishing between public and private spaces within the floorplan. In addition to the theoretical framework, we have implemented our algorithms in Python and developed a user-friendly graphical interface (GUI), enabling seamless integration of our algorithms into architectural design processes.

Deep Learning-Assisted Discovery of Analogy-Inspired Designs within Peter Collins Analogical Architectural Design Classification Framework

This study focuses on analogical reasoning and deep learning models to enhance the innovative design process in architecture. By constructing multi-layered artificial neural networks, deep learning can derive analogical predictions from structured data to solve complex tasks. Deep learning models interact with analogical thinking patterns in the architectural design process, enabling designers to analyze and draw inspiration from analogical design examples. This study aims to develop a deep learning model that categorizes architectural design examples into specific analogical design classifications. For this purpose, a model based on Convolutional Neural Networks was developed and coded in the Google Colab environment using a dataset of 29,596 visual images, employing Peter Collins' classification system of biological, mechanical, gastronomic, and linguistic analogies. During the training process, the model was trained on images classified according to biological, mechanical, gastronomic, and linguistic categories, achieving an accuracy rate of 98%; however, this rate was recorded as 86% during the testing phase. It was observed that adjustments in the learning rate parameter balanced classification accuracy and training time; lower learning rates reduced accuracy while extending training time. Despite the complexity of architectural images indicated by the 86% accuracy rate on test data, the study emphasizes the model's capacity to achieve accuracy above 95% when confronted with distinct architectural features. In this case, the model allows designers to discover which analogical classification the architectural work to be tested is designed according to, allowing them to develop creative solutions to new design problems. Additionally, this research establishes an interdisciplinary dialogue between artificial intelligence and architecture, providing a foundation for future studies.

A geometry-based decomposition method for energy prediction in early design stages of residential buildings

PurposeThe purpose of the study is to develop a geometry-based energy estimation method for surrogate and metamodels to be used in the early design phase of buildings.Design/methodology/approachOptimizing building form and design variables in the early stages of the architectural design process, particularly during the conceptual phase, can significantly enhance overall design performance and energy efficiency at minimal cost. This study introduces a novel decomposition method for evaluating building energy performance by simplifying complex building forms into basic geometric shapes.FindingsThe developed method is applied to certain cases of design variation under specified boundary conditions, and the accuracy of heating and cooling energy loads is calculated with simulated energy models of these cases. As a result of the calculation, accuracy rates between 84.30 and 99.98% were founded.Originality/valueThis paper proposes a prediction model with a geometric identification method for an innovative geometry-based surrogate modeling method. This method also provides a way for artificial intelligence-based prediction models used in surrogate models to create a dataset and can be used in the training in future works.

Architectural decoration of the eastern frontier

The article presents the results of the study conducted by the authors with the support of the grant of the Russian Science Foundation “Military Theme in the Architectural and Spatial Development of the Far East”. Based on the materials of field surveys and archival data, the authors have made the first attempt to comprehensively understand the historical process of architectural design of Vladivostok as a key Russian port on the Pacific coast. The surviving and lost buildings of the naval department, which were erected in the city and its environs at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, are considered. Their importance in the formation of the structure of the city panorama from the water area is noted.

Determining Vulnerability Indicators of Buildings for Sea-Level Rise and Floods in Urban Coastal Areas

Projected sea-level rise and floods due to climate change impacts are the hazards threatening urban coastal areas. In the literature on mitigation and adaptation, it is determined that studies in the field of architectural design for the assessment of risks and vulnerabilities to these hazards are not yet at a sufficient level. This study aims to determine the vulnerability indicators of buildings due to architectural design decisions in the urban coastal areas facing the risk of sea-level rise and flood hazards. In this direction, it is argued that the decisions that are taken regarding the building and its environment during the architectural design process can be interpreted as vulnerability indicators in vulnerability assessments of buildings to be made in the context of these hazards. In this context, an indicator-based assessment framework is proposed as a method of examining the vulnerability and climate resilience capacity of design practices in urban coastal areas. The first stage of the research methodology includes the results of a literature review to identify indicators of building vulnerability. In the second stage, these indicators were presented for expert opinions and analyzed with the Delphi method and an assessment framework was created. This assessment framework is designed to serve as a decision-making tool or checklist for decision makers, facilitating the integration of vulnerability indicators into the design, implementation, and retrofitting of buildings in urban coastal areas. Due to its hierarchical, yet flexible, and adaptable structure, it can be used by architects, urban planners, and policy makers in terms of assessing buildings and its environments so that actions for adaptation can be implemented.