Façade Form-Finding with Swarm Intelligence

Abstract

Design approaches associated with nature and biology have existed in the world of architecture for many years. In this approach, nature is used as a metaphor for the creation of non-Euclidean geometric architectural forms. However, this approach has been superseded by one that is based on an understanding of the working principles of nature, which are then adapted to architecture. In this study, “swarm intelligence”, which is one of the working natural principles based on 3 mathematical rules (separation, alignment, and cohesion), was investigated for possible use in architectural design and for façade construction; the notion of a conceptual design method has been introduced via multi-agent-based swarm intelligence algorithms. Morphodynamic and morphogenetic design approaches were used in combination by defining the external agents of a swarm intelligence multi-agent-based model as a solid-void in the building façade. The properties of the façade variations that resulted from this combined approach were evaluated and the results were compared on the basis of relative daylight intake.