A new parametric framework: Developing design options in real time

Current architectural design practice is limited in its consideration and understanding of life-cycle energy flows which comprise multiple phases, from material resource extraction, construction, building occupation within the built environment, and after demolition. Furthermore, bioclimatic environmental flows interact with the buildings, particularly at the building envelope, making it a rich interface for shaping energy flows towards buildings that are energy self-sufficient with clean on-site energy resources. The buildings we inhabit directly affect the greater built environment which is an inherent part of local ecosystems which compose part of larger ecologies at global scales, ultimately affecting the overall biosphere. As a result, the buildings we construct, directly and indirectly, affect our economies, the health, and well-being of our societies and our natural environments. This paper explores the development of a computational framework that provides architects and designers direct feedback on design performance at the schematic design stage. This allows designers to visualize, understand and evaluate their design choices in terms of their environmental implications and ecological efficacy. This framework for design analysis offers a more comprehensive ecological analysis than existing sustainability assessment tools, by considering the entire temporal building process. Working with Rhino/Grasshopper as a widely-used software platform allows for interactive feedback to architectural designers as they develop design options in real time. This paper will use a case study, assessing a solar decathlon house, demonstrating the qualitative and quantitative environmental impacts of the building design.