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A Design and planning methodology
A02 - Development of integrative design methods and computational design tools for adaptive structures and their reconfiguration

A02 - Development of integrative design methods and computational design tools for adaptive structures and their reconfiguration

A: Design and planning methodology

Which methods, processes and tools are necessary for the architectural design of buildings according to the requirements of adaptive skins and structures in exchange with other involved disciplines? These and other questions are addressed in project A02.

Image: ICD

Networking and competencies of the architecture subprojects A01, A02 and A03

Photo: (c) ICD

From established support structure typologies to adaptable support structure individuals

Photo: (c) ICD

Adaptability as a decisive design criterion: integration of the redundancy concept (A04, B01) as a central feedback loop in computer based design procedures. 2000 structural elements == 4,000,000 entries in the corresponding adaptability matrix.

Photo: (c) ICD

Visualization of global and local adaptability values

Photo: (c) ICD

Funding Phase II
Funding Phase I

Project A02 contributes to the interdisciplinary approach of the Collaborative Research Center by investigating the design of adaptive buildings from the perspective of computational architectural design. The aim is to transfer the research results of the overall project and the advantages of adaptivity to architectural practice. The focus is on the development of adequate methods and tools that enable architects to design adaptive buildings in such a way that the complex technical requirements can be incorporated with the greatest possible creativity – allowing them to explore the full architectural and constructive possibilities provided by adaptivity. A02 therefore deals with questions that complement the methodological and interdisciplinary approach in project A01 and the conceptual reflection and projection in project A03.

The following research question will be scientifically investigated in this project:

Which computational methods and tools are suitable for the integration of the principles of adaptivity and its structural implementation in the pre-design and design phases?

Existing design processes are linear and hierarchical. This makes it difficult to integrate the structural, constructive, building physics, mechanical engineering and mechatronic considerations required for adaptive structures and skins into early design decisions. The existing methods and procedures of architectural design can only be applied to adaptive structures to a limited extent, as they do not address their interdisciplinary character.

The main challenge is therefore to enable integrative design from the very beginning through iterative feedback loops - through which, the findings and results of the disciplines / subprojects involved can be fed back into architectural design explorations. An integrative design process thus provides the basis for the synthesis of architecture- and adaptivity-specific requirements to the essential decision phases of planning.

Based on the developments of funding period 1, two complementary research tracks will be pursued in the second funding period:

The first track aims at further developing previously proposed design methods and tools in view of additional structural and actuation concepts, as well as at strengthening the integration of use- and architecture-specific design criteria. For this purpose, the investigation of adaptive truss structures will be complemented by adaptive surface structures (A04, A06, B01). Analogously, in addition to the successful integration of quantitative aspects, qualitative aspects of architectural design (A03) will be incorporated more extensively. However, this does not mean their mere quantification, but rather their integration through comprehensive strategies of design interaction and visualization (B05).

Throughout the second research strand, studies that have so far focused on the early design stage will be expanded to also investigate the reconfigurability and structural modification of adaptive buildings beyond their initial deployment. To enable the respective "re-design" of future adaptive building stock, research will be focused on the development of cyber-physical architectural design processes (A01, B04, B05) that will allow design changes to be made to already existing adaptive buildings.

A02-Website-FP2-Update

^{Funding Period 2: Deeping and broadening previous research. Photo: ICD}

Subproject Leader

Prof. Dipl. AA (Hons) Achim Menges, Institute for Computational Design and Construction

The result of the first funding period is an integrative, computational design process for exploring the architectural solution space of adaptive structures. In view of the peculiarities and complexity of adaptive buildings, an agent-based modeling method was pursued, defined, and implemented for the design of adaptive truss structures. The resulting assistance-system supports architects in early design phases by incorporating the key design criteria for adaptive structures. In order to ensure the adaptability of structure and geometry throughout the entire process, the adaptability assessment method (A04/B01) developed within the SFB 1244 was implemented as a quantitative feedback loop. In addition, application-specific visualization strategies allow a close involvement of designers. These developments form an essential basis for the architectural design of adaptive structures and for the exploration of their architectural potentials beyond conventional structural typologies.

^{Agentenbasiertes Entwurfs-Assistenzsystem zur Exploration adaptiver Stabtragwerke}

^{Foto: ICD}

Subproject Leader

Prof. Dipl. AA (Hons) Achim Menges, Institute for Computational Design and Construction

Publications

L.-M. Krauß et al., “Baustatische Methoden für Entwurf, Auslegung und Betrieb adaptiver Tragwerke,” in Berichte der Fachtagung Baustatik – Baupraxis 15, 04. und 05. März 2024, Hamburg, B. Oesterle, A. Bögle, W. Weber, and L. Striefler, Eds., in Berichte der Fachtagung Baustatik – Baupraxis 15, 04. und 05. März 2024, Hamburg. 2024, pp. 101--108. doi: 10.15480/882.9247.
- BibTeX
BibTeX
@inproceedings{krauss2024baustatische, abstract = {Mit strukturmechanischer Einsicht und der Formulierung von Aktuierungszielen lassen sich Grundsätze für den Entwurf guter adaptiver Tragwerke sowie deren Auslegung ableiten. Dabei kann zwischen einer Adaption zur Reduktion der Verformungen und einer Adaption zur Manipulation der Kräfte im Tragwerk unterschieden werden. Durch den Einsatz von Aktoren zur Kraftmanipulation ist es möglich, die maximale Querschnittsausnutzung in der Struktur bei verschiedenen Belastungen zu reduzieren. Der jeweils optimale Aktuierungszustand ist derjenige, der die maximale Ausnutzung im Tragwerk minimiert. Mithilfe baustatischer Überlegungen kann diese Optimierungsaufgabe durch ein lineares Optimierungsproblem beschrieben und das globale Minimum mit dem Simplex-Algorithmus gefunden werden.}, author = {Krauß, Lisa-Marie and Maierhofer, Mathias and Prokosch, Tamara and Trautwein, Axel and von Scheven, Malte and Menges, Achim and Bischoff, Manfred}, booktitle = {Berichte der Fachtagung Baustatik – Baupraxis 15, 04. und 05. März 2024, Hamburg}, doi = {10.15480/882.9247}, editor = {Oesterle, Bastian and Bögle, Annette and Weber, Wolfgang and Striefler, Lukas}, pages = {101--108}, title = {Baustatische Methoden für Entwurf, Auslegung und Betrieb adaptiver Tragwerke}, year = 2024 }
L.-M. Krauß et al., “Berichte der Fachtagung Baustatik – Baupraxis 15 : 04. und 05. März 2024, Hamburg.” Institut für Baustatik, Technische Universität Hamburg, 2024. doi: 10.15480/882.9247.
- BibTeX
- Link
BibTeX
@misc{https://doi.org/10.15480/882.9247, author = {Krauß, Lisa-Marie and Maierhofer, Matthias and Prokosch, Tamara and Trautwein, Axel and von Scheven, Malte and Menges, Achim and Bischoff, Manfred}, copyright = {http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/}, doi = {10.15480/882.9247}, editor = {Oesterle, Bastian and Bögle, Annette and Weber, Wolfgang and Striefler, Lukas}, language = {de}, publisher = {Institut für Baustatik, Technische Universität Hamburg}, title = {Berichte der Fachtagung Baustatik – Baupraxis 15 : 04. und 05. März 2024, Hamburg}, url = {https://tore.tuhh.de/handle/11420/45965}, year = 2024 }
Link
https://tore.tuhh.de/handle/11420/45965
X. Yang, A. Lehrecke, C. Tucker, R. Duque Estrada Almeida Araujo, M. Maierhofer, and A. Menges, “Spatial Lacing : A Novel Composite Material System for Fibrous Networks,” in Towards Radical Regeneration : Design Modelling Symposium Berlin 2022, in Towards Radical Regeneration : Design Modelling Symposium Berlin 2022. Springer, 2023, pp. 556–568. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-13249-0_44.
- BibTeX
BibTeX
@inproceedings{yang2023spatial, address = {Cham}, affiliation = {Yang, XL (Corresponding Author), Univ Stuttgart, Inst Computat Design & Construct ICD, Stuttgart, Germany. Yang, XL (Corresponding Author), Univ Stuttgart, Cluster Excellence Integrat Computat Design & Con, Stuttgart, Germany. Yang, Xiliu; Lehrecke, August; Tucker, Cody; Estrada, Rebeca Duque; Maierhofer, Mathias; Menges, Achim, Univ Stuttgart, Inst Computat Design & Construct ICD, Stuttgart, Germany. Yang, Xiliu; Estrada, Rebeca Duque; Menges, Achim, Univ Stuttgart, Cluster Excellence Integrat Computat Design & Con, Stuttgart, Germany.}, author = {Yang, Xiliu and Lehrecke, August and Tucker, Cody and Duque Estrada Almeida Araujo, Rebeca and Maierhofer, Mathias and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {Towards Radical Regeneration : Design Modelling Symposium Berlin 2022}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-031-13249-0_44}, eventdate = {2022-09-26/2022-09-28}, eventtitle = {8th Design Modelling Symposium “Towards Radical Regeneration”}, isbn = {{978-3-031-13248-3} and {978-3-031-13249-0}}, language = {eng}, pages = {556-568}, publisher = {Springer}, title = {Spatial Lacing : A Novel Composite Material System for Fibrous Networks}, unique-id = {WOS:000870223800043}, venue = {Berlin}, year = 2023 }
A. Shad et al., “Assembly-Oriented Design Methodology for Segmented Timber Shells,” in Innovation, Sustainability, Legacy: Proceedings of the IASS 2022 Symposium affiliated with APCS 2022 conference, S. Xue, J. Wu, and G. Sun, Eds., in Innovation, Sustainability, Legacy: Proceedings of the IASS 2022 Symposium affiliated with APCS 2022 conference. 2022, pp. 1526–1537.
- BibTeX
BibTeX
@inproceedings{Shah.IASS.2022, abstract = {This research demonstrates a structurally-informed assembly method for the construction process of modular timber structures. Within the context of modular timber structures, segmented timber shells are of great interest for large span applications. These structures predominantly confront external loads through membrane action and therefore have reduced bending moments. During erection of these structures, assembly stages with unfavourable spanning conditions and high bending moments occur. In traditional construction methods, scaffolding is built below the shell structure to stabilize the assembly steps. This temporary reinforcement results in uneconomical, time-consuming and labour-intensive construction. Moreover, they create a congested working space which sometimes results in unsafe working conditions for laborers. The research proposes a design method which reimagines the reciprocity between the design, the on-site robotics and the coordination of the on-site equipment as a structurally-informed design for assembly methodology for segmented timber shell structures. It brings the possibility of supportless assembly and automated erection, while opening up unexplored design possibilities for segmented timber shells.}, author = {Shad, Anand and Sahin, Ekin Sila and Malafey, Anastasia and Bechert, Simon and Maierhofer, Mathias and Knippers, Jan and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {Innovation, Sustainability, Legacy: Proceedings of the IASS 2022 Symposium affiliated with APCS 2022 conference}, editor = {Xue, Su-duo and Wu, Jin-zhi and Sun, Guo-jun}, keyword = {segmented timber shells, assembly rules, geometry optimization, timber joint, crane coordination, automation}, pages = {1526-1537}, title = {Assembly-Oriented Design Methodology for Segmented Timber Shells}, year = 2022 }
D. Stieler, T. Schwinn, S. Leder, M. Maiferhofer, F. Kannenberg, and A. Menges, “Agent-based modeling and simulation in architecture,” Automation in contraction, vol. 141, no. 104426, Art. no. 104426, Sep. 2022.
- BibTeX
BibTeX
@article{stieler2022agentbased, author = {Stieler, David and Schwinn, Tobias and Leder, Samuel and Maiferhofer, Mathias and Kannenberg, Fabian and Menges, Achim}, ee = {http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/E-SCIENCE.2006.159}, journal = {Automation in contraction}, language = {english}, month = {09}, number = 104426, pages = {1-21}, title = {Agent-based modeling and simulation in architecture}, volume = 141, year = 2022 }
D. Stieler, T. Schwinn, S. Leder, and M. Maiferhofer, “Agent-based modeling and simulation in architecture,” Automation in contraction, vol. 141, no. 104426, Art. no. 104426, 2022.
- BibTeX
BibTeX
@article{stieler2022agentbased, author = {Stieler, David and Schwinn, Tobias and Leder, Samuel and Maiferhofer, Mathias}, ee = {http://doi.ieeecomputersociety.org/10.1109/E-SCIENCE.2006.159}, journal = {Automation in contraction}, language = {english}, number = 104426, pages = {1-21}, title = {Agent-based modeling and simulation in architecture}, volume = 141, year = 2022 }
C. Tucker, X. Yang, A. Lehrecke, M. Maierhofer, R. Duque Estrada, and A. Menges, “A Collaborative Multi-robot Platform for the Distributed Fabrication of Three-dimensional Fibrous Networks (Spatial Lacing),” in Proceedings of the 7th Annual ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication, in Proceedings of the 7th Annual ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication. Seattle, WA, USA: Association for Computing Machinery, Oct. 2022, pp. 1–18. doi: 10.1145/3559400.3561995.
- BibTeX
- Link
BibTeX
@inproceedings{tucker2022collaborative, abstract = {This research presents a collaborative multi-robot strategy for the distributed fabrication of Spatial Lacing - a novel system of lightweight, multi-topology fiber structures enabled by parallel manipulation of filament materials. The parallelized fabrication logic, which takes inspiration from textile production methods, is inherently different from existing construction techniques using continuous filaments and poses new challenges for fabrication. The paper proposes a distributed cyber-physical platform with mobile robots that can exceed size and flexibility limitations of industrial machinery. A hybrid behavior-based control schema is developed where robotic behaviors are abstracted from the traditional textile craft of bobbin lace-making and adapted for robotic execution through coordinated collaborative action sequences, creating a new robotic action space for filament structures. Parallel task execution, real-time sensor feedback, and the coordination of multiple distributed agents is achieved through a multi-threaded software architecture. This paper focuses on the development of the cyber-physical fabrication platform including custom robotic hardware, derivation of robotic behaviors, task generation and coordination, and multi-agent communication protocols. The research finds its point of departure from textile craft processes and demonstrates new potentials in construction with filament materials when multi-robot systems perform coordinated tasks that depend on simultaneous actions. It culminates in the choreography of two mobile robots performing actions required to create a Spatial Lacing node in a parallel, coordinated fashion.}, address = {New York, NY, USA}, author = {Tucker, Cody and Yang, Xiliu and Lehrecke, August and Maierhofer, Mathias and Duque Estrada, Rebeca and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 7th Annual ACM Symposium on Computational Fabrication}, day = 26, doi = {10.1145/3559400.3561995}, isbn = {9781450398725}, location = {Seattle, WA, USA}, month = {10}, pages = {1–18}, publisher = {Association for Computing Machinery}, series = {SCF '22}, title = {A Collaborative Multi-robot Platform for the Distributed Fabrication of Three-dimensional Fibrous Networks (Spatial Lacing)}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1145/3559400.3561995}, year = 2022 }
Link
https://doi.org/10.1145/3559400.3561995
G. Łochnicki, N. Kubail Kalousdian, S. Leder, M. Maierhofer, D. Wood, and A. Menges, “Co-Designing Material-Robot Construction Behaviors: Teaching distributed robotic systems to leverage active bending for light-touch assembly of bamboo bundle structures,” in Realignments: Toward Critical Computation - ACADIA 2021, B. Farahi, B. Bogosian, J. Scott, J. L. García del Castillo y López, K. Dörfler, J. A. Grant, S. Parascho, and V. A. A. Noel, Eds., in Realignments: Toward Critical Computation - ACADIA 2021. 2021.
- BibTeX
BibTeX
@inproceedings{kubailkalousdian2021codesigning, abstract = {This paper presents research on designing distributed, robotic construction systems in which robots are taught construction behaviors relative to the elastic bending of natural building materials. Using this behavioral relationship as a driver, the robotic system is developed to deal with the unpredictability of natural materials in construction and further to engage their dynamic characteristics as methods of locomotion and manipulation during the assembly of actively bent structures. Such an approach has the potential to unlock robotic building practice with rapid-renewable materials, whose short crop cycles and small carbon footprints make them particularly important inroads to sustainable construction. The research is conducted through an initial case study in which a mobile robot learns a control policy for elastically bending bamboo bundles into designed configurations using deep reinforcement learning algorithms. This policy is utilized in the process of designing relevant structures, and for the in-situ assembly of these designs. These concepts are further investigated through the co-design and physical prototyping of a mobile robot and the construction of bundled bamboo structures. This research demonstrates a shift from an approach of absolute control and predictability to behavior-based methods of assembly. With this, materials and processes that are often considered too labor-intensive or unpredictable can be reintroduced. This reintroduction leads to new insights in architectural design and construction, where design outcome is uniquely tied to the building material and its assembly logic. This highly material-driven approach sets the stage for developing an effective, sustainable, light-touch method of building using natural materials. }, author = {Łochnicki, Grzegorz and Kubail Kalousdian, Nicolas and Leder, Samuel and Maierhofer, Mathias and Wood, Dylan and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {Realignments: Toward Critical Computation - ACADIA 2021}, editor = {Farahi, Behnaz and Bogosian, Biayna and Scott, Jane and García del Castillo y López, Jose Luis and Dörfler, Kathrin and Grant, June A. and Parascho, Stefana and Noel, Vernelle A. A.}, eventdate = {November 3rd - 6th}, eventtitle = {Realignments: Toward Critical Computation}, title = {Co-Designing Material-Robot Construction Behaviors: Teaching distributed robotic systems to leverage active bending for light-touch assembly of bamboo bundle structures}, venue = {online}, year = 2021 }
M. Maierhofer, M. Ulber, M. Mahall, A. Serbest, and A. Menges, “Anthropologic – Architecture and Fabrication in the cognitive age Designing (for) Change Towards adaptivity-specific architectural design for situational open Environments,” eCAADe 38, 2020, pp. 575–584.
- BibTeX
BibTeX
@inproceedings{noauthororeditor, author = {Maierhofer, Mathias and Ulber, Marie and Mahall, Mona and Serbest, Asli and Menges, Achim}, eventdate = {09}, isbn = {978-9-49120-721-1}, issn = {2684-1843}, organization = {eCAADe 38}, pages = {575-584}, title = {Anthropologic – Architecture and Fabrication in the cognitive age Designing (for) Change Towards adaptivity-specific architectural design for situational open Environments}, venue = {Institute of Architecture, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany}, volume = 2, year = 2020 }
S. Leistner et al., “Research on integral design and planning processes for adaptive buildings,” Architectural Engineering and Design Management, vol. 0, no. 0, Art. no. 0, 2020, doi: 10.1080/17452007.2020.1856031.
- BibTeX
- Link
BibTeX
@article{doi:10.1080/17452007.2020.1856031, abstract = { ABSTRACTAdaptive skins and structures constitute an approach for reducing the immense material consumption in the construction of buildings, their energy demand and related emissions. Through the integration of sensor-actuator systems, conventional structures and skins become a controllable dynamic system, capable of reacting to different external influences. This approach demands an integral planning and design process with participants from various disciplines. The Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1244 entitled Adaptive Skins and Structures for the Built Environment of Tomorrow, involves, the research of specific processes and methods for the design and planning of adaptive buildings. In this paper, conventional approaches in architectural design and planning are analysed, providing the basis for the development of an improved process for adaptive buildings. }, author = {Leistner, Sophia and Honold, Clemens and Maierhofer, Mathias and Haase, Walter and Blandini, Lucio and Sobek, Werner and Roth, Daniel and Binz, Hansgeorg and Menges, Achim}, doi = {10.1080/17452007.2020.1856031}, eprint = {https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2020.1856031}, journal = {Architectural Engineering and Design Management}, number = 0, pages = {1-20}, publisher = {Taylor & Francis}, title = {Research on integral design and planning processes for adaptive buildings}, url = {/brokenurl# https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2020.1856031 }, volume = 0, year = 2020 }
Link
/brokenurl# https://doi.org/10.1080/17452007.2020.1856031
M. Maierhofer and A. Menges, “Towards integrative design processes and computational design tools for the design space exploration of adaptive architectural structures,” in International Conference on Emerging Technologies In Architectural Design (ICETAD2019), in International Conference on Emerging Technologies In Architectural Design (ICETAD2019). 2019.
- BibTeX
BibTeX
@inproceedings{noauthororeditor2019towards, author = {Maierhofer, Mathias and Menges, Achim}, booktitle = {International Conference on Emerging Technologies In Architectural Design (ICETAD2019)}, eventdate = {10}, eventtitle = {International Conference on Emerging Technologies In Architectural Design (ICETAD2019)}, title = {Towards integrative design processes and computational design tools for the design space exploration of adaptive architectural structures}, venue = {Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada}, year = 2019 }

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A02 - Development of integrative design methods and computational design tools for adaptive structures and their reconfiguration

The following research question will be scientifically investigated in this project:

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Subproject Leader

Publications

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BibTeX

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BibTeX

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Mathias Maierhofer

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A02 - Development of integrative design methods and computational design tools for adaptive structures and their reconfiguration

Funding Phase II

The following research question will be scientifically investigated in this project:

Subproject Leader

Funding Phase I

Subproject Leader

Publications

BibTeX

BibTeX

Link

BibTeX

BibTeX

BibTeX

BibTeX

BibTeX

Link

BibTeX

BibTeX

BibTeX

Link

BibTeX

Contact

Mathias Maierhofer

Audience

Formalities

Services

Organization