Biomimetic design processes in architecture: morphogenetic and evolutionary computational design.

Area of Science:

• Architecture
• Computational Design
• Biomimetics

Background:

• Design computation significantly influences architectural design methodologies.
• Distinguishing between computer-aided design and computational design is crucial for architectural research.
• Established biomimetic processes in engineering differ fundamentally from those applicable to architecture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explain how computational design facilitates the development of architecture-specific biomimetic design processes.
• To introduce the conceptual relationship and potential transfer of principles from natural morphogenesis to design computation.
• To present advancements in generative, feature-based, constraint-based, process-based, and feedback-based computational design methods.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of natural morphogenesis principles for design computation.
• Development and presentation of various computational design methods (generative, feature-based, constraint-based, process-based, feedback-based).
• Relating morphogenetic design research to exploratory evolutionary computation.
• Case studies on spatial envelope and urban block morphologies.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of how computational design can create distinct biomimetic architectural processes.
• Identification of transferable principles from natural morphogenesis to architectural design computation.
• Exemplary development of spatial envelope and urban block morphologies through case studies.

Conclusions:

• Computational design offers unique pathways for biomimetic architecture, necessitating distinct approaches from engineering.
• Morphogenetic principles and evolutionary computation are valuable for developing novel architectural forms.
• The presented computational methods and case studies provide a foundation for future research in architectural biomimetics.