2024-06-04T00:44:09-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150108746/optimizing-floorplans-via-experimental-algorithms Anastasia Tokmakova 2018-12-21T14:13:00-05:00 >2020-05-25T17:10:30-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/c5/c5860d288c708cee072002e4c44d3704.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>Recent computational tools that model the simulation of traffic, acoustics and heat conservation, among others, are allowing a more quantitative objective evaluation of forms. The metrics could be expanded to include terrain maps, sun paths, existing trees and other environmental input, allowing the buildings to be highly adaptive to their context. The physics simulation could force certain boundary shape constraints.</p></em><br /><br /><p><a href="http://www.joelsimon.net/evo_floorplans.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Evolving Floorplans</a> is an experimental research project created by a New York-based programmer, <a href="http://www.joelsimon.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Joel Simon</a>. When approaching floorplan design solely through the angle of optimization, a genetic <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/760093/algorithm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">algorithm</a> arranges the rooms and the flow of people in a manner that minimizes things like walking time, the use of hallways, etc. The layout 'grows' from the encoding using methods such as graph contraction and ant-colony inspired algorithms, resulting in something 'biological in appearance, intriguing in character, and wildly irrational in practice'.</p>