Automation of circular design: A timber building case study

Abstract

As we strive to improve efficiency and minimise environmental impact in the construction industry, it is important to consider how these objectives impact the work and productivity of designers. This article presents a tool to assist designers in matching reclaimed building products with design intent. The demonstration is based on an actual design project of a two-storey public building made of reclaimed timber from disassembled barns. The algorithm’s objective is to propose optimal matching in terms of a structure’s environmental impact without overloading the user with additional work or excess information. The impact includes emissions embodied in material and related to the transportation from the donor site. The algorithm is integrated into the Grasshopper interface for easier use. All the inputs and objectives are quantitative and fully customisable. The user can still assess qualitative characteristics thanks to a graphical representation of the result. The demonstration shows how automation can simplify the design process with reclaimed elements, support traditional design workflows and enable improvements towards a more sustainable construction industry.