建筑布局的平面演变
Joel Simon's Evolving Floor Plans project optimises building layouts

由专筑网李韧，邢子编译

研究员Joel Simon设计了一种通用算法，用于提高建筑平面布局的效率。

Simon是纽约洛克菲勒大学的生物物理学研究员，他构思了一个项目，名为“进化式平面布局（Evolving Floor Plans）”。

这种算法能够将平面转化为标准平面布局，同时减少走廊的长度，节省使用者的步行时间。同时这会使得平面布局较为自由，而非传统的方形。

Simon认为这些平面有着“生物般的形态、可推敲的特质，以及非理性的构成”。

A generative design algorithm devised by researcher Joel Simon could be used to make floor plans more efficient.
Simon – who until recently was a lab member at Rockefeller University in New York, studying biophysics – developed the methodology for an experimental research project he calls Evolving Floor Plans.
His algorithm transforms a standard floor plan, to minimise the length of corridors and reduce walking time. This results in free-form layouts, with not a square or rectangular space in sight.
Simon describes the plans as "biological in appearance, intriguing in character and wildly irrational in practice".


优化后的平面走廊面积很小，这让建筑师能够考虑诸如开窗等其他元素／The optimised floor plans minimise corridors, while allowing you to experiment with factors such as window size

他认为，这种算法能够“自动设计”建筑，同时结合诸如3D打印等数字技术。

他告诉Dezeen的记者：“在2016年，我了解到建筑的3D打印，在一开始，我就想要充分利用这项功能。”

他继续说：“目前大多数工具与思考方式都停留在二维世界，设计任意的3D形式能够优化多个课题，例如材料应用、能源效率、声学体系等等，而这些认知却超出了人们当前的思考范畴。”

“那么，如果有这样一个工具，能够让我们像养宠物般自由地优化形式，那会怎么样呢？”

He claims the tool could be used to "breed" buildings, with the use of digital technologies like 3D printing.
"I came across some of the research in 3D printed buildings back in 2016," he told Dezeen. "While nascent, it got me thinking about what new types of design tools would be required to take full advantage of the medium."
"Most current tools and thinking are stuck in a very two-dimensional world of planar materials," he continued. "Designing arbitrary 3D forms optimised for multiple objectives – material usage, energy efficiency, acoustics – is simply past human cognitive ability."
"But what if generative tools could allow us to breed optimised forms the way we breed dogs?"


Simon通过缅因州的一所学校来证实了概念想法／Simon used the plan of an elementary school in Maine to demonstrate his concept

这种算法结合了Simon在于生物与计算机科学方面的经验。

在这项算法中，建筑的房间就如同节点基因，而每个节点都包含了诸如面积等信息。相互连接的节点贯穿在一起，表示房间彼此相邻。

然后通过映射的方式来完成布局形态。只要每个房间的中心点确定，那么多边形网格便能够构成墙体，最后再添加走廊。

Simon还增加了一个新选项，那便是建筑师可以设定房间的最大开窗面积。

The algorithm draws on Simon's experience in biology and computer science.
It imagines the rooms of the building as node genes, each imbued with information such as area. These are joined by connection nodes, which show the rooms need to be positioned adjacent to one another.
A mapping process is then used to create an optimal layout. Once the centre coordinates of each room are in place, a polygonal mesh is created to form walls, before corridors are added into the spaces between.
Simon has also added an option that allows you to specify which rooms need the biggest windows.


这种算法结合了生物与计算机科学方面的经验，因此每个房间都是一个基因节点／The algorithm draws on Simon's experience in biology and computer science, by imagining the rooms of the building as node genes

当前而言，这种方法并没有考虑诸如场地形态等外部限制，而Simon只是用它来练手。

但是，一些建筑设计者对于技术的应用十分感兴趣，Simon的兴趣也来源于此。为了探索建筑通用性设计的潜能，他还构思了其他模型。

他解释说：“我想象的是设计，而不是建筑，这也能引起城市与住宅设计师的兴趣，他们能够挖掘将这种策略结合到作品之中的潜力。”

“明显的是，这是一种实验行为，而非真正的实践。我一直在研究通用性设计工具的实践性方式，另外还有其他研究者们也在进行这项工作。”

At present, the method doesn't take any external constraints into consideration, such as building costs or the shape of a site. Simon intended it as a simple design exercise.
However he has since received interest from building planners who are interested in making use of the technology. He is also developing other models for exploring the potential of generative design in buildings.
"I imagined more the design than the construction, although it also got a lot of interest from city and residential planners who saw the potential for incorporating optimisation into their work," he explained.
"It's obviously more of an experiment or provocation than anything practical on its own," he added. "I have been looking into more practical implementations of generative design tools and there are a lot of other talented people looking into that too."


网格构成墙体，然后为空间添加上走廊／A polygonal mesh is created to form walls, before corridors are added into the spaces between

Simon已经在其网站上推出了这种方法。

除了Simon之外，还有众多的设计师与研究员正在将通用性设计方式应用到平面布局之中。一些软件专家认为，通用性设计工具能够在没有外部干涉的前提下自动形成建筑的最佳形式，这会大大减轻设计师的压力。

Simon has published his methodology in full on his website.
He is among a number of designers and academics exploring the opportunities presented by generative design. According to software experts, generative design tools – which produce optimum forms for products and buildings without human intervention – are set to transform the role of the designer.