Discrete Optimization in Architecture - Architectural & Urban Layout

This book presents three projects that demonstrate the fundamental problems of architectural design and urban composition - the layout design, evaluation and optimization. Part I describes the functional layout design of a residential building, and an evaluation of the quality of a town square (plaza).
The algorithm for the functional layout design is based on backtracking using a constraint satisfaction approach combined with coarse grid discretization. The algorithm for the town square evaluation is based on geometrical properties derived directly from its plan.

Part II introduces a crowd-simulation application for the analysis of escape routes on floor plans, and optimization of a floor plan for smooth crowd flow. The algorithms presented employ agent-based modeling and cellular automata.



Dr. Machi Zawidzki's doctoral research focused on various optimization methods based on CI for the fundamental problems of the architectural design: Functionality, Structure and Aesthetics. His research interests are in
designing built environment, especially in ergonomics and architectural design.