Computational Design and AI for Designing Climate-Neutral Buildings

Digitalization of the planning and construction practice offers software solutions for various problems and tasks, such as 3D-modeling, resource reduction, project coordination, or documentation. Such methods include, for example, Building Information Modeling, generative design, energy simulation, optimization, and artificial intelligence (AI) . These methods are being developed and tested in research environments and individual architectural firms. Computational methods can contribute to the design of carbon-neutral buildings and retrofits in various ways. However, their application in practice, especially in the early design phase that is important for climate neutrality, falls short of their potential. Existing studies focus mainly on the potential for improving and increasing the efficiency of specific design and construction methods. Studies on whether and how these computational methods are used and to what extent they contribute to an improved carbon footprint of the built environment are so far lacking.

This interdisciplinary research project sheds light on decision-making backgrounds for computational methods and their conditions of use for designing climate-neutral buildings and retrofit. A research team of architects and social scientists examines the social and technical requirements for successfully using computational design methods in practice.