Automated Building Layout Generation: Implementation and Comparison of Streamer Early Design Configurator and SDaC Layout Designer

When designing new buildings, various constraints must be taken into account. These constraints encompass factors such as the overall building size, the number, function, and size of required spaces, and the surrounding neighborhood’s existing buildings, infrastructure, and natural environment. Presently, these constraints are predominantly considered in a formal manner during state-of-the-art design processes. This paper proposes a novel approach that aims to formalize space requirements and utilizes geospatial information surrounding the building site. This approach facilitates the generation of different design alternatives during the early design phase. The advantages of this approach are numerous. By representing space requirements in a machine-readable format, it becomes possible to semi-automatically generate various design alternatives for a simplified building envelope and a basic space layout. Particularly in large areas such as hospital districts or industrial sites, multiple options for the location of a new building can be explored. Leveraging geospatial information allows designers to assess whether a specific design variant can be practically implemented at a given location. ... mehrThis supports the decision-making process in selecting the most promising early design model, which in turn informs subsequent design steps. This paper introduces two methods, namely Streamer Early Design Configurator and SDaC Layout Designer, to generate multiple initial building floor plans. These drafts are enriched with additional data, including placement information, volume details, and space utilization. Ultimately, the floor plans are exported into three-dimensional objects and exported in the IFC format. This comprehensive step paves the way for more efficient and informed building design, promoting greater flexibility and adaptability in the early stages of the architectural process.