Abstract

Integrated architectural design takes into consideration various parameters at an early stage for the development of optimised buildings. One of these is naturally structural performance. In other words, integrating structural performance in the early conceptual design stages can lead to significant material efficiency as well as aesthetic quality. This is particularly relevant for structurally expressive architectural forms such as gridshells and tensile geometries.

This presentation will focus on how form-finding frameworks, and in particular graphic statics, can play a crucial role in integrated design and how it can enable the collaboration between architects and engineers. Relevant research conducted at CUED will be showed along with recent examples of applying these methods to real world projects.