PARAMETRIC NEXUS

Designing a Mixed-Use High-Rise for Urban Efficiency and Adaptability

In the evolving urban landscape, designing a high-rise that blends commercial, residential, and recreational spaces requires thoughtful planning and innovative approaches. Our project, Parametric Nexus, employs parametric design tools to optimize functionality, sustainability, and adaptability. Here’s a closer look at the key elements of our design strategy.

INITIAL DESIGN STRATEGY

Our mixed-use high-rise design focuses on blending functionality, efficiency, and aesthetics. The strategy involves:

• Massing & Form: Creating a parametric geometry tailored to the plot and defining the building according to its mixed-use typology.
• Functional Distribution: Allocating commercial, residential, and recreational spaces based on percentage requirements.
• Structural Integrity: Establishing a central core for vertical load transfer and lateral stability, complemented by a diagrid exoskeleton for structural efficiency.
• Façade Optimization: Using parametric tools to optimize façade performance and aesthetics.
• Floor Plate Design: Parametrically defining floor plates to adapt to functional requirements and site constraints.

TOPOLOGICAL MAP

Topological Map

The topological map illustrates the interconnectivity of spaces:

• Circulation Patterns: Highlighting vertical and horizontal circulation for efficient movement within the building. Vertical circulation includes a central core with elevators and staircases, ensuring swift and safe movement between floors. Horizontal circulation is enhanced through strategically placed corridors and bridges, designed to minimize travel distances and reduce bottlenecks. Additionally, the integration of pedestrian bridges between towers provides seamless connectivity, fostering collaboration and interaction across functional zones. These circulation strategies collectively support an intuitive and user-friendly navigation experience throughout the building.
• Spatial Relationships: Demonstrating the functional adjacency between commercial, residential, and recreational zones to optimize usability and flow. The design focuses on efficient movement and accessibility, ensuring that key zones are connected seamlessly. Commercial spaces are positioned for high accessibility, while residential areas are set back for privacy and quietness. Recreational zones act as transitional spaces, bridging commercial vibrancy and residential calmness. Circulation paths, both vertical and horizontal, are strategically planned to reduce congestion and enhance user experience, creating a cohesive environment for diverse activities.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

Challenge 1: Inadequate Sunlight

• Problem: Commercial and office spaces may experience insufficient daylight, leading to dull environments.
• Solution: Utilize materials that promote light penetration, modify the building skin and façade, and introduce multiple openings to maximize daylight accessibility.

Challenge 2: Optimizing Views

• Problem: Determining the best position for the building to maximize open views.
• Solution: Employ Galapagos (a Grasshopper tool) for parametric view optimization, balancing other constraints.

Challenge 3: Plot Adaptability

• Problem: Adapting the building design to varying plot sizes, topographies, and layouts.
• Solution: Develop a script that ensures adaptability to plot changes while maintaining structural integrity.

Challenge 4: Mixed-Use Functionality

• Problem: Ensuring that the design accommodates percentage changes in functional areas.
• Solution: A parametric script allows dynamic adjustments to area distributions and floor numbers based on usage changes.

WORKFLOW

The building generation process includes:

1. Function Siting: This step involves determining the placement of various functions—commercial, residential, and recreational—within the building. By analyzing the site’s requirements and constraints, spaces are allocated to maximize efficiency and enhance user experience. Commercial zones are placed for easy accessibility, residential areas are positioned for privacy, and recreational spaces are strategically located to serve as transitional zones, ensuring a balanced integration of functions.
2. Reshaping Form: The overall massing of the building is refined using parametric tools to adapt to site-specific conditions such as plot size, shape, and topography. The form is sculpted to address environmental factors like sunlight exposure, wind patterns, and view optimization. This dynamic process ensures that the building’s design is both context-sensitive and functionally optimized.
3. Structural System: A robust structural system is implemented, featuring a central core for vertical load transfer and lateral stability. The diagrid exoskeleton not only enhances structural efficiency but also contributes to the building’s aesthetic appeal. This combination of core and exoskeleton ensures the structure can withstand various loads while maintaining design integrity.
4. Clustering Blocks: Modules or blocks are clustered to suit functional requirements and circulation patterns. This modular approach allows for flexibility in design, enabling easy adjustments to accommodate changes in function or plot constraints. Clustering also simplifies construction and supports a systematic layout of spaces within the building.
5. Function Siting: Allocating spaces based on typology and requirements. This critical step begins with analyzing the specific needs of commercial, residential, and recreational zones. Commercial areas are strategically placed on the lower levels to maximize accessibility and public engagement. Residential units are elevated above these, providing privacy, quietness, and expansive views, ensuring a peaceful living environment. Recreational spaces are positioned at transitional or high points within the structure to act as hubs for social interaction and relaxation. The design carefully balances these zones, creating a symbiotic relationship where each function complements the others. Accessibility and circulation are prioritized, ensuring seamless transitions between zones while maintaining distinct spatial identities. Advanced parametric tools are employed to refine this allocation dynamically, allowing the building to adapt to evolving site constraints and functional requirements, ultimately ensuring an efficient and user-centric design.
6. Reshaping Form: Refining the massing to fit the plot and maximize efficiency. This process involves leveraging parametric design tools to sculpt the building’s form according to site-specific conditions such as plot size, shape, and topography. By analyzing environmental factors like sunlight exposure, wind patterns, and surrounding view corridors, the design ensures optimal building performance and user comfort.
7. Structural System: Integrating a central core and diagrid exoskeleton for stability.
8. Clustering Blocks: Arranging modules to suit functionality and circulation patterns.

CHALLENGES

The design addresses common challenges faced by high-rises:

1. Sunlight Optimization: The façade includes dynamic elements and multiple openings to enhance daylight penetration and reduce energy consumption.
2. View Optimization: Using tools like Galapagos, the building’s position on the plot is optimized for the best views without compromising structural integrity.
3. Adaptability to Plot and Function: Parametric scripts enable the design to adapt to varying plot sizes and functional needs, ensuring long-term viability.

BUILDING DETAILS

Building Details

• Core and Skin: Featuring a diagrid exoskeleton for structural stability and aesthetic appeal.
• Facade Adaptation: Iterative design for optimal tessellation and adaptability to environmental conditions.
• Statistics:
  • Joints: 1,824
  • Frame Panels: 240
  • Podium Levels: 3
  • Building Count: 3 towers

The building’s diagrid exoskeleton not only ensures structural efficiency but also adds a dynamic aesthetic to the façade. This design allows for large column-free spaces, fostering flexibility within. The façade further incorporates intricate tessellations, adapting to environmental conditions while maintaining visual harmony.

DRAWINGS AND DETAILING

Floor Layouts: Parametrically generated layouts ensure efficient spatial organization for restaurants, offices, and residential units.

Modules

Modules are designed to ensure structural and functional efficiency:

• Floor Plate Types: Divided based on usage (e.g., residential, commercial).
• Module Generation: Using Termite Floor Plan Generator in Grasshopper, with inputs including module outlines, entry points, and openings.
• Outputs: Walls, partitions, door/window placements, and nomenclature for each module type.

Adaptability

• Plot Size: The building’s form and functions adapt to varying plot dimensions.
• Height Variability: Adjustable building heights (A, B, C) address environmental and programmatic needs.
• Functional Distribution: The percentage of commercial, residential, and recreational spaces dynamically adjusts based on usage scenarios.

VISUALIZATION

Photorealistic Visualization 1:

PHOTOREALISTIC DESIGN VISUALIZATION – 2