The push for sustainability in construction has been an uphill battle. Renewable materials can be hard to incorporate. Additionally, it’s not always clear how to best design a building for efficiency. A new school of architecture called parametric design could change things.

What is parametric design?

Parametric design uses algorithms to shape a structure. Instead of manually laying out a design and manipulating features, architects refer to complex mathematical equations. The idea is that they’ll find the best possible result by breaking out of convention.

Today, parametric design is a heavily computer-driven process. However, it technically predates computers. One of the earliest examples comes from the early 1900s in the Cripta de la Colonia Güell, a church in Spain. The architect, Antonio Gaudi, used a series of strings and weights to test and determine the ideal shape for the vaulted ceiling.

Modern parametric design is far more advanced. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) and digital modeling to automatically run through multiple possibilities. Architects tweak these tool’s parameters and adjust the desired outcomes. That way, they can create the perfect design for their needs.

Parametric design’s impact on sustainability

This design philosophy is not strictly a green construction technique. Still, it has several big implications for sustainable building design.

Energy efficiency

Parametric design makes it easier to create the most energy-efficient structures possible. Algorithms can model how light, air, and heat would move throughout a building. This enables more effective passive cooling and similar power-saving features.

The Al Bahr Towers in Abu Dhabi are a great example. A dynamic shading system reduces solar energy absorption by 20%, resulting in lower cooling needs. The shades adjust to achieve the perfect angle to block heat while letting light in. As a result, the parametric principles at play produce huge energy savings.

Novel material selection

Parametric architecture can also simulate how various materials might perform. The algorithms can then highlight new, sustainable alternatives that designers would miss otherwise. Striking a balance between sustainability and functionality becomes easier.

Natural materials used in areas such as flooring can last for decades on top of using renewable resources. However, different options work better or worse in varying environments. Parametric design can overcome that challenge by factoring in the project’s specific requirements. It calculates materials’ resilience, carbon footprint, price and more. This helps architects identify the best all-around option for their needs.

Waste reduction

Determining the best building design through algorithms also reduces waste. The construction sector produces 600 million tons of scrap a year. Designing for long-term resilience and recyclability can reverse that trend.

AI can find ways to construct buildings without using as many resources. Alternatively, it could create blueprints around reused materials. It could also make it easier to demolish a structure while keeping the scrap for future projects. Parametric design makes a building easier to construct. That way, there’s less risk of mistakes requiring demolition and rework.

Challenges of parametric design

For all of parametric design’s advantages, it’s not perfect. There’s a reason it hasn’t become the new norm in construction quite yet. The biggest barriers are technological. Running these kinds of equations is complicated. Although today’s software can do it, not everyone knows how to use it well. More than 55% of companies today say a shortage of relevant skills keeps them from using new tech. Considering that gap, parametric software’s technical aspects could hold it back.

Overconfidence in technology can pose another issue. It’s easy to take an algorithm’s output as absolute truth, but even the most advanced computers make mistakes. Their accuracy also depends on their parameters. Designers who don’t adjust these settings correctly will limit the software’s ability to meet their goals.

The future of sustainable parametric design

While these downsides are significant, they won’t spell the end for parametric design. New technology will push it to overcome current limitations. Increased attention to sustainable building materials will encourage adoption.

AI’s continued growth will be a big help. As AI has advanced, it’s become more accessible. People don’t need as much technical skills or knowledge to use it effectively. Eventually, that trend will bleed into parametric design software. Architects will be able to use it effectively with little to no experience.

The growing demand for sustainable construction will also promote wider parametric design use. Many nations have made formal commitments to halve their emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Greener building methods are needed to achieve those goals. Consequently, the added pressure to become eco-friendly will inspire more architects to try parametric design. As they do, best practices will emerge and the industry will overcome common mistakes.

Architecture must evolve to support climate goals

The building and construction industry needs to adjust to help in the fight against climate change. This shift starts with better, more thoughtful design practices. Parametric approaches could be the answer. Parametric principles may not be perfect, but they are promising. As this school of thought develops, it could become the future of architecture.