Cubecell tower

- Designing a tower in tehran using cellular automata -

Type: multifunctional tower

Year: 2020

Location: Tehran

Area: 90000 m²

Status: Concept & Reasearch

Architects: DNA Group, Zahra Salehi

Brief:

The problem of the project was the design of a multifunctional 60-storey tower. Due to the needs and factors such as structure, energy, and performance needs, we came to the conclusion that the use of a computational process will be beneficial in achieving a faster and more efficient response. We turned to agent-based algorithms, specifically cellular automata. In this path, the intended goals such as the ability to prefabricate, change and reproduce and add parts at different times of this cellular system have been selected. Finally, by choosing several alternatives and analyzing them by using the Karamba plugin to check the structure, the energy analysis plugins in Grasshopper, and CFD to check the final form and shell against wind currents, the best option was chosen.

Contributation to the project:

Idea Development

Modeling: Rhinoceros 6.0 & Grasshopper & Python

Rendering: Lumion 11

Presentation: Photoshop 2020

Cellular Automaton

A cellular automaton consists of a regular grid of cells, each in one of a finite number of states, such as on and off. For each cell, a set of cells called its neighborhood is defined relative to the specified cell. An initial state is selected by assigning a state for each cell. A new generation is created, according to some fixed rule.

Void units: These units only form the edge of the work.

White units Units that are randomly converted into Cells, Terraces, and Spaces.

Fixed units around the core units: Units are considered fixed and do not change.

Core units: Fixed units that are essentially the structural part and the main core.

Generation Methods

First method : The number of generations is arbitrary and the number of classes is defined separately.

Second method : The number of levels required determines the number of generations.

Structure

The basis of designing the plans in this project is square modules. The system which has been chosen would be beam and column structure (bending frame) One of the reasons for choosing this structure would be the reproducibility of the structure based on designing the 0 to 15th floor to add some modules to the structure. Also, this structure allows repeating the pattern of filling and removing the modules in the plan environment in the height of the structure.

CFD Analysis

Karamba analysisStructure

Land use types

Vertical circulation design

7 passenger elevators and two freight elevators are located in the central core of the building.

There are also floors with a multiple of 10 safe floors and staff dining halls. There are also two escape routes Located in the core. 4 elevators and two other escape stairs have been installed which are located on both sides of the building and the closest place to the exit doors.