/2. M.Arch Thesis : Generative Design towards Regenerative cities

Design Brief

Throughout history, cities have continuously adapted to overcome challenges by embracing cutting-edge technologies. This balance between the city and its environment, however, was disrupted after the industrial revolution, leading to cities that have remained relatively unchanged since the 1950s. Today, we face new challenges, particularly climate change, and we must rethink how to restore this long-held balance.

Two concepts have emerged as potential solutions: regenerative design and generative design. Regenerative design goes beyond sustainability by aiming to create a surplus of resources and achieve a negative carbon footprint. Generative design serves as the methodology adopted to realize the vision of a regenerative city.

To facilitate the transition towards regenerative cities, an algorithm has been developed. This algorithm generates multiple city designs and simulates various data, including topography, walkability, required natural resources, and climate analysis. Through an iterative process, the algorithm identifies the best possible options, enabling informed decision-making for sustainable and regenerative urban development.

About

Year : 2020

Authors EL Forsi Mhamed

Location : Laayoune, Morocco

Type : Academic

Softwares : Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, GHPython Adobe Premiere

Methodology

Drawing inspiration from the concept that “a city is a pattern in time,” a model was developed to explore and identify various patterns. The objective was to define the most optimal pattern that aligns with the needs and aspirations of future residents. This model takes into account the dynamic nature of cities and aims to anticipate and respond to the evolving requirements of its inhabitants. By analyzing different patterns and their potential impact on various aspects such as livability, sustainability, and functionality, the model seeks to identify the pattern that best meets the future residents’ needs.

Grasshopper Definition

In order to establish a sustainable and regenerative city that thrives throughout its life cycle, we draw inspiration from the concept of viewing the city as a living organism. To achieve this, it is crucial to understand the spatial requirements of the city and its various needs. To address this, a parametric model has been developed to calculate the population threshold that the city can accommodate, as well as its needs in terms of agricultural land and energy.Using this data as a foundation, we optimize the city’s design while providing guidelines for the designers. This approach ensures efficient resource utilization and a holistic design process that supports the city’s long-term sustainability.

Final result

The adopted working methodology addresses a long-standing debate among planners: whether to pursue a top-down planning approach or allow the city to naturally evolve. In response, our approach combines elements of both. We employ a parametric model that generates multiple forms, allowing for emergent patterns to arise. Subsequently, we apply genetic algorithms to optimize these forms, aligning them with our objective of creating regenerative cities.

By embracing this hybrid approach, we harness the power of planning while also leveraging the potential for organic growth and adaptation. The parametric model serves as a starting point, fostering creativity and exploring diverse possibilities. Through the use of genetic algorithms, we refine and optimize these generated forms, aiming to strike a balance between planned interventions and the emergent qualities that can arise from them.