Research at the Structural Xploration Lab aims at improving the way architects together with structural engineers design load-bearing systems for buildings. Driven by the pressing need for more sustainability, we explore new directions, develop new decision support tools, and prototype new construction techniques.
Our recent activities focus on the design of load-bearing systems made of reused and/or reusable components. As such, we are trailblazing academic research on circular building design, hoping it will become the new norm for the construction industry. We identify, develop, and assess new circular opportunities in structural design; we build algorithms to steer the shaping of structural systems that minimize environmental impacts through reuse; we develop indicators to assess reusability in buildings.
By the time a designer sketches the first iterations of the architectural/structural project, most decisions having a major impact on the building structure end-performance are already made. For instance, ill-placed uses and supports lead to difficult load paths, which eventually results in excessive amounts of material, more complex technologies, and higher costs. The recent advent of computer programming and graphical interfaces opens up new avenues for the interactive conceptual shaping of more efficient and suitable structural systems. We extends past theories, we develop new tools, and we showcase exemplary practices.
Meanwhile, we also nurture an interest for the following topics.
