Affordable, performative, and responsive: Designing affordable responsive architectural prototypes through physical and digital modelling

Abstract

The significance of this research lies in the investigation of agglomerating issues of affordability in responsive architecture to achieve long term performative and cost-saving benefits. Conventionally, performance analysis of responsive design is evaluated using simulation of digital model. The inaccuracy of most building performance simulation leads to a huge prediction error in the actual building performance, which yields miscalculation in the building operational cost. This paper proposes a novel method for delivering a cost benefit analysis for responsive design. Two different strategies are explored in parallel. Firstly, hands-on approach through fabrication of physical models which directly associated to digital models, whereby the fabrication and operational costs of the physical prototypes are measured and monitored. Secondly, qualitative approach through cost benefit analysis of real world building projects which employ responsive architectural components. ©2011, Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA).