Intelligent Form

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BACKGROUND Recent developments in computational design have enabled architects to explore form generation through processes inspired by natural systems, often described as “morphological evolution.” These approaches allow architectural form to emerge from performance-driven logics rather than predefined geometry. While topology optimisation methods such as the bidirectional evolutionary structural optimisation (BESO) algorithm have demonstrated strong potential in structural engineering, their integration into architectural design and full-scale construction remains limited. A key gap exists in translating algorithmically generated forms into buildable systems that reconcile structural performance, material behaviour, and fabrication constraints. This project addresses this gap by investigating how performance-driven optimisation can inform both architectural form generation and construction workflows.

CONTRIBUTION Intelligent Form is a design-led research project that explores the integration of topology optimisation, digital fabrication, and advanced concrete construction. The project applies the BESO algorithm to generate architectural geometries directly informed by structural performance. As lead designer, Dr Nic Bao collaborated with Xin Yan, Prof. Yi Min ‘Mike’ Xie, Jianan Peng, and Wei Qiu to develop the computational design framework and construction strategy. The project establishes a workflow that links algorithmic formfinding with fabrication and assembly processes. The resulting structure is realised as a large-scale symmetrical architectural wall (approximately 2.8m high and 5.5m long). To enable fabrication, the digital mould was segmented into 80 components, 3D printed, and assembled in a controlled environment. Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) was then applied through layered spraying, followed by curing, demoulding, and on-site assembly. The project demonstrates how structurally optimised geometries can be materialised through hybrid fabrication workflows, achieving a synthesis between structural efficiency and architectural expression. The work embodies a duality of material performance—combining the mass and durability of concrete with the visual lightness of optimised structural form.

SIGNIFICANCE The project was exhibited as a poster in the ACADIA + CAADRIA Joint Exhibition: Habits of the Anthropocene at the University of Hong Kong (2023), featuring a curated selection of 50 international projects. The exhibition was jointly organised by the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA) and the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia (CAADRIA), two leading global organisations in computational design research, evidencing strong peer recognition within a highly competitive international platform. It was curated by an international academic team including Assia Crawford and Leyuan Li (University of Colorado Denver), and Haotian Zhang (The University of Hong Kong), with contributions from leading researchers and practitioners in computational design. The work was also disseminated globally through an online exhibition platform, extending its reach beyond the physical venue. This project represents an innovative contribution to performance-driven architectural design by establishing a direct methodological link between topology optimisation and fabrication-aware design. It extends the application of optimisation algorithms from structural engineering into architectural construction, forming part of an ongoing research trajectory in hybridised digital and robotic fabrication. The work demonstrates a successful translation of topology optimisation from theoretical development to architectural realisation, bridging computational design and construction practice. By integrating algorithmic form-finding with advanced concrete fabrication techniques, it establishes a scalable pathway from design computation to built form. This contribution supports the development of next-generation architectural systems that are structurally efficient, materially expressive, and responsive to fabrication constraints, advancing research in computational design, digital fabrication, and intelligent construction.