An Ontology-Aided Generative Computational Design Process for Ecological Building Envelopes: Development of a Conceptual Framework for the Early Design Stage

Michael Hensel (), Jakub Tyc, Albin Ahmeti and Defne Sunguroğlu Hensel
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Michael Hensel: Research Department for Digital Architecture and Planning, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Vienna, Austria
Jakub Tyc: Research Department for Digital Architecture and Planning, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Vienna, Austria
Albin Ahmeti: Research Department for Digital Architecture and Planning, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13, 1040 Vienna, Austria
Defne Sunguroğlu Hensel: Landscape Architecture and Urban Ecology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-32

Abstract: The context for this article is sustainable and ecological green city and building design; the intent is to advance architecture and ecology integration and multi-species design in architecture through the development of a conceptual framework for and computational approach to the early-stage design of ecological building envelopes, which are enclosures of buildings that make provisions for humans, plants, and animals. This entails two research questions: (1) how to integrate architectural and ecological domain knowledge into a conceptual and methodological framework and (2) how to develop a computational workflow and components for the early-stage design of ecological building envelopes. A mixed-method approach was used to develop an ontology-aided generative computational design process that combines computational ontologies, a voxel model, and rule-based processes that generate design variety. The process was developed to support two dominant design cases in architectural practice: masterplan design and building design. This article outlines the underlying key concepts, the computational workflow, and the developed key computational components and summarily indicates validation approaches during the development process. Finally, thoughts on the technical implementation of the computational workflow and components are indicated and further research questions are outlined.

Keywords: ecological building envelopes; ontologies; knowledge graph; voxel model; rule-based process (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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