Parametric design, what is that?

Parametric design is a design method that is increasingly used in construction to create buildings that must meet many different criteria. With parametric design, a design is not immediately set in stone with every pen stroke or mouse click in a CAD program. A design is constructed from a combination of formulas (algorithms) and individual properties: the parameters. These parameters are processed in a model and linked to each other with specific formulas. If a parameter of formula changes during the design process, the entire design does not have to be redrawn. You just need to change the value in the parametric model and the design will be regenerated at the touch of a button.

But what should you think about with those parameters? You can think of sustainability criteria, such as CO2 consumption during construction, expected energy consumption during use an suitability for reuse after demolition. You can also consider quality criteria during use, such as daylight entry, acoustic performance, routing, etc. Naturally, aesthetic criteria such as appearance, dimensions and use of materials can also be entered as parameters in the model. The formulas determine the mutual relationships and the (relative) importance of these parameters in the final model.

The values of parameters, such as a lower desired energy consumption or a larger number of square meters of traffic space, and the relative importance of the parameters themselves are easy to adjust in a parametric design. This makes it easy to quickly investigate many variants, even in complex designs. At the push of a button it becomes visible what happens when a parameter changes.

Efficient designing

With the right tools and knowledge, the parametric model can be used at all stages of the process. The model created in the architectural phase can be further developed in the engineering phase and can then even be used in production management. Additional parameters can be added in the production software to meet requirements for construction, manufacturability and mounting suitability. This improves the efficiency of the entire (design) process and reduces the repetition of design work.

Parametric design is therefore a means to master the increasingly complex design process. A wide range of options, sometimes even contradictory, can be explored to arrive at the best possible design. The emphasis is on applying parametric design as a means, not as an end. It is up to the experience, knowledge and skills of designers to determine which parameters are entered into the model and what mutual importance these parameters have.