Architectural layout design optimization

This article presents an optimization model of the quantifiable aspects of architectural floorplan layout design, and a companion article presents a method for integrating mathematical optimization and subjective decision making during conceptual design. The model presented here offers a new approach to floorplan layout optimization that takes advantage of the efficiency of gradient-based algorithms, where appropriate, and uses evolutionary algorithms to make discrete decisions and do global search. Automated optimization results are comparable to other methods in this research area, and the new formulation makes it possible to integrate the power of human decision-making into the process.