The structural performance of any building design is often dependent on the geometrical shape, which affects its behavior and stability. Structural consideration and optimization in the conceptual stage of the design process can lead to better solutions and design exploration. In this paper, a design approach for generating and structurally optimizing the geometrical form in the conceptual design phase is presented. The method is applied to a canopy of an ecological island (waste collection center in Rome, Italy). We demonstrate how parametric structural design can facilitate the decision-maker to generate and analyze the optimal design solutions rapidly in the conceptual stage of the design process. Fully parametric models are created in a Rhinoceros3D® environment and interfaced with in-house built algorithms, and Finite Element simulations are performed in DubalRFEM. An ecological island’s canopy has been completely redesigned with a Genetic Algorithm and a Dynamic Relaxation Algorithm, resulting in a free-form shape-resistant structure. Finally, the shape-optimized canopy meets various requirements (structural, functional, formal) that improve structural efficiency and design collaboration, such as in the role of the architect and engineer in the design process and in the relationship between the designer and design tools.

In this paper, an optimization strategy for a canopy, based on computational modelling approaches is presented. The design approach is applied to a realistic roof structure of an ecological island (waste collection centre) and has been completely redesigned with the aid of a Genetic Algorithm and a Dynamic Relaxation Algorithm. The preliminary design of the roof structure can be formulated as a shape optimization problem, involving functional needs and constraints at different scales of the structure. The proposed hypothesis solution was studied by using an optimization procedure through algorithms in the software Rhinoceros3D®/Grasshopper®. The main aim of this work is to explore different modelling approaches for form-finding that can be built from the use of numerical simulations based on algorithms. To this aim, the need to meet various requirements (structural, functional, formal) involving a team of architects and engineers can be interpreted as a matter of structural optimization.