Topological Networks Using a Sequential Method

The paper shares preliminary results of a novel sequential method to expand existing topology-based generative design. The approach is applied to building an interactive community design system based on a mobile interface. In the process of building an interactive design system, one of the core problems is to harness the complex topological network formed by user demands. After decades of graph theory research in architecture, a consensus on self-organized complex networks has emerged. However, how to convert input complex topological data into spatial layouts in generative designs is still a difficult problem worth exploring. The paper proposes a way to simplify the problem: in some cases, the spatial network of buildings can be approximated as a collection of sequences based on circulation analysis. In the process of network serialization, the personalized user demands are transformed into activity patterns and further into serial spaces. This network operation gives architects more room to play with their work. Rather than just designing an algorithm that directly translates users’ demands into shape, architects can be more actively involved in organizing spatial networks by setting up a catalogue of activity patterns of the residents, thus contributing to a certain balance of top-down order and bottom-up richness in the project. The research on data serialization lays a solid foundation for the future exploration of Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) applied to generative design.