Daylight as an evolutionary architectural form finder

This paper presents a generic tool for generation and finding of curvilinear ceiling form according to required criteria of daylight uniformity ratios. A Genetic Algorithm was utilized as a process that simulates the behaviour and adaptation of a number of competing solutions through control nodes, as generations are created, tested and selected through repetitive mating and mutation. The computer implementation was developed and coded in LUA, a versatile scripting language. Radiance simulation software was employed as the backend daylighting performance calculation engine, and Ecotect as the front end form input and visualization tool. Conclusions about the optimum ceiling geometry and form for a designed example case were drawn, leaving the architect with a variety of choices for design. Results showed that this approach offers a robust and yet precise form finding method.