INNOVATION IN GENERATIVE DESIGN
Danang City, Vietnam
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios LLP
Worcester Library and History Centre
The Worcester Library and History Centre is an integrated academic and public
library, a county archive and local history center, and a local authority hub. The
development includes retail and public spaces that connect key areas in the
city center. Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios set out to provide an iconic landmark
with a foundation of sustainability in planning, design, and construction. With
funnel-like shapes reminiscent of the Royal Worcester kilns, the distinctive
roofing system provides ventilation using building-integrated natural ventilation
controls and natural light suffused through glazing and shading.
allow sufficient natural daylight into the structure. Each funnel had its
own required area of glazing, which in turn affected the shape of the funnels
and baffles. As the funnel walls were modified, the geometry of the baffles
was automatically regenerated with no further user input, saving huge
amounts of time.
2009 BE INSPIRED AWARDS
The roofing system was designed using parametric modeling in
GenerativeComponents, which empowered the team to alter multiple variables
within the constraints of the design brief and troubleshoot problems as they
arose. The complex, nonorganic form of the funnel and ventilation baffles
created issues, but they were resolved with design changes made by simply
swapping in new components. Glazing at the top of the funnels was needed to
The environmental and structural requirements for the center were eventually
streamlined to create an efficient structure, eliminating 250 tons of steel
from the roof. When the structural center points of the roof were rearranged,
GenerativeComponents adjusted the model to accommodate the new layout.
The model that was created to produce visualizations at the bid stage of the
project was further developed once the bid was won, and a version of this
original model was ultimately used for construction information. This has saved
many weeks moving from contract award to final design.
