Optimal Form Analysis of High-Rise Buildings to Enhance Urban Livability and Energy Efficiency Using Karamba Plugin

Abstract

In recent decades, the increasing development of high-rise buildings in metropolitan areas has become one of the primary indicators of vertical urban expansion. These structures are not only significant due to their specific design and construction requirements, but they also serve as prominent elements in the urban skyline, playing a key role in shaping spatial identity. One of the major challenges in high-rise design is selecting architectural forms that simultaneously satisfy aesthetic criteria, structural efficiency, and resilience to lateral loads such as earthquakes. The present study aims to examine the impact of floor plan geometry and vertical scaling on the structural performance of high-rise buildings using a genetic algorithm optimization approach within the Grasshopper environment, enhanced by the Karamba plugin. In this context, lateral displacement was analyzed as the seismic vulnerability index, and structural weight per unit area was assessed as the structural efficiency index, both serving as objective functions. Through multi-objective analysis and the definition of geometric variables within a parametric model, a set of optimal forms was generated. These optimized forms can serve as a basis for design decision-making depending on the priorities set by the designer. The findings indicate that forms with simple roof plans (triangular) and compact vertical scaling demonstrate superior performance in terms of seismic behavior and structural weight. Furthermore, the results show that the final design response is not a single definitive solution, but rather a set of "Pareto-optimal solutions," from which the designer can select the final form based on visual aesthetics, compatibility with climate, and project context. The final analysis of the models was conducted within the parametric Grasshopper environment, and the results can be generalized and applied to similar projects under diverse climatic and structural conditions.