Keywords

1 Introduction

The thematic areas of research investigating issues related to the ecological and digital transition transfer to the area of KETs, in terms of innovation and sustainability, the opportunity to experiment with new approaches and models. In this discussion, the investigation applied to the topic of ‘green responsive systems’ [1] measures the ability to address the complexity of global issues related to ‘transformation and construction impacts’ and how these can be optimized from an ecological perspective through the use of methods and tools defined in the Advanced Circular Design approach.

The aim is to develop and refine the previous scientific positions in relation to references to design activism that have underpinned past attitudes and actions, and to find alternative declinations of the Circular Economy paradigms [2] by investigating the design of sustainable materials, components, and construction systems for architecture.

Engage in an interdisciplinary approach to the radical innovation of meaning [4] through the measurement of the degree of hypersustainability and the use of enabling technologies (digital and process).

This research implements the experiences related to the study of the potential that technological systems for the integration of elements of a biological nature [5], and/or from recycling sources have in the UpCycling project, in their ability to innovate, in form, and process, materials derived from waste or refuse processes.

In the following proposal, a framework has been proposed for the digital transformation of the built environment and the architecture of the transition towards a resilient system for the management of the circularity of resources and the optimization of performance in the building organism by intervening in the frontier space, controlling its impacts.

The issue of ‘Liminal Space Design’ becomes a central node in the development of responsive technological systems integrated with physical and digital devices since the qualities to which the system aspires do not only concern the optimization of adiabatic operation at the building scale, but the new definition of ‘liminal space’ incorporates in the design the processes of optimizing the energy and environmental balance of the physical and climatic context in which it is inserted. The levels of applied experimentation, through regenerative digital design, intend to overcome the limits of the predictive approach tool itself and go as far as coupling concepts capable of realizing the ‘jumping scale,’ interfacing data-information-resources in configured and ‘site-specific’ design scenarios.

In the context formulation, the Liminal Space is defined as a driver to achieve carbon neutrality and a positive impact on the mitigation of the climate change effects.

The definition of the Green Responsive Model became the central node to identify the main topic to address the experimental settings to achieve the principal aims presented in the paper.

The literature review proposes a critical reading based on the evolution of the design for sustainability and presents state of the art to identify tools and practices in the design experiences for the digital and ecological transition in the architectural practice.

The methodological approach based on a Parametric Workflow process to design responsive technological systems is presented to explain how the integration of the physical aspects in the operational phase with the digital simulations of the climatic conditions based on the IPCC Climatic Scenarios is directly related to the increasing of Global Surface temperature with the CO2 emissions.

To be clear on the extent of the impact on CO2 emissions that various building materials produce, it is necessary to take into account the indicator known as the global warming potential of a product (GWP). GWP is a standardized way to measure the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product from the extraction of the material of which it is composed, up to disposal or recycling at the end of its life, and is expressed in CO2eq / m2 and/or Kg [6].

The experimental themes addressed in the research doctorate experiences and in the competitive projects within ABITAlab, and in the experiences made in the NYIT laboratory that investigates the relationship between hypersustainability and enabling technologies [7], between advanced design and transition scenarios.

By enhancing the Green Responsive Model qualities through the dissertation wants clearly link the optimization of the adiabatic functioning of the building with the succession of the processes for optimizing the energy balance of the environmental system.

The results show how the system is affected by the precedent topics and gives the mid-term results, that allow the experimental setting to validate, at least, the readiness level of the processes.

To summarize the topics that will be found within the paper, they can be listed:

Introduction; Literature review; Experimental context; Green Responsive Model; Methodology; Green Responsive System approach; Results; Conclusions.

2 Literature Review

The last few decades have witnessed a scientific revolution in the field of architecture [8] that has led to a profound understanding of the relationship “between form and sustainability” that the natural systems can assume when they are placed in urban contexts.

By the assumption of state of the art, the intention is to provide a contribution to frontier research in which paradigms theoretical and experimental results are innovated and transferred to operate the transition scenario in the building industry both on a building and urban scale.

In this sense, the innovation proposed is not only based on the superimposed use of plug-ins for life cycle analysis and plug-ins for the optimization of environmental context factors.

The level of innovation is measured by the use of overlapping plug-ins to delimit the quality of the output data, referring to both the L.C.A. to the environmental context.

The contribution reports some theoretical and experimental activities in progress in which this condition indeed represents the fundamental contribution to the evolution of the principles related to environmental sustainability in architecture and the innovation of its design and construction processes.

In the study of these principles, the theoretical precepts on the evolution of design for sustainability are assumed as proposed in the definitions by Ceschin [9] and in the study of life cycle performance systems and physical-environmental performance proposed on the themes of regenerative design [10].

Since there are few references regarding the transfer of the principles of the circular economy into transferable numerical parameters in an Algorithm Aided Design system [11], the proposed research has moved towards the areas for the assessment of sustainability (L.C.A.) [12].

The study also wants to organize the responsive systems for vertical greening as a green technology [13] and their inter-organizational relationships through sustainable management of the value chain of UpCycling materials.

All the published and updated literature in question is taken on this subject, from Badrulzaman [15] with his evaluation of the impact of the vertical vegetation system on the cooling effect on skyscrapers and surroundings in 2011, in Afrin in the possible integration of plant plants in tall buildings 2009 [16], which provided to characterize two main types of vertical greening system such as modular truss/support systems and support/cable and rope systems.

The literature review tries to incorporate all the technological devices and formal configuration systems that are capable of offering an increased performance as CO2 storage units, both minimizing the impacts on the life cycle and through systems capture and disposal of CO2 emissions rate (par.2.1).

The technological aspects want to underline the importance of the and the possibility of studying plug-ins, workflow, and methodologies not to answers to urban heat island (UHI) issues but as strategies for mitigating the effects of climatic aspects on the built environment (Par. 2.2) [14].

2.1 Enabling Technologies for the Ecological Transition in the B.E.

The contribution of digital and physical technologies for the mitigation and adaptation of the atmospheric phenomena of global warming needs a deep and advanced reading based on a sustainable design strategy that is able to contribute to the ecological and digital transition of the construction sector.

The literature review wants, in the experimental architectural field, to review all the design practices and the most advanced technologies able to reduce CO2 emissions.

Several examples of technological exaptation [17] in the UpCycling design practice can be found in the studies based on technologies for the “permanent sequestration” of CO2. Among these, one of the most relevant examples of UpCycling recorded in the world panorama is the CO2 mineralization technology [18] patented by the San Francisco company Blue Planet, which allows capturing and permanently sequestering CO2 from any source of emissions.

The process, in this case, involves an exact capture system, which in fact can use CO2 extracted from any source, in any concentration, and transform it into aggregates for construction.

Although each ton of the aggregate produced allows for the permanent disposal of 440 kg of CO2, preventing it from escaping or accumulating in the atmosphere, any necessary supply of CO2 can be considered one of the limits of this experiment.

In fact, the mechanical extraction of the latter would not be at the same level as the patented system. It would not be sufficient to cover the amount necessary to mitigate emissions on a global scale significantly.

The study in question invites us to reflect on the possible applications to mean in the relationship between nature and the built environment (Fig. 2). Complementary answers in this sense must indeed absorb the results obtained in the experiments concerning new consumption models [19], which contemplate considerations of differences in the design evaluations.

The aim is to have a point of view based on the experimental field. Several tools have been studied and sequenced in a reiterative process to achieve the complexity required by the transition mechanism to reach the resiliency aspects by design.

2.2 Parametric Approach for the Digital Transitions in the B.E.

The study retraced the advancement proposed by the "Regenerative Digital Design" approach, his proposal of a radical change of perspective, which defines the fundamental principles of regenerative Design, focuses on new digital “tools” and their applications to support the design phase.

The focus is on those models that support an interdisciplinary performance assessment, with the aim of showing the state of the art of the computational optimization techniques (Parametric Design) that helps to achieve regenerative, open, implementable, combinable design objectives in its “simulation” states as “predictive” digital prototyping experiences.

State of the art presents essentially three different processes to reach an interdisciplinary relationship with the environmental performance by parametric Design and operational phase optimization.

The first is the algorithm-aided Design to identify the characters for the so-called co-optation of components; the second is the performance-driven design approach for generating the performance model; The synthesis finds its natural evolution in applications to an advanced circular design, designed as a regenerative algorithm to be used for the UpCycling of innovative materials, components and construction systems for architecture.

The second is the parametric algorithmic design approach (Grasshopper) is performed in several approaches to extend the geometric capabilities of the software. In particular, the relevance of the system can be found in the ability to manage and interface in formal way materials, components, and systems able to interfacing both with environmental aspects with the optimization of the components in terms of performance capabilities.

The last parametric model is then defined by the basis for the UpCycling Design in the Green Responsive model within the advanced circular design process, determining the taxonomy of the components and coding their language, thus allowing to reach an evolutionary approach with computational methodologies and tools.

In the realization of the prototypes, therefore, we try to experiment and visualize the factors that optimize the climatic adaptation of the components, the circularity of resources, and biodiversity in the built environment [20].

The operational step involves the use of plug-ins that interact in the parametric space of Grasshopper. Specifically, the LadyBug + HoneyBee tools report on the performance status of the experimentation object, describe the endogenous aspects related to the composition and functioning of the component/system (HoneyBee), and analyze the environmental aspects related to the scenario in which the experimentation is conducted and allows you to perform accurate simulations on performance scenarios (Ladybug). [21].

The synthesis of performance-based design approaches assisted in a parametric environment naturally flows into a regenerative process of responsive optimization of building components and systems, which actually achieves advanced circular Design.

The proposed approach aims to demonstrate that a sufficient comparison can be provided for the optimization of the parts in an advanced circular perspective already in the early design phase, adding to the performative tools, the parametric evaluation tools of the impacts.

This type of study is done by comparing the operation of the Grasshopper Cardinal L.C.A. and Bombyx 2.0 plug-ins.

By accessing international opensource databases, an L.C.A. of a simplified type and the impacts on the entire life cycle of the buildings are quantified, visualized, and optimized in an algorithmic sequence, having an objective comparison of the values ​​in terms of CO2eq / Kg, determining the optimization on the GWP.

2.3 Lack and Gaps

The increase of the Performance-Based Design Optimization Processes presents still few deficiencies in terms of lack of validation.

The experiences that emerge from the reading of the case studies become necessary to recognize all the capabilities of the process enabling technologies, which innovate the UpCycling project, but it's also useful to highlight the gaps and the lacks in the general sector.

The investigation and practice of the technological functions that influence the performance in the design phase, for the most part, concern the aspects related to the realization with the use of simulation and digital manufacturing techniques, which operate evolutionary management in the use phase (Responsive Consumption) and optimize the disposal of reusable building components (Advanced Disassembling).

The approach based on performance deepens the relationships that the experimental project undertakes with the physical environment, focusing the study on the aspects concerning the performance attributes, referred to quantifiable parameters that can influence both the quality of the environment when they intervene in the aspect's performance of the building, both on the measurement and visualization of the impacts [22].

For any further applications, we had to consider the increasing trend in using Grasshopper components instead of using single common simulation software for any kind of computational analysis in the design field.

The intention of this paper in the optical to fast the digital and ecological transition is to overcome the difficulties and fill the gap related to the lack of inclusivity of simulation tools in hybrid systems with an integrated system.

3 Experimental Context

“Liminal space” in hybrid buildings, according to the literature review, accounts for over 40% of heat loss in winter and overheating in summer [23], in addition to the embodied energy that is involved due to its presence within the building organism as a predominant mass element (Fig. 1).

The Liminal space in its morphological aspects increased in its performance by the G.R. model helps the reclaiming process by extending the lifespan of building facades and reducing maintenance costs in the long term.

The analysis of the concepts proposed for the definition of the Green Responsive Model wants to contribute to the advancement of the technology applications and digital simulations in the integration of processes for Zero Carbon construction processes and elaborating environmental sustainability in the built environment through the definition of several processes to achieve the climate neutrality targets [24].

The protocol that is perfectly suited to the transitions model is based on the performance adaptation of the carbon sequestration technologies and on the mitigation of the factors that contribute to reducing the climate change effects by optimizing the adaptability of the UpCycling project in the project.

It is also highlighted how the integration with biological systems contributes to the protection from environmental damage such as extreme heat radiation and high rainfall [26], hence the need for a systemic approach in liminal space, according to the Green Responsive Model principles.

The systemic responsivity to this type of phenomenon highlights the concepts of transformative resilience through technologies of adaptation to phenomena that increasingly appear as the directly tangible effects of climate change due to rising temperatures [25].

The validation of the UpCycling project with a Green Responsive System approach is qualified in the Advanced Circular Design environment by performing and evaluating in the parametric environment the workflow as a tool to enhance the importance of the digital transition in the construction sector to improve the sustainability aspects.

According to the aims, the proliferation of biological nature in the urban environment became an additional aspect to contribute to the conservation and increase of biodiversity in the urban environment [26].

Fig. 1.
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Green Responsive Envelope (source: Thesis Research R.Raso, ABITAlab, 2020)

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4 Green Responsive Model

The subject of the experimentation concerns the integrated design [27] and the hybrid prototyping [28] of the components for the construction of modules and systems for the vertical greening to enhance the ecological transition in the built environment through digital practices and optimization processes.

The approach called “Green Responsive Model,” within an Advanced Circular Design process, re-interprets the set of possible solutions for the ecological optimization of the advanced and circular project through a technological system to create vertical and horizontal closures of casing and components integrated into the urban space, with a strong responsive character and capable of offering high ecological performance.

The idea stems from the need for a holistic approach to design for the prototyping of the “liminal space” industrial component, which can trigger, in its characterizing processes, mechanisms capable of improving the relationships resulting from the contact between the building and the exterior, in its third environment and for which the envelope border takes on a “liminal” function.

The “green” nomenclature, of which the approach to prototype experimentation has, intends to include in the field of experimentation all those systems of a biological nature that allow the creation of materials, components, and systems for bio-ecological architecture with a high energy profile and with an environmental load close to zero.

This system, capable of contributing to the climate neutrality of hybrid buildings, for example, thanks to the functional co-optation [29] of its components, increases their configuration capabilities as a CO2 store and as a mitigator of climate-changing gas emissions into the environment and optimizes the life cycle [14], assuming an open configuration depending on the context/environment system in which it is inserted.

The evolution of the proposal of a multi-objective optimization framework is realized in the integration of LCA and Energy Optimization Analysis [13] to the trade-off between embodied and operation energy and with the plus given by the approach of using Urban Mining resource supplying and the renewable energy generation systems to decrease the building operational phase consumption.

Technologies and projects that operate in UpCycling on resources deriving from scraps or waste for the creation of innovative frontier components to increase their ecological value [30], intervening in the development of its performance attributes and using the advantages of computational design tools.

In this sense, design approaches based on increasing ecological performance have been examined, understood as the ability to store C02, and have studied the life cycle stages of the building from the cradle to the grave.

The proposed framework on a case sample was studied to measure the versatility of the upcycled systems to balance the embodied energy and operation energy.

The innovation at this stage is to add an UpCycling factor to optimize and balance the embodied energy and energy of the exploitation period through the control of material procurement processes and process innovation in which the returning of increased ecological performance lightens the environmental load to achieve low energy buildings using parametric modeling and genetic algorithm.

5 Methodology

The research on the themes of Advanced Sustainable Design, in which the approaches to circular design and UpCycling are placed, interprets the mission of the necessary ecological and digital transition in the construction sector and for the architecture of zero-impact buildings and spaces, reforming design processes and the use of computational simulations and prototyping strategies.

The methodology chosen for the creation of the model provides for the definition of a dedicated and original framework for the implementation of production models linked to the circular economy.

The relationships of those aspects, when they work together in the built environment, want to translate into advanced construction systems with a strong ecological character.

For characterizing this methodology, there are the two research trajectories that connect the issues related to UpCycling, indicating the fields of environmental issues related to the optimization of the “liminal space” and the search for “formal configurations” in the field of design. [10].

The basic foundations at the small scale are approached regarding the evolution of design on an architectural project without depletion involved in the design practice the radical innovation on circular design in the scientific field,

In the large-scale conditions, the contextual operating environment, taking into account the scenario that represents the application domain and its optimization in the parametric environment.

Within the field defined by the experimental environment, a design cycle iterates its alternative solutions between the processes related to the performance and construction activity of the artifacts and their subsequent evaluation and optimization, focusing on the aspects defined in the development of the framework on the advanced circular design (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2.
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Diagram scheme for ISG*DT – Integrating Sustainability Goals and Design Theory (source: D. Lucanto, NYIT, 2021)

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The drafting of the methodological proposes a synoptic framework for the digital transition of the construction sector to achieve the circularity by design in the construction sector.

The structure of the methodological approach enhances the systemic resiliency by including in the same workflow the management of the circularity of resources and the optimization of performance in the building organism by intervening on the liminal space, controlling it the impacts.

6 Green Responsive System

“Every organism in nature avoids excesses, avoids overbuilding, and obtains maximum efficiency with the minimum amount of matter and energy.” [31].

Nature finds a use for everything, adapts it to local conditions, and uses the sun and other natural sources of energy, but above all, it uses only the energy and resources that are needed. Assuming this behavior is part of the systemic approach exemplified by the Green Responsive Model.

In this particular and urgent scenario, every type of transformation is activated to increase the quality of life of living and therefore, the regenerative processes, which concern architecture and the city, must look at the adaptability of each action in its processes, from design to “zero impact” creations. In the contribution illustrated below, we focus on the ability of circular design to activate virtuous processes of control and management of these transformations.

The current experience of the Circular Advanced Design project applied to the frontier environmental system is presented with prototype experimentation called “Green Responsive System (G.R.S.).”

The capacity that the prototype/model is called to optimize concerns the performance measured on the reference environmental unit, considering the relationships between the environment and the building organism, innovating the component through the use of new materials in UpCycling. From construction.

The “green” meaning, which is given the name of the prototype being tested, intends to broaden the field of experimentation towards all those systems of a biological nature that allow the creation of materials, components, and systems for bio-ecological architecture with a high profile environment and with an environmental load close to zero, which thanks to the functional co-optation of its components increases its configuration capabilities, as CO2 storage and as a mitigator of climate-altering gas emissions into the environment.

The theme of the Liminal Space, as an example of a transition mechanism in the building sector, it's studied as the space of relationship and mediation between the indoor spaces and their border space by extending to the context and its components.

The theme of the Liminal Space goes beyond the concept of building envelope since it does not consider, in the study of technological unity, the only element of internal/external separation, but designs with other profiles all the technical elements of an adiabatic nature that offer a dynamic response system, positively influencing the performance related to the environmental and regenerative requirements of the entire building and its internal and external environmental units.

First of all, two types of prototypes were identified in terms of embodied energy and the qualities for the integration of biological materials and greening.

The two prototypes (Fig. 3) were created and studied during the exchange period abroad in the NYIT advanced manufacturing laboratories.

This sample was selected with a focus on the conventional construction system in the Innovation market to investigate the potential of this kind of process to increase the efficiency and conversion of conventional buildings to positive energy buildings to put into practice the digital and ecological transition in the building practice.

Fig. 3.
figure 3

Images of the UpCycling exhibition held from March 31st to April 30th at the Italian Cultural Institute in New York (Curated by A. Melis, C. Pongratz, M. Perbellini, NYIT, 2022)

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The model of an architectural structure and its associated experimentation demonstrate how it is possible, through a new approach, to “produce an architectural structure of any size, shape, or height, whose visible or exposed surfaces can present a permanent growing vegetation cover.” [32].

Research into architecture has demonstrated that natural systems and structures are efficient in terms of material use, lightness, rigidity, and stability, so it is no surprise that designers can learn much from them regarding efficiency and sustainability [18].

6.1 Environmental Optimization for UpCycling Process

Cities today, as well as the structures, materials, and design of their areas, display a lack of integration with biological and nature-based systems, which is certainly harmful to the climatic characteristics of these areas. [33].

Temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed are used as boundary nodes to optimize the model.

Solar radiation and climatic characteristics were obtained through simulations on Grasshopper using the LadyBug Legacy Plug-in. Solar radiation is emitted onto surfaces depending on their orientation, inclination, and shading pattern.

Through the HoneyBee plug-in [34], where the same facade geometries were inserted, the adiabatic operation was calculated based on the physical configuration of the system and the exposure level of the studied part. The air velocities in the vicinity of the canyon were calculated with the CFD code EDDY 3D. [35].

In order to determine the optimal parameters in the Grasshopper environment, first, the geometric and the performative variables were identified.

The geometric variables include external shape, composition, and configurations that determine the capability to integrate a biological system in its evolutionary phase.

The performative one was included as a consequence of the geometric shape and as a result given by the materials used.

In the experimentation, all those characteristics are considered to favor the growth of spontaneous bio-vegetative species that interpret the principles of exacting resilience in integration with advanced technological systems.

Then, the geometrical type was constructed as optimization parameters (Fig. 4). Next, by identifying the parametric variables, including embodied energy, the possible integration of renewable energy, and embodied environmental cost of each parameter, these data were entered into the grasshopper environment and were added to the attributes of each variable.

Fig. 4.
figure 4

Parametric Workflow to integrate the Operational phase impact with the GWP impacts (source: LCA Experimentation in D. Lucanto PhD Thesis, ABITAlab, 2022)

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The illustrated application measures the growth capacity on different types of surfaces, exploiting the various levels of humidity and PH levels controlled in the computational phase for their growth and diversification.

Climatic file According to the case study was located in New York City and was extracted in epw format and attached to the model. The energy calculation time setting was set to one year and multiplied by 60 according to the 60-year lifespan intended for the building.

Fig. 5.
figure 5

Parametric Workflow to identify the Range of the proposed design solutions to assest the performative range (source: LCA Experimentation in D. Lucanto PhD Thesis, ABITAlab, 2022)

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In the following, according to Fig. 5, an algorithm was written in the Grasshopper environment that divided the energy output of the LCA engine [36] into two modes. In the first case, where the scene is the use of Advanced 3D Printing (Fig. 6), the geometry generated by the parametric succession of the design is deducted from the overall complexity in the parametric environment, and simultaneously the embodied energy generated by the optimization is added to the embodied energy of the building (Fig. 7).

The second scene is the use of the municipal grid system to power the building, in which case the results go directly to the output. At this point, the cost of each of these scenes is calculated by multiplying the energy consumed by the price per unit of energy (Fig. 5).

Fig. 6.
figure 6

Parametric prototyping steps of the first prototype considering the computational design 3d printing optimization, and the environmental optimization (source: Prototyping Experimentation in D. Lucanto PhD Thesis, ABITAlab, NYIT, 2022)

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Fig. 7.
figure 7

First Prototyping evolutionary based at his greening stage (source: Prototyping Experimentation in D. Lucanto PhD Thesis, ABITAlab, NYIT, 2022)

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The experimentation conducted configures the contact surfaces for the proliferation of devices capable of accommodating natural systems for the storage of CO2 through computational systems (Fig. 6).

Fig. 8.
figure 8

Parametric prototyping steps of the second prototype considering the computational design 3d printing optimization, and the environmental optimization (source: Prototyping Experimentation in D. Lucanto PhD Thesis, ABITAlab, NYIT, 2022)

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The component innovated in this phase allows for to study of the integration in advanced systems of algae, bacteria, and photosynthetic organisms and photo reagents that feed on carbon dioxide fumes and their capacity once inserted in complex systems of oxygen and nutrient release for growing biomass (Fig. 7) (Figs. 8 and 9).

Fig. 9.
figure 9

Second Prototyping evolutionary based at his greening stage (source: Prototyping Experimentation in D. Lucanto PhD Thesis, ABITAlab, NYIT, 2022)

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7 Results

In the optimization process, an optimal first workflow was obtained from the Green Responsive Model in the parametric environment.

Due to a large number of different plug-ins in all the functions at this stage, it is necessary to analyze the Green Responsive System sensitivity to obtain an optimal solution considering the life cycle assessment and the consumption of energy in its operational phase.

Fig. 10.
figure 10

Taxonomy of the proposed technological solutions (source: Parametric Experimentation in D. Lucanto PhD Thesis, ABITAlab, NYIT, 2022)

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As shown in Fig. 10, the marked line represents the combining of different ranges of lifecycle-based parameters, indicating that all the solutions can be optimized in a reiterative way that uses the parametric geometric modeling system, and as they get closer to the optimal combining of components, the variety of solutions becomes more intense, reflecting an increase of complexity in the design solutions.

This type of solution shows further room for improvement because the optimization of the orientation and the adaptation to different surrounding environmental conditions can improve the renewable energy consumption over the material life cycle.

The areas shown with the fine lines are the solutions that use only a few parameters of optimization, and they do not fall within the optimal solutions for the purposes of the study.

Therefore, based on Green Responsive Model optimization, the two prototypes shown in the previous paragraphs are located in the range of optimal solutions.

The range refers to the priority responses to the use in the life cycle of the advanced materials and gives priority to reaching less embodied energy in the material life cycle.

In the conclusive graph shown in Fig. 11, the most optimal point is selected in each of the attempts that have been sought in the iterative process of parametric design.

This diagram shows that the use of more plug-ins used in the life cycle of materials can be considered an advantage but can still mean more energy consumption in the whole life cycle of the building than normal.

Therefore, it is necessary to consider the effect of the database available in the life cycle of materials in both prototypes in comparison with the energy consumption of the entire life cycle of the building.

This suggests that it is important to consider the energy of the entire building life cycle in order to determine the effect of each of the objective functions on the other and to achieve the optimal answer.

Next, to select the optimal solution, a Green Responsive Solution was selected from each of the parametric optimization processes, and they were next separated according to ISO14040 to focus the processes with the highest energy expenditure on the life cycle energy consumption.

The results of the comparison of the two prototypes shown in Fig. 11 illustrate that the Green Responsive Model can effectively act as a useful tool for the digital and ecological transition in the construction industry because it is capable of reducing energy losses and CO2 emissions by 30%.

Furthermore, integration with biological systems contributes to the passive functioning of cities.

Fig. 11.
figure 11

Graphs of the results of the comparative analysis on the life cycle of the optimized components (source: Parametric Results Experimentation in D. Lucanto PhD Thesis, ABITAlab, NYIT, 2022)

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8 Discussions

The resulting double positive effect enhances the optimized life cycle performance achieved in the parallel computational optimization of the selected plug-ins (Cardinal LCA and Bombyx 2.0).

The dissertation aims to provide a practical framework for evaluating embodied and operational energy trade-offs based on the integration of Environmental Analysis and Life Cycle.

Combining these factors and the multi-objective optimization process can allow the selection of optimal solutions, considering the wide range of factors that affect energy efficiency and life cycle cost for designers and planners in the early design phase to improve the decision-making.

Based on the studies proposed, the methodology, and the data obtained, it can be summarized that:

  • A computational optimization process can achieve optimal solutions for reducing energy loss, cost, and adverse environmental effects through an integrated approach to building life cycle thinking. By incorporating the approach of building life cycle thinking, taking into account various shaping factors affecting energy and life cycle costs, and adequately planning the early design phase and the life cycle of the building, optimal solutions can be implemented.

  • The study demonstrates how it is critical to consider the building shapes and materials used in the construction process in order to integrate a biological integration into the built environment in terms of sustainability and resource efficiency.

  • It was demonstrated in the results that by using the proposed framework and reducing the time for the optimization process, the proposed platform could provide a platform in which renewable energy can be considered in the optimization process.

9 Conclusions

The authors retrace the salient points of the positions presented in the paper, in conclusion, taking into account the relationships between state of the art, a methodological comparison, and a description of the results obtained through proto-typological experimentation.

According to the interpretation of the succession of contributing thoughts to the knowledge process referenced to the systemic resilience in the field of design for the ecological and digital transition in the built environment, there are still several open paths to explore:

Each type of experimentation on the issues of ecological and digital transition requires a strong experimental character.

  • The design experimentation carried out in the field of architecture is based on the radical innovation of digital tools and processes that make it possible to achieve a high level of operation based on the ecological performance of the system.

  • The recent constitution of the reference literature and the strong interdisciplinary character allows to decline the experimentation towards a new cognitive level of the reference discipline.

  • The experimental character of the pre-presented prototypes represents a borderline case that underlines the openness to new developments of the outputs obtained. The output data in this sense are therefore strongly influenced by the tools used, hence their performance value is underlined strictly referred to the context of the experiment where they are measured.