Algorithm-Aided Design Process: Different Types of Collective Housing for New Ways of Living

In the twenty-first century, large developments revitalized the concept of collective housing. At the same time, substantial changes have occurred in the design process due to the impact of new digital technologies. Nowadays, architects have designed from algorithms, which are written in a symbolic vocabulary and oriented by mathematically precise instructions, moving their actions in discrete steps. The emphasis shifts from the making of form to the finding of form, exploring generative digital techniques. In this research through practice, the key idea was to parametrically design collective housing in central areas of the city of Sao Paulo, containing typological diversity for different ways of living. Five main guidelines were established: i. units for different family profiles; ii. typological diversity of housing units; iii. mixing units of one and two floors; iv. flexibility and interaction of functions; v. increase in density for the compact city. This report is structured in this sequence: 1. definition of the parti based on pre-established parameters; 2. algorithm creation by generation of module types A to Z; 3. combinations between modules and types; 4. definition of the parametric random distribution of module types in the building. The original contribution is to explain the algorithmic-aided design process (AADP) in order to clarify how parametric modeling enhances architects’ ability to seek out and organize original shapes by mixing unit types. The obtained results demonstrated that the dynamics of the layout of the types of units on each floor enriches the composition with varied spatiality, generating innovative architectural spaces.