Shaping Structures from Reclaimed Elements A Computational Framework for Stock-Constrained Design of Static Equilibrium

The reuse of reclaimed structural elements in new structures can be an effective way to lower their embodied carbon. However, integrating this approach into existing design workflows without affecting design freedom is challenging because designing with a predetermined inventory of structural elements highly affects the resulting design. Therefore, this paper presents a new framework aimed at facilitating the design and exploration of reticular structures incorporating reclaimed bar elements. The approach bridges constraint-based form-finding and stock-based assignment optimization, leading to a flexible and feedback-driven design tool. Comprising three key steps – i.e., layout, geometry, and assignment optimization – the framework enables the generation of structures that align with the characteristics of available stock elements while preserving design flexibility. Key feature is the geometry optimization, introducing a form-finding engine based on a proximity function and constraint projections. This expands the scope of stock-constrained design from a mere assignment task to a broad framework for exploring diverse forms within the vast solution space of structures that integrate reused materials.