Design For Reuse - Toolkit

Design for Reuse (ReMake) /

The ReMake toolkit is a set of computational design systems and matching algorithms that allow the direct link and real-time feedback between design models and material libraries. Developed iteratively through several projects and commissions, it provided a continuously growing toolkit at White Arkitekter.

The work with limited sources and project specific material banks can be enhanced through computational approaches, where the user gets information of the implications of each design decision, and creates a seamless.

ReMake design systems employ five main functionalities:

1. Data to Geometry Automation
2. Digital Twin for Inventories
3. Reuse Centred Design Process
4. Algorithmic Matching Process
5. Realtime Reporting

1. Data to Geometry Automation

Material libraries are usually documented at the backend in the form of raw tabular data, so the first procedure often is processing and interpreting the data, automating the creation of geometries and attaching the metadata to each geometry.

Once a system is established, this geometry automation is extremely beneficial and time saver, allowing for an agile workflow that tackles different material libraries and any future changes in a material library with almost an instant update for the created digital twin inventory.

2. Digital Twin for Inventories

After automating the creation of geometries, they are then organized into a digital twin inventory, integrated into the design model and ready to be used by the relevant users, stakeholders or designers in an informed design or planning process.

Each geometry is a digital twin for its corresponding physical object, and carries a comprehensive Material Passport with key metadata such as:

Identification / type / location / physical properties / geometrical description / quantity / environmental properties / lifecycle information, …etc.

3. Reuse-Centred Design Process

A primary goal for documenting material libraries is to give the elements a new life and reuse them in the same or a different building or design, for environmental and economical advantages.

Once a digital twin inventory is integrated in the design model, it is seamlessly accessible by the users and is ready to be used in the reuse-centred design process following two approaches:

1. Manual Deployment / Users can -in parallel- tap into the digital inventory, select a specific available object and deploy it in the design model to be manually positioned.
2. Automated Deployment / Design problems or use cases are identified (the ceilings in this example), and in response for each use case, multiple design logics are created, where each design logic is a parametric model connected to the digital inventory that allows for faster and more efficient reuse-centred design exploration on a larger scale.

In both approaches, a data dashboard is displayed for real-time monitoring of objects availability and other key metrics. Once a design decision is made, the primary digital inventory is automatically updated ensuring all users and authors working concurrently have access to the most current version and information.

In the context of a complex design situation, this means that several designers in different design models are able to check in and out materials in real-time in an informed collaborative workflow.

4. Algorithmic Matching Process

In certain design scenarios, the user might need to find optimal matches for elements already present in the design model from the material library. In such cases, ReMake utilizes procedural matching algorithms to automatically determine the most efficient matching sequence between the elements in the design model and potential reuse objects in the inventory. This technique employs the Greedy Matching Algorithm, prioritizing the matching of the most scarce elements first, followed by the next most scarce, and continuing in this manner until the maximum matching rate is achieved.

The user have full control over the custom matching criteria and can also refine the matching results and manually reallocate assigned objects if they are deemed higher priority through a trading interface.

In the first application (200 years pavilion), the parametric model was used for design exploration while the status and quantity of oak beams remained unknown until the last moment. The matching algorithm queried the material library for available lengths with each change, providing feedback through colour indications. Once the material state was confirmed, the library was updated, and a final design configuration was selected.

In the second application (Lumi) and as a transformation project, it faced complex issues of management when a large set of interior doors were to be reused, especially given the variation in their dimensions, classifications, and status. The ReMake matching algorithm was used to match already placed doors in the new design proposal, with the data base of inventoried doors available to reuse. The system provides an interface for the user where the database can be queried for best matches according to ten different criteria.

5. Real-time Reporting

Realtime reporting is a key aspect for reuse-centred design processes. ReMake provides a comprehensive monitoring and reporting dashboard that allows the user to keep track of the availability, environmental metrics and other key metrics relevant to the project in progress.

The real-time reporting is graphical, with the ability to export raw and/or tabular data.

There are two main types of real-time graphical reports that the user can toggle between:

1. Totals Report / Where a wholistic overview for the inventory is presented on screen, including reuse efficiency indicators for the inventory, summaries for the different material categories, and other main metrics like the amount of CO2 saved in the process.
2. Use Case Report / In this report, a summary for a specific use case is presented including detailed summary for every material group and sub-groups used in this use case.

Applications In Projects

ReMake was developed iteratively through several projects and commissions that provided a continuously growing toolkit at White Arkitekter.

200 Years Pavillion

This pavilion project repurposed oak beams from a dismantled sawmill in Järvsö for an architectural festival event space. The pavilion was reused at several events before becoming a permanent wind shelter for hikers in Järvsö.

Due to the unknown status of the beams until shortly before the event, a computational design system was developed to adjust the design on short notice and provide production documentation. This system integrated the design model with a geometrical representation of the oak beams, allowing parametric variations and querying the material library for available lengths with each change. Feedback was given through colour indications, and once the material state was confirmed, the final design was selected.

Karstadt am Hermannplatz

This second prize competition proposal responded to a brief with the main theme of Design Follows Availability where a locally documented material library was provided as an asset and requirement, with the scope of transforming a commercial property in Berlin.

The ReMake design system was set up to process the data from the given library of materials and building elements and allow several designers in different design models to check in and out materials in real-time, while providing feedback on the carbon footprint effect of design decisions. The design system also allowed for generative approaches for specific building parts, explored through the automated deployment of alternative ceiling elements across the complete proposal.

This image shows an overview for the decided reuse cases in the context of the proposed design.

Kvartat Ankan

This second prize invited competition proposal addressed a new build residential project in Norrköping, and conceptually employed the idea of a donor building that could provide the material resources for reuse.

A principle production process for the refurbishment of steel panels were included in the competition proposal. The ReMake design system was primarily used to visualise alternative designs and configurations* of these panels, including geometrical transformation through folding, and coloration.

Lumi

The Lumi project entails a transformation and extension of parts of an existing office complex in central Uppsala, where the retaining of the concrete structure already provides great benefits from a climate perspective. In this case, the project faced complex issues of management when a large set of interior doors were to be reused, especially given the variation in their dimensions, classifications, and status.

The ReMake design system was used to match already placed doors in the new design proposal, with the data base of inventoried doors available to reuse. The system provides an interface for the user where the database can be queried for best matches according to ten different criteria, and optional solutions are provided. Once a preferred alternative was selected, the user could save it, which would append the relevant data to the database as well as the design model.