Parametric Form-Finding for 3D-Printed Housing (2026-04)¶

Additive manufacturing in construction is expanding production possibilities for housing, however its integration into architectural design workflows remains limited. This research proposes a computational workflow for the early-stage form-finding of housing volumes intended for additive construction. A parametric design system was developed to generate a wide range of residential volumetric configurations based on geometric parameters derived from conventional housing typologies and emerging 3D-printed construction practices. The design space was explored through user-driven experimentation and automated evolutionary optimization targeting predefined surface area conditions. Besides design alternatives were visualized using AI-assisted image generation to support comparative evaluation, translated into BIM models for further architectural development, and tested through physical 3D-printed scale models to assess material expression and constructability. Five design exploration activities involving architects and graduate students produced nearly 200 volumetric alternatives, in order to review its use and possibilities. The results show that the parametric system enables efficient exploration of both conventional and novel housing forms potentially compatible with additive construction. Vertically articulated volumes with curved envelopes and spatial variation emerged as promising alternatives. The study demonstrates the potential of integrating parametric modeling, evolutionary search, AI-assisted visualization, and physical prototyping to support architectural decision-making and facilitate the incorporation of 3D printing into housing design processes.