Form Finding and Utility-Based Optimisation

In structural principles and designs materials are utilised for structural purposes and the properties of the materials are studied, tested and even developed regarding e.g. structural behaviour and architectural features. There is a steadily ongoing process of refining and developing the use, utilisation and properties of materials for the design of structures of all kinds. However, different objectives can be applied and different aims are taken as points of departure in the optimisation work, depending on the aimed at result, and energy, material and resource consumption should be regarded no matter what the aimed at use is. The question of how to optimise is also crucial in relation to managing and spending of financial and, not the least, natural resources. This paper treats in brief and exemplifies results of optimising efforts with different aims, optimisation for the sake of a rational production of complex multi-layered systems, form finding for the sake of structural efficiency of systems with reduced complexity and construction of architectural symbols and functional structures. Referred to are examples of timber structures for different purposes and some examples are given from the area of plate-based timber construction. Discussed are also other materials and structural efforts, since the basic approach to design factors and features, and to environmental issues, concerns all types of construction. Factors decisive for the rationality – and for which rationality that is the most suitable one to strive for in each case – are e.g. material quality, technological state and efficiency of the production line, speed of production, produced volume and type of architectural-structural interaction.