Otimização de Custos em Fases Iniciais do Projeto de Arquitetura - Uma Proposta DfMA Aplicada à Habitação a Custos Controlados Utilizando Ferramentas Digitais

Abstract

This research investigates the practical application of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) principles in the development of precast concrete facade systems for Social Housing (SH), focusing on cost optimization through parametric digital tools and generative design processes. The study is based on the hypothesis that incorporating manufacturing and assembly constraints during the early stages of architectural design can improve project efficiency and reduce overall construction costs. The case study is structured into three main stages. In the first stage, concrete facade panels manufactured by KREAR are modelled within a BIM environment and subsequently applied to a pre-existing Social Housing project. In the second stage, the facade geometry is parameterized using the Grasshopper environment. During this phase, optimized facade configurations are generated through generative design tools, prioritizing the reduction of the final project cost. At this stage, the geometric development incorporates guidelines derived directly from manufacturing and assembly processes. As a result, industrial constraints become design rules, establishing geometric parameters associated with the production and assembly capabilities of the components. The third and final stage consists of a comparative analysis between the solution developed using a traditional design approach and the solution generated through the application of DfMA principles combined with computational design methods. This comparison seeks to verify whether the incorporation of production and construction parameters into the design process effectively leads to economic optimization. The study primarily evaluates how the designer's parametric manipulation of the facade system can reduce costs associated with both the production and assembly of the panels. The proposed methodology makes it possible to assess the contribution of digital tools in supporting architects and designers, particularly in the cost control of Social Housing projects. The research demonstrates that translating the theoretical concept of DfMA into a practical and parameterized application enables the integration of design, manufacturing, and assembly within a single workflow, facilitating the analysis of results by the design team. The findings indicates that the adoption of computational design methods in combination with industrialization principles can significantly support performance-based decision-making during the early stages of the design process.