Smart Layouts: Procedural Design for Linear Retail

This course introduces a procedural generation framework designed for the early stages of shopping centre layout development, focusing on linear configurations. Using rule-based algorithms, learners will gain skills to automate the placement of walkways, tenant spaces, atriums, and essential infrastructure like escalators and staircases. Key topics include encoding design rules to optimize space efficiency, tenant visibility, and circulation flow, integrating human-centered design with computational methods. This framework provides a tool for architects and urban planners to streamline layout creation, enabling quick, adaptable layout variations in response to complex design challenges and spatial requirements.

Key Areas Covered:

• Walkway and Atrium Configuration: Generating circulation paths and central atriums to enhance accessibility and space use.
• Tenant Partitioning Rules: Efficient tenant space division through grid-based partitioning techniques.
• Staircase and Escalator Placement: Strategic positioning to optimize flow and evacuation standards.
• Procedural Generation Tools: Learning the tools and frameworks to automate early-stage design layouts.
• Interactive Design Adjustments: Adapting designs in real-time based on feedback and site-specific needs.