ReLifeCycle: A Parametric Design Space Exploration Tool for Enhancing Responsible Material Use in Early Building Design

The built environment stands out as a major contributor to global environmental impact, accounting for
35% of CO2 emissions and 50% of raw material consumption in the Netherlands. Responsible material
use, defined as the integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and circularity,
is crucial for reducing this impact. However, integration between these aspects is rare, and responsible
material use is often neglected due to limited knowledge among design-related decision-makers, as well
as a predominant focus on form- and cost-driven design. When considered, LCA, LCC or circularity
implementation usually happens in the technical design phase where design changes are difficult and
expensive. Hence, there is a need for a comprehensive tool that enhances responsible material use already
during the early building design stages. Parametric design is found to be a potential method for this end
due to its flexibility and optimisation potential for supporting Design Space Exploration (DSE). However,
after evaluation of existing research and digital tooling, a notable gap was identified regarding research on
the use of parametric design for enhancing responsible material use. To address this gap, ReLifeCycle
is introduced as a parametric DSE tool. This research adopts design science and systems engineering
methods and begins by defining requirements through user interviews, which are then translated into
the system design using Unified Modeling Language (UML) diagrams. An integrated framework of
assessment methods is made for quantifying LCA, LCC and circularity, with data stored in a relational
MySQLdatabase model. These components are the foundation for developing the ReLifeCycle prototype,
which includes a Grasshopper plugin for responsible material use assessment, a Human UI script for
a user interface, integration with Galapagos for Single-Objective Optimisation (SOO) and Wallacei
for Multi-Objective Optimisation (MOO). The prototype is validated through a case study and expert
opinion. The findings demonstrate the significant potential of parametric design for enhancing responsible
material use and supporting DSE in early-stage design, and emphasise the need for a paradigm shift
towards responsible material-driven design. However, the tool’s reliance on data accuracy, assessment
methods and building simplification, limits its ability to provide accurate real-world calculations. MOO
proved effective as a means for supporting DSE, but critical reflection on the results remains necessary.
Recommendations for further research include improving the integration of reusability, incorporating the
financial residual value of materials, establishing a Building Information Modeling (BIM) connection and
including operational and energy impacts