Robotic Fabrication of Performative Wall Systems with Integrated Acoustics and Structural Optimization

Acoustic design in architecture is considered as an additive layer; panels, foams, and absorptive materials applied after construction. This separation of form and function can limit the potential of embedding acoustic performance directly into tectonic systems. This research proposes a computational design and fabrication workflow that integrates structural and acoustic performance into the geometry of wall assemblies from the outset.
The workflow is structured around four components. First, a parametric design space defines wall curvature and local brick rotation. Second, multiple performance objectives, absorption, reflection, diffusion, and stability, are formalized as evaluation criteria. Third, a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (NSGA-II) explores trade-offs among these metrics, producing a range of Pareto-optimal wall configurations. Finally, robotic fabrication translates selected designs into a full-scale prototype, demonstrating the feasibility of digitally controlled construction with acoustically tuned geometry.
Results reveal distinct relationships between geometry and performance: convex walls with higher block rotation scatter sound more evenly, while flatter geometries and overlapping joints improve structural robustness. The Pareto front enables designers to navigate these competing demands rather than privileging a single metric. A 1:1 prototype (1.8 m × 2.0 m) fabricated by a six-axis robotic arm confirmed both precision and constructability.
This study frames acoustic performance not as a technical constraint but as a generative design driver, where geometry, structure, and sound operate as an integrated system. Beyond acoustic walls, the approach suggests a pathway toward performative tectonics in which architectural assemblies are designed and optimized for multiple environmental criteria.