Generate early design options faster with AI
The Generate shapes with AI feature in Carbon Designer 3D automatically creates multiple compliant building shape options based on your site and design parameters. It helps you move from concept to feasibility in minutes. This functionality is available for Power Pack users.
How it works
At Step 2 of the design creation process, you can select “Generate shapes with AI.”
The tool generates four unique building scenarios aligned with your defined parameters. Each option complies with site constraints and aims to maximize usable space and carbon efficiency.
1. Define your key constraints
Set your project’s boundary conditions, including:
Maximum gross floor area (GFA)
Site dimensions and coverage limits
Minimum boundary distances
Maximum façade length and depth
Maximum number of above-ground floors
2. Let the AI generate options
The AI produces four variations that respect your constraints while optimizing for space and carbon efficiency.
If the requested area cannot fit the parameters, the tool will automatically reduce it and display the optimized feasible forms.
3. Compare and select
Review all four generated massings, compare their areas and proportions, and select the most suitable option for your project.
4. Continue to detailed analysis
Proceed to perform early-phase life-cycle assessment (LCA), calculate material quantities, and create further design variations by changing assemblies or materials.
Why use it
Early-stage design decisions have the highest influence on embodied carbon outcomes.
Using generative design in Carbon Designer 3D enables you to:
Accelerate early-phase design with instantly generated, rule-compliant building forms
Explore multiple options at once, identifying feasible and carbon-efficient concepts
Save time and reduce manual modeling effort in the pre-design phase
Start sustainability assessments immediately, linking design to LCA results
Availability
This functionality is available exclusively to Power Pack users.
To access it, open Carbon Designer 3D, navigate to Step 2 of the design creation flow, and select “Generate shapes with AI.”
Frequently asked questions
What is generative design in Carbon Designer 3D?
Generative design in Carbon Designer 3D uses AI to create multiple compliant building shape options automatically. It optimizes each option for carbon efficiency and usability based on your site constraints.
How does AI improve early design workflows?
AI eliminates time-consuming manual modeling by generating rule-compliant building shapes that meet site and height restrictions. This allows faster iteration and earlier carbon impact analysis.
Can I modify AI-generated forms?
Yes. After generation, you can manually adjust dimensions, parameters, or materials to further improve design performance or carbon results.
Does the AI model adapt to local regulations?
Not directly. The generated results follow the selected reference building region defined in Carbon Designer 3D. This ensures that the outputs reflect the regional datasets and building typologies stored in One Click LCA’s database, which include local carbon factors and compliance parameters.
How does this support sustainability certifications?
Using generative design with early LCA insights supports compliance with LEED, BREEAM, DGNB, and Level(s) by identifying carbon-efficient options from the earliest stages.