Innovative design solutions for contemporary Tou-Kung based on topological optimisation

Tou-Kung, which is pronounced in Chinese and known as Bracket Set (Liang & Fairbank, A pictorial history of Chinese architecture, 1984), is a vital support component in the Chinese traditional wooden tectonic systems. It is located between the column and the beam and connects the eave and pillar, making the heavy roof extend out of the eaves longer. The development of Tou-Kung is entirely a microcosm of the development of ancient Chinese architecture; the aesthetic structure and Asian artistic temperament behind Tou-Kung make it gradually become the cultural and spiritual symbol of traditional Chinese architecture. In the contemporary era, inheriting and developing Tou-Kung has become an essential issue. Several architects have attempted to employ new materials and techniques to integrate the traditional Tou-Kung into modern architectural systems, such as the China Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo and Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum. This paper introduces the topological optimisation method bi-directional evolutionary structural optimisation (BESO) for form-finding. BESO method is one of the most popular topology optimisation methods widely employed in civil engineering and architecture. Through analyzing the development trend of Tou-Kung and mechanical structure, the authors integrate 2D and 3D optimisation methods and apply the hybrid methods to form-finding. Meanwhile, mortise and tenon joint used to create stable connections with components of Tou-Kung are retained. This research aims to design a new Tou-Kung corresponding to “structural performance-based aesthetics”. The workflow proposed in this paper is valuable for Architrave and other traditional building components.