Harmonizing Energy Flow: A Parametric Approach to Sustainable Building Design Based on Daoist Philosophical Principles Computational Modeling of Yin-Yang Balance in Building Energy Systems

Abstract

Sustainable building design is increasingly recognized as a critical component of global energy conservation efforts, yet prevailing optimization methodologies often prioritize purely technical metrics, overlooking the potential of holistic, philosophically grounded approaches. This research addresses this gap by proposing a novel parametric framework that integrates principles from classical Daoist philosophy into the computational optimization of building energy systems. We identify and formalize three core Daoist concepts—Yin-Yang balance, Wu Wei (effortless action), and Qi (energy) flow—into a parametric algorithm developed within a Rhino/Grasshopper environment. The algorithm was tested on a synthetic dataset of 120 building models across five distinct climate zones, comparing its performance against baseline designs. The results demonstrate that the Daoist-informed optimization approach achieves a significant energy reduction of 23% to 31% while concurrently improving metrics associated with spatial and systemic harmony. This study provides empirical evidence that ancient philosophical wisdom can offer a robust conceptual foundation for modern sustainable design, presenting a parametric tool that translates abstract principles into measurable performance outcomes and bridges the divide between ancient thought and contemporary building science.