Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Instructor, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, National University of Skills, Tehran, Iran.
2
Undergraduate Student, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, National University of Skill, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Shopping malls, as complex and high-traffic commercial spaces, require innovative design strategies that simultaneously address visual quality, spatial legibility, and commercial value. In this context, biomimetic approaches — drawing inspiration from natural structures in the design process — hold considerable potential for meeting these demands, provided they move beyond mere aesthetics to achieve measurable functional objectives. This study aims to evaluate and optimize the visual performance and spatial configuration of a flower-structure-based biomimetic pattern in a commercial complex in Babolsar, Iran. The research adopts an analytical-simulation methodology, implemented through parametric modeling in Rhino/Grasshopper, genetic algorithm optimization (Galapagos), and quantitative analyses of three-dimensional isovist and Space Syntax. This methodological combination enables precise measurement of spatial qualities at both urban and interior scales. At the urban scale, results indicate that positioning the building mass at the center of the site — with an isovist value of 6% — and the double-petal pattern — with a mean isovist of 4.93% — provide the best visibility performance from surrounding streets. This finding translates directly into commercial value for retail complexes where attracting customers from urban space is of central importance. At the interior scale, the optimized biomimetic pattern demonstrates statistically significant superiority over the base form across all Space Syntax indicators. Integration increased from 5.16 to 9.40, connectivity from 21.53 to 100.79, and the choice index from 47.76 to 179.28. The most striking improvement is observed in the connectivity index, at a factor of 4.7, reflecting substantially enhanced visual and spatial accessibility between spaces. The increase in choice also diversifies movement routes, preventing traffic concentration at specific points. The findings suggest that a problem-driven approach to biomimicry— in which quantitative visibility objectives are translated into design parameters — can shift biomimetic design from mere imitation of natural forms toward performance-based architectural optimization. The proposed framework provides a quantitative basis for integrating biomimetic principles with computational design and spatial analysis, while helping improve visual accessibility, spatial configuration, and the potential commercial value of retail complexes.
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