Multi-objective optimization of residential building design: Enhancing sustainability through adaptive strategies

Although large-scale residential renovation works have been deployed with their benefits consistently emphasized, little attention is given to the poor sustainability performance of renovation process, such as high costs, disruption to residents, conflicts of interest, and the generation of excessive noise and waste. From the perspective of enhancing sustainability through adaptive strategies, this study proposes a multi-objective optimization model for adaptive building design through the lens of the triple bottom line, using life cycle assessment, costing and Delphi method. All Pareto optimal solutions generated by the model demonstrate significant improvements in carbon emission reduction and social performance enhancement, with two solutions also achieving lower life cycle costs compared to the conventional alternative. These outcomes highlight the effectiveness of the proposed framework in balancing the triple bottom line and enhancing sustainability in residential buildings. Adaptive strategies, such as aluminum tile ceilings, despite higher initial costs, outperform other design strategies in terms of life cycle carbon emissions, costs and social performance due to ease of renovation and accessibility. Sensitivity analysis reveals that building lifespan and real discount rate are the key factors influencing the Pareto front. The novelty of this study lies in introducing the concept of “design for renovation”, filling the gap of existing research in balancing the triple bottom line and offering a new direction for future research on integrating adaptability and sustainability in architecture and urban planning. The proposed optimization framework serves as a consistent benchmark for assessing the sustainability performance of both new residential designs and existing residential renovation solutions, regardless of their country of origin.