Hydra is a bespoke tool which takes large geometry generation and simulation tasks and splits them into smaller components which are automatically executed in parallel. Hydra allows to speed up the evolution process and analyse highly complex problems in hours and days instead of months. It allows us to create several thousand options at the early design stages.

Guangming Hub is a new Transport Oriented Development situated on the high-speed rail link that connects Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. Based on the brief, an integrated team of architects and specialists identified a set of key objectives and constraints which would drive the initial placement of urban massing to positively influence urban growth in the region. a Hydra-generated massing was used as an inspiration and starting point for the team’s design explorations towards the production of the final model.

The idea was to create a reflective ceiling for this triple-height space at the top of the tower, to offer the excellent views across the city to visitors deep within the floor plan. The ARD team provided tools for exploring options in both virtual- and augmented reality and evaluated options using bespoke software for analysing reflective potential from the horizon to the ceiling to the occupants.