Design space exploration for high-performance greenhouse design

This paper presents a case study in utilizing design space exploration techniques for the design of a greenhouse that extends the growing season for vegetables in Portola Valley, California. The work synthesizes disparate fields of research: greenhouse design and performance-driven early-stage design. The design problem involves variables relating to geometry and glazing ratio, which are adjusted to meet objectives based on lighting, thermal, and structural performance. Design space explorations are conducted to test greenhouse design rules of thumb, such as the importance of south-facing surfaces and the tradeoff between lighting and thermal performance that dictates glazing ratios. The results demonstrate how design space exploration techniques can validate and potentially augment these rules of thumb in greenhouse design, demonstrating a workflow for exploring and selecting design options that extend the growing season of select crops.