BALANCING THERMAL AND VISUAL COMFORT THROUGH MULTI-OBJECTIVE PARAMETRIC FORM OPTIMIZATION: A CASE FROM YAZD, IRAN

Introduction. Building form plays a critical role in determining energy efficiency and occupant comfort, particularly in hot-arid climates such as Yazd, Iran. This study proposes a passive design strategy that leverages parametric modeling and simulation to optimize residential building forms for both thermal and visual comfort. Methods. A multi-objective genetic algorithm was employed to identify optimal geometric configurations across four different floor area scenarios (250, 350, 450, and 650 m²). Four primary form typologies — cubic, L-shaped, U-shaped, and O-shaped — were parametrically generated and evaluated using thermal performance metrics and daylight indicators. The results demonstrate that a rectangular cuboid with a shape factor of approximately 1.8, oriented along the north-south axis, consistently provides superior thermal comfort compared to other forms. Energy analysis revealed that the optimized configurations can reduce total energy consumption by up to 38.6 % while maintaining acceptable indoor environmental quality. This methodology supports data-driven decision-making in the early conceptual design phase, facilitating the development of context-sensitive, energy-efficient housing solutions in arid regions.