Review and Suitability of the Conception of Architectural Design for the Structural Design of Building Covers
Abstract
Background: Architectural and structural design are frequently managed as sequential specialties, even though decisions on geometry, spatial organization, materiality and structural systems are strongly coupled from the earliest project stages. Objective: This article reviews the suitability of architectural design conception for structural design and proposes an integrated framework for decision-making that connects architectural intent, structural performance, sustainability, and digital information management. Methods: A qualitative documentary analysis was conducted on the supplied manuscript, recent peer-reviewed literature on BIM, multidisciplinary design optimization, generative design, digital twins, and life-cycle assessment, and current technical and normative sources, including ISO 19650, the second-generation Eurocodes, and the Peruvian regulatory and BIM framework. The material was analyzed thematically and categorically across four axes: design integration, structural performance, sustainability, and digital interoperability. Results: The synthesis identifies seven recurring integration requirements: early structural participation, explicit load-path reasoning, shared information structures, performance-based iteration, life-cycle environmental assessment, constructability feedback, and human validation of computational outputs. BIM is most useful when treated as an information-management methodology rather than a visualization tool; generative AI and optimization add value mainly as design-space exploration mechanisms subject to code-based and engineering verification. Conclusions: Architectural suitability for structural design should be evaluated as a coupled performance problem rather than as a late technical adjustment. The proposed workflow provides a practical framework for multidisciplinary design and supports application in Peru, where BIM adoption and the E.030 seismic regulation are being updated in 2025–2026.