Performance-driven climate resilient design via an integrated multi-objective optimization framework: a case study of Bundanon Art Museum & Bridge

With growing climate impacts, broad resilience strategies often fail to address site-specific needs. This study develops a tailored, simulation-driven design for the Bundanon Art Museum and Bridge in Illaroo, New South Wales, a remote site vulnerable to bushfire, flooding and power outages. Four interlinked modules were simulated and optimized: passive systems (daylight shafts, adaptive shading, and natural ventilation); active systems (a hybrid variable air volume (VAV) and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system); embodied carbon reduction (cross-laminated timber (CLT) structures); and renewable integration (a photovoltaic (PV) and battery system). The integrated design increased spatial daylight autonomy from 20% to 77.5%, raised adaptive thermal comfort from 46% to 82%, and cut heating demand by nearly 80%. Additionally, upfront embodied carbon fell by 38%, while a 620 kW PV array with 860 kWh battery storage met 79% of annual load. This framework provides a scalable model for resilient, self-sufficient cultural facilities.