Optimizing corridor-type apartment floor layouts under regulatory constraints: a hybrid GA–SA–PSO and SWARA–CoCoSo approach

Purpose This study aims to develop a regulation-aware decision-support framework for optimizing corridor-type apartment floor layouts during the early planning and feasibility stage. The framework seeks to support developers and project managers in generating, evaluating and selecting feasible floor-layout alternatives while simultaneously satisfying selected encoded regulation-derived constraints, floor-efficiency targets and development objectives. Design/methodology/approach The study formulates corridor-type apartment-floor planning as a mixed discrete–continuous optimization problem under Vietnamese regulatory constraints. A hybrid optimization framework integrating genetic algorithm (GA), simulated annealing (SA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) is developed to generate feasible layout alternatives. Regulatory requirements related to fire safety, circulation and geometric feasibility are embedded directly into the optimization process. Subsequently, the Step-Wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA)–Combined Compromise Solution (CoCoSo) multi-criteria decision-making approach is employed to determine criterion weights and rank feasible alternatives according to stakeholder preferences. Three floorplate-capacity scenarios (Amax = 1,000, 1,400 and 1,800 m2) are examined through repeated computational experiments. Findings The proposed framework successfully generated feasible corridor-type apartment floor layouts that satisfied the selected encoded regulation-derived constraints and development-performance criteria. Results indicate that the 1,000 and 1,400 m2 scenarios achieved consistently high feasibility rates, whereas feasibility declined under the 1,800 m2 scenario because of increased design complexity and constraint interactions. For the representative 1,400 m2 scenario, five feasible alternatives were shortlisted for multi-criteria evaluation. The SWARA–CoCoSo analysis identified Layout A2 as the preferred solution under the baseline developer unit-mix target, reflecting the most favorable compromise among floor efficiency, premium-unit placement, accessibility to the vertical circulation core, floorplate utilization and unit-mix satisfaction. Sensitivity analysis further showed that the preferred alternative may change when the developer-defined product strategy is modified, with A3 becoming preferable under a more 1BR-oriented target. Originality/value This research contributes to the construction management and residential planning literature by proposing an integrated framework that combines regulation-aware layout generation, hybrid metaheuristic optimization and multi-criteria decision support within a single workflow. Unlike many existing studies that focus on identifying a single optimal solution or treat regulatory requirements as secondary considerations, the proposed framework embeds selected regulation-derived feasibility constraints directly into the search process and provides a portfolio of feasible alternatives for decision-making. The study offers a practical tool for supporting feasibility-stage planning and investment decision-making in high-rise residential developments.