S t u d i o A i r

Algor i thmic Sketchbook

Chan Po Lun 722911

I selected the sea sponges from my sketchbook for this part. To make things simple, I just drew circles (curves) in rhino and then set curves in grasshopper. Then, I loft them. By changing the radius of the circles, I am able to create form that looks like sea sponges.

Then, I tried to make the same thing by using a more complex algorithm. Instead of drawing curves in rhino, I only used set point on rhino for once only. Then, I used move in grasshopper for the geometries that I drew in grasshopper that are set on different planes on different locations.

Since the geometries are eclipses and polygons, and the fact that I have count bars for them, I am able to mess around with the radius, segments and fillets for the geometries. The output was automatically different, as illustrated.

What I have learnt is that algorithm, generation, can be convenient to achieve changes in geometries, as contrasted with traditional way that I needed to re-size each curve. Also, exploration of form is also possible. As I just change the count of segments, for example, the form automatically update to be something different.

Also, I have noticed that I needed more training that rhino to achieve the same geometries. Because for grasshopper, I needed to have the ability to think in an algorithmic manner. While in rhino, the process of creation is fairly straightforward. I understood the time complexity and time that it requires to train someone in the industry to operate in generative design.

Week 1Sea sponges

Week 2 - Tree branches

A. B. C. D. E.

A. I made the tree shape using a point as starting point. Then I made curves through points and piped them.

B. I sectioned the pipes according to distance and rotation. But I realized the rotation section did not do a good job of sectioning in 2 directions.

E.

C. So, to section in 2 directions, I used a plane to offset and intersect with the surface. Then sections along Y axis are created.

E. I drew circles on planes along the surface of the tree branches and then extruded them. Their direction of extrusion as well as the length is controlled by attractor curve.

D. I morphed a meshed surface onto the tree branches. Their heights are controlled by a attractor point.

First I tried to make the reptile skin but I failed to cull it. And the subsequent steps did not work.

I fixed the way the panel works and got the pattern working under a boundary

Week 3 - Grid shell + Voronoi

Then I made the lines on a shell surface. I shifted the points on the lines to create intersected lines on the surface.

Lastly i tried to combine the shell with the reptile skin pattern and this is the result. It seems that the reptile skin does not attach on the surface.

Different types of fields are displayed under different field displays. The vector field overrides all field directions.

Different color indicates different directions.

1. Distance of the point charge affects the size of the circles.

2. Increased distance leads to bigger circles.

3. I changed the y and z in the algorithmic function and that affected the size of circles automatically.

Section display is perpendicular to the field charges.

color indicates the intensity of field charge.

Arrows indicate directions of field

Repeat inputs the outputs of a geometry.

Image sampled a tree into a repeated pattern of geometries pattern.

Shortlist is useful for connecting point to point according to the order on 2 curves.

Mid point of curve using point of curve. I find this most direct way of finding mid point.

Divide the curve into 3 points. the 2nd point should be the mid point.

Longlist is useful for connecting all points with available points on the other curve.

Cross reference is useful for connecting each points to every point on the other curve.

Week 5 - Graph mapping and image sampling

Non Teaching Week