AALBORG UNIVERSITY

BSc02 2017

Matematik: Struktur og form

Module coordinator: Prof. Martin RAUSSEN

Vector Operations in

Grasshopper

Lecturer: Dario PARIGI

Associate Professor

Department of Civil Engineering

Teaching assistants for Grasshopper

Mads BRATH

Rasmus SKOV

image courtesy of ROK architects

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12:30 13:00 PART 1 Introduction to Grasshopper

Parametric modeling introduction

Rhino & Grasshopper interface

13:00 to 13:30 PART 2 Vector operations in Grasshopper

Vector operations in Grasshopper

Intro to exercise

image courtesy of ROK architects

Parametric design allows designers to overcome the limitations of traditional CAD

software tools, reaching a level of complexity and control which is beyond the human

manual ability (A. Tedeschi)

Rhinovault- designing funicular shapes in Rhino - image courtesy of Block research group

Design efficient (and beautiful) structural form

Rhinovault- designing funicular shapes in Rhino - image courtesy of Block research group

Handle interactively complex geometries

interactivity / real time control of 2d and 3d geometries / evaluation of performance

Lectures will start with a link to the mathematical content and extend towards its

relevance in architectural design, which will be evident in particular in the

miniprojects. The content lecture will revolve around the skills that will be

required to deal with the miniprojects

MP1 MP2 MP3 MP4

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Parametric software enables:

• to rigorously handle complex geometry

• to generate effortlessly potentially infinite design variations

• to test the design variations against various performance criteria (structural,

acoustic, light intake, energy,etc...)

You can compare for example the structural performance of multiple design

solutions in real-time

it is a tool that helps making informed decisions during the design process

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In a parametric design environment you can define the meaningful

geometric relations by means of parameters

PARAMETRIC DESIGN

ParametersThree hinged-arch

Rise arch 2(Top chord)

Rise arch 1(Top chord)

Key height

Centering

Rise arch 2(Bottom chord)

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In a parametric design environment you can define the meaningful

geometric relations by means of parameters

PARAMETRIC DESIGN

ParametersThree hinged-arch

Rise arch 2(Top chord)

Rise arch 1(Top chord)

Key height

Centering

Rise arch 2(Bottom chord)

As a consequence you can generate almost effortlessly many design alternatives

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BSC01-ARK 2017 Waterloo station- London – Grimshaw Architects

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Parametric modeling is much more than a tool that speeds up your job, as it also

changes the way you approach design issues

By testing your solution over multiple performance criteria you can reduce

arbitrariness and make informed design decisions in the initial , exploratory

design process

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Conventional CAD applications either operate at a very low semantic level (lines,

arcs and circles) or present a higher level, but predefined, semantic (walls, windows

and doors)

The low semantic approach is very general, it does not constrain expression, but

captures little meaning. It is fine as a substitute for a hand drafting (e.g. Autocad)

The higher, but predefined, semantics approach can be extremely useful and

productive if one is working within a design or engineering discipline with well-

established conventions, and with agreed components and inter-components

relationships (e.g. Revit)

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These existing applications are a reasonable response to conventional notion of

design, with established architectural semantics. […] the problem, which is widely

recognized, it that this approach treats architecture and construction as a bounded

or “closed” domain, which can be sufficiently described by a finite set of application

entities and operations.

Very conservative force that reinforces conventions

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Are these existing solutions useful in the exploratory design process?

The one based on primitive shapes is insufficient, the other based on construction

conventions as walls windows and doors unnecessarily forces the designer to think

in a specific and detailed way about the design before he has established the

design concept or overall configuration or form.

Geometric relationships and their parametric modifications

“Architecture is fundamentally about relationships. Many of those relationships are

geometric in nature or find a geometric expression”

Smart Geometry Group

A parametric definition embodies decisions about chosen relationships and

defers computation of precise values (and in some cases structure) that depend

on the relationships.

Shifts designer´s focus on relations and meaning rather than objects by themselves

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Linking parametric design with performance evaluation

• Admits rapid change of design dimensions.

• Enhance search for designs better adapted to context

• Facilitate discovery of new forms and kinds of form-making

• Can be the basis for collaboration between architects and engineers

J. Coenders

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GRASSHOPPER PARAMETRIC PLUGIN FOR RHINO

Allows to define relations between geometries rather than geometric entities alone

Components can either collect DATA or perform ACTIONS

Components accept INPUTS on the left hand side and

pass OUTPUTS on the right hand side

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Acyclic directed graph

A graph model is a propagation-based systems made by

a collection of instances, each of which is determined by

assigning values to the variables in the graph.

Interpretation of a model as a typically infinite set of

instances, each determined by a particular selection of

values for the model´s independent variables.

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Nuova Fiera Exihibition Centre by von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects

Paula Stongum and Andrea Louise Brøndsted, 2012

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Wohlen High School, S. Calatrava

report by A. Z. Djebbara, 2014

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Savill Building, Buro Happold

report by Louise Juelsgaard, 2012

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“The advantage of using GH is that it helps me think about what I am doing. The

disadvantage is that it forces me to so think”

Nothing can be created in a parametric system for which the designer has not

explicitly externalized the relevant and constructive structure

May require additional effort

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Opportunities for parametric design in building industry

• Better control and management of data, information, knowledge and complexity

• Better decisions and more flexibility with more information early in the process

• More information available

• More learning from the feedback from the available additional information.

• Aiding automated manufacturing and assembly

• Platform to share data among different professionals

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Rhino & Grasshopper interface

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Use Panel and Param viewer to constantly check the output and see how the data is organized

Display various options are possible, most meaningful is whether you prefer to draw icons or to see the name in the component

double click on the canvas+ name of the component to find components

ctrl+alt+ click on a component to see where is located in the tabs above

preview on/off (right click or menu Solution)

enable on/off (right click or menu Solution)

group (ctrl+g)

scribble to take notes