DOCUMENTATION OF THE DESIGN PROCESS Elective course: Associate modelling in architectural design Teachers: Michael Hensel, Joakim Hoen Student: Liisi V채hi 15.05.13
The aim was to get to know Grasshopper by implementing it as a tool to carry out a design. I chose to create spacious paths which can perform as a positive or a negative space - a void inside an other space. I was interested, how to create a system of paths and to turn them 3 dimensional. It was important to carry out the joints in an elegant way and create an airy outcome.
Spacious paths_part 1: creating a system of lines
I created a box to define and limit a space I would work with. To simplify the process I extracted the edges to refer to the box size.
Spacious paths_part 1: creating a system of lines
I populated the box with points (“Populate 3D�) to have a controllable random point cloud. I needed to be able to shift the amount of points and variations.
Spacious paths_part 1: creating a system of lines_1: lines between random points
The next task was to create connections- a system of lines between the points. There were different possible solutions which I tried out to find one which works best and suits my design intentions most. First I tried to create a random set of lines using the same points to the input A and reversing the data for the input B.
Spacious paths_part 1: creating a system of lines_1: lines between random points_outcome using woolier paths definition
I decided to use the “Woolier Path definition” (source- Grasshoppper website, designed by Daniel Piker) to make the paths flowing and interesting. When applied on the line-system I created. I came to the conclusion that the lines used should be connected for the Woolier definition to work. Also these lines are not the ‘paths’ I would like to use to shape the space with.
Spacious paths_part 1: creating a system of lines_2: polyline between random points
My next experiment was to create one polyline between the given points.
Spacious paths_part 1: creating a system of lines_2: polyline between random points
I applied the Woolier definition on the polyline. I learned that one should explode the Polyline created, otherwise the result when applying Woolier definition would be one long thread, instead of several interconnected ones. When done so the outcome looked good, but this was also not the design I was after.
Spacious paths_part 1: creating a system of lines_3: closest points in the pointcloud (Proximity 3D)
Now I used connected the given points using The “Proximity 3D� component, controlling the amount of points being found.
Spacious paths_part 1: creating a system of lines_3: closest points in the pointcloud_outcome using woolier paths definition
I again tried the Woolier definition on the outcome. The definition was not able to create all the threads. Therefore I moved on.
Spacious paths_part 1: creating a system of lines_4: Kangaroo interconnect points
I also tried out Kangaroos component Interconnect points and reduced them to have less paths.
Spacious paths_part 1: creating a system of lines_4: Kangaroo interconnect points_outcome using woolier paths definition
Applied Woolier definition worked well. But I realized that I’m not after paths, that just go straight through the ‘imagined cube’.
Spacious paths_part 1: creating a system of lines_5: using an other set of points
Therefore I decided to create an other set of points which are confined in a smaller space inside the cube created in the beginning.
Spacious paths_part 1: creating a system of lines_5: using other set of points_weaving points to create a polyline
I weaved the both set of points together to create lines that enter the space and then return. Lines that don’t pass right through the space, but change course and make a more interesting and alternating path.
Spacious paths_part 3: Woolier paths from weaved points
Applied Woolier paths definition worked very well with the system I’d created. The interchanging paths was more like what I was looking for.
Spacious paths_part 4: Mesh thickness- joints_1: pipes
The next step was to create thickness to the paths. I created a pipe surface around the polyline, controlling the radius of the pipe. I was not satisfied with the round cross section of the pipe (I was looking for a more angular solution) and that the pipe is too monotone. From here also arised the problem of joints between the pipes.
Spacious paths_part 4: Mesh thickness- joints_2: exoskeleton with cull
Spacious paths_part 4: Mesh thickness- joints_3: exoskeleton
I discovered a mesh plugin called “Exoskeleton� which could help me. Exoskeleton thickens a wireframe and also creates joints (nodes) between lines. One can controle the radius and amount tube sides of the tubes, also the nodes etc. It demanded a little tweaking to get the Woolier paths definition and Exoskeleton to create a design together without major flaws.
Spacious paths_part 4: Mesh thickness- joints_3: exoskeleton_ smooth mesh
To smooth the outcome I used the controllable Smooth Mesh component.
Spacious paths_part 4: Structure without woolier definition
I realized that the design I’m after does not need the woolier paths definition. I could make it work and use it the way planned, but still decided to drop it from the process. I prefer the design with straight paths which is displayed here.
Spacious paths_The structure_positive form outcome renderings
Spacious paths_part 5: Negative form_creating the space
The next step was to try out the design in a negative. For that I created box a little smaller than the initial one.
Spacious paths_part 5: Negative form_negative space
The box is intersected with the skeletal structure using “Mesh difference� component. The outcome is the negative form derived from the paths created.
Spacious paths_part 5: Negative form_negative space experiments
I discovered that the negative form is not as interesting as an outcome as the positive one. Hereby one can also see some more outcomes of experiments with the negative form. The form is interesting as a see through surface though.
Interconnect points
Polyline from face points
Interconnect + Smooth mesh
2x Polyline from face points
2 line-systems in a prism
Exaggerated radius
Spacious paths_part 5: Negative form_outcome renderings
Spacious paths_part 6: Minimal surface
I wanted to try to work on the positive form delivered. For that I tried to create a minimal surface sequence. At first holes were cut into the structure using spheres and the “Mesh difference� component.
Spacious paths_part 6: work with the mesh_Minimal surface definition
I found a Minimal surface definition to apply on the created mesh. The definition needs the Weaverbird and Mesh editor Utilities plugins. Weaverbirds Catmull Clark subvision is used to change the mesh nature. After that “Mesh decompose” and “Naked edges” extractor to deduct anchorpoints. Mesh edges are turned into spring objects, to run a simulation with “Kangaroo” component.
Spacious paths_part 6: work with the mesh_Minimal surface definition
I found a Minimal surface definition to apply on the created mesh. The definition needs the Weaverbird and Mesh editor Utilities plugins. Weaverbirds Catmull Clark subvision is used to change the mesh nature. After that “Mesh decompose” and “Naked edges” extractor to deduct anchorpoints. Mesh edges are turned into spring objects, to run a simulation with “Kangaroo” component.
Minimal surface
I learned a lot during the process and experimented a great deal with the programme to find out how it is able to perform to ones needs.
Thank you!