Parametric Wood
Location: San Luis Obispo, California
Date: Winter 2011
Advisor: Dr. Mark Cabrinha
Brief: This research seminar focused on contemporary timber fabrication and long-span structures enabled through new digital techniques and fabrication methodologies, specifically, the gridshell.
From the syllabus:
Gridshells rely on specific constant curvature to create a shell structure that is comprised of thin elements. Core to gridshellsis a balance between form-finding and the pattern of geodesic curves that sit on the surface (a geodesic curve is the shortest distance between two points on a surface).
Strategy: The research was an attempt to understand and combine the material efficiency of the gridshell's straight lath system with the formal complexity of asymmetric, doubly curved geometry. Grasshopper was used to experiment with utilizing force systems for geometric form finding, and ultimately to design a parametric tool that allowed for a highly iterative process of design and testing. This tool used basic gridshell parameters such as lath width, lath thickness, and lath density to create a myriad of design solutions.
From the syllabus:
Gridshells rely on specific constant curvature to create a shell structure that is comprised of thin elements. Core to gridshellsis a balance between form-finding and the pattern of geodesic curves that sit on the surface (a geodesic curve is the shortest distance between two points on a surface).
Strategy: The research was an attempt to understand and combine the material efficiency of the gridshell's straight lath system with the formal complexity of asymmetric, doubly curved geometry. Grasshopper was used to experiment with utilizing force systems for geometric form finding, and ultimately to design a parametric tool that allowed for a highly iterative process of design and testing. This tool used basic gridshell parameters such as lath width, lath thickness, and lath density to create a myriad of design solutions.
Deliverables: The Grasshopper definition was used to create an iterative matrix, illustrating the ability to compare potential architectural solutions parametrically. From the matrix, two solutions were chosen to be represented through scale physical models, and the Grasshopper definition was adapted to aid in the fabrication of these models. Finally, renderings help illustrate the beauty and design possibilites of gridshells.
More Information at: https://parametricwood2011.wordpress.com/
In Collaboration with:
Dr. Mark Cabrinha
Juanito Olivarria
Jason Schmidt
Thomas Einsphar
More Information at: https://parametricwood2011.wordpress.com/
In Collaboration with:
Dr. Mark Cabrinha
Juanito Olivarria
Jason Schmidt
Thomas Einsphar
Process:
Iterative Matrix:
Models:
Diagram of fabrication process - Basic construction details
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