Performance Shells

Mode Lab

This workshop will investigate the conceptual and technical terrain of simulation as it applies to contemporary modes of architectural design research. Participants will be exposed to parametric processes which couple material and computational techniques as a means of interrogating the relationship of form, force, and matter. The spatial and organizational effects of this methodology can be traced through the work of Antonio Gaudi, Heinz Isler, and Frei Otto, as well as a multitude of contemporary practitioners, who have embraced matter as a vehicle for design innovation. In a fast-paced and hands-on learning environment, workshop participants will engage the topic of simulation through a series of lectures and technical sessions focusing on analog and virtual techniques of form-finding coupled with iterative prototype development. Time-based representations will serve as the means for visualizing data-driven simulations, while digital fabrication will enable continuous production of analog prototypes. Workshop instruction will progress through both analog and digital sessions with technical content to include: Parametric Design (Grasshopper), Physics-based Simulation (Kangaroo), and Modeling for Digital Fabrication (Rhino + Rhinonest). Software Required: Rhino 5.0 – Evaluation or SR3 There are two versions (64-bit and 32-bit) but you are encouraged to use the 64-bit version if your system will support it. http://www.rhino3d.com/download/rhino/5.0/evaluation, Grasshopper 0.9.0061 The latest version of Grasshopper is required. This version will only work on Rhino 5. http://download.rhino3d.com/Grasshopper/1.0/wip/download/, Kangaroo Add-On for Grasshopper Live Physics engine for interactive simulation, optimization & form-finding within Grasshopper http://www.food4rhino.com/project/kangaroo, RhinoNest Part position optimization and orientation in Rhino and Grasshopper http://www.rhinonest.com Hardware Required: Laptop Dates/Times: 02/19 (Wed) 9:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-6:00pm, 02/20 (Thu) 9:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-6:00pm, 02/21 (Fri) 9:00am-12:00pm, 02/22 (Sat) 9:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-6:00pm, 02/23 (Sun) 9:00am-1:00pm

Articulating Tension

Alvin Huang

This workshop will investigate the relevance of form as a product of discovery by exploring the reciprocity between form (geometry), force (performance), matter (organization), and craft (fabrication). It extends the design research legacies of analogue form-finding in the works of Frei Otto, Antonio Gaudi, Heinz Isler, and Felix Candela by exploring digital and analogue techniques for discovering form through variable material and geometric organizations and force simulations, while simultaneously considering the design opportunities being afforded by advances in computation and fabrication technologies. Form in architecture has traditionally been understood as a composed response to utility (function) and gesture (expression), whereas performance in architecture has traditionally been understood as the analytical result of engineering criteria applied to the architects imposed pre-occupation with planning, skin and symbolic gesture. The performative information is thus a result of the design of form, rather than a driver of form in itself. In this body of design research we will explore the combined relevance of form and performance through their non-linear relationships with geometric logic (form, geometric organization, variation, discretization, optimization, etc), and materiality (material composition, material operation, material organization, fabrication, etc). Through the application and manipulation of digital form-finding experiments, performative analysis and geometric patterning we will explore the potential for materiality and non-standardization processes to augment performance through variable organizations. The goal of the workshop is to introduce techniques of digital form-finding (Kangaroo) and structural analysis (Karamba) that can utilize performance as a design catalyst. Software Required: Rhino 5, Grasshopper (plug-in for Rhino), Kangaroo (plug-in for Grasshopper), Karamba (plug-in for Grasshopper), Weaverbird (plug-in for Grasshopper) Hardware Required: Laptop Dates/Times: 02/22 (Sat) 9:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-6:00pm, 02/23 (Sun) 9:00am-1:00pm

Textile Morphologies

Sean Ahlquist

Focusing on the use of CNC knitted textiles, this workshop will investigate possibilities for generating complex force-active structures through means of physical and computational form-finding. The geometries of tensile structures are incredibly limited when bound to the rules of homogeneous materials. With the ability to generate highly differentiated textiles through CNC knitting (flat-bed weft knitting technology), a larger array of structural and formal possibilities arise. Integrating such textiles, as tension-structured surfaces, with highly flexible composite rods allows for additional degrees of formal complexity to be pursued – doing so with structures whose intense forces are all internally resolved. This workshop will begin with a series of empirical studies of varying types and topologies of knitted textiles. The studies will be additionally pursued through a custom software developed in Processing called springFORM, where the integration of tensile and bending-active forces can be developed. Ultimately, we will generate a single large-scale structure combining the knitted textiles and glass-fiber reinforced composite (GFRP) rods. Software Required: Processing, Rhino, Excel Hardware Required: Laptop Dates/Times: 02/22 (Sat) 9:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-6:00pm, 02/23 (Sun) 9:00am-1:00pm

Robotic Prototypes

Jason Kelly Johnson

Our Robotic Prototypes workshop will explore the use of Grasshopper, Firefly and Arduino as creative and technical tools in the design, simulation and fabrication of robotic architectural prototypes, responsive building systems and intelligent skins. Firefly is a new set of comprehensive software tools dedicated to bridging the gap between Grasshopper, the Arduino micro-controller, the internet and beyond. It allows near real-time data flow between the 3D digital and physical worlds, and will read/write data to/from internet feeds, remote sensors, connect with machine vision protocols, and more. Grasshopper, a free plug-in for McNeel’s Rhino modeler, allows designers to create adjustable parametric forms through graphic icons rather than programming. Software Required: Rhino, Grasshopper and Firefly Hardware Required: Laptop, Arduino Software (http://arduino.cc) and Arduino Kit (http://www.oddwires.com/robotic-prototypes-kit/) Dates/Times: 02/22 (Sat) 9:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-6:00pm, 02/23 (Sun) 9:00am-1:00pm

Dynamo for Revit

CASE Inc.

Computational Design has offered a fundamentally different engagement with information-based technologies based on iteration, exploration, and customization. In this workshop, we will leverage Dynamo for Revit to explore computational design methods which augment BIM resulting in a more agile design development process. Through the creation of an architectural design concept, we will engage BIM through cyclic, open ended computational design processes anchored in contemporary research on design thinking. Software Required: Autodesk Revit and/or Vasari Beta 3, Dynamo (latest version), Excel Hardware Required: Laptop Dates/Times: 02/22 (Sat) 9:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-6:00pm, 02/23 (Sun) 9:00am-1:00pm

Parametric Drawing and Diagramming

Andrew Kudless

Although the use of parametric 3D models has become common, the use of parametric tools to produce evocative and engaging 2D representations has been less developed. Existing platforms that are often used for digital drawing such as Revit, AutoCAD, Processing, or Illustrator are either overly restrictive, non-intuitive, or simply too manual. The parametric modeling plugin Grasshopper for Rhino along with other plugins like Human, Lunchbox, and Elefront, offer a potential middle ground that provides an advanced degree of parametric control, ability to manage complexity, and a highly intuitive graphic user interface. This workshop will investigate how Grasshopper can be used in conjunction with Illustrator to produce diagrams, drawings, and other illustrative media that are complex, adaptable, and quick. The workshop is geared towards graphic designers, artists, architects, and anyone interested in exploring innovative methods of digital drawing. Software Required: Rhino 5, Grasshopper, Human (http://www.food4rhino.com/project/human), Lunchbox (http://www.food4rhino.com/project/lunchbox), Adobe Illustrator Hardware Required: Laptop Dates/Times: 02/22 (Sat) 9:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-6:00pm, 02/23 (Sun) 9:00am-1:00pm

Parametric Design Fundamentals

McClellan + Vrana

From understanding how to navigate Grasshopper's user interface and stepping up through to several intermediate tutorials which cover a broad range of topics, this workshop focuses on the procedural method for implementing design strategies in Rhino. It will begin with associative modeling advancing into Paneling Tools while progressively implementing Grasshopper throughout. A holistic design strategy for using the tools will be covered that will include: quantitative approaches in design scope, adaptive feedback of building information, optimization and tolerance control in design and iterative strategies for managing data sets. This workshop is required for students who do not have prior experience in Grasshopper that seek to gain a working understanding of the software. Software Required: Rhino 5, Grasshopper, Paneling Tools Hardware Required: Laptop Dates/Times: 02/20 (Thu) 9:00am-1:00pm and 2:00pm-6:00pm