the big pot of generating things

...a story about modern architecture

parametric architecture

well...that all looks very nice...

...but how can you value architecture that results out of some computer calculations?

hold on ...

is that actually architecture?

I began studying architecture in 2003 at the Technical University in Vienna. My education focused on a very technical and structural part of design. Therefore, moving on with my studies I appropriated myself a quite structural approach towards architecture.

On the one hand, it has its positive and “realistic” attitudes, but on the other hand there is always a line that can’t be exceeded. The design can only go as far as my head can imagine its outcome.

I have always been fascinated by amazing modern architecture where its perception crosses the line of understanding. Maybe as a result, my opinion towards such concepts has been quite critical. Often I didn’t value these projects; be-cause I thought that architecture, which is designed by a computer, loses its origin.

Therefore I want to challenge myself and start understanding that topic to actually be able to form an opinion about it.

Is parametric architecture the future of architecture?

You can’t ignore the changes of modern architecture...

Last year I was chosen to go as an exchange student between RMIT University in Melbourne and Technical University in Vienna.

One reason why I wanted to take the opportunity to study at this particular university, was the possibility to explore a new approach towards the design process trough computer scripting.

I am very excited about possible outcomes, in particular, how my thinking regarding modern architecture may change. Maybe if I know this topic a little better, I can start to understand its structure and therefore its value to me changes.

FIRST STEPS

it all started with one little point

Option Explicit'Script written by <martina hatzenbichler>'Script copyrighted by <martinsche corperation>'Script version Saturday, 7 March 2009 3:53:38 PM

Call DrawPoint()

Sub DrawPoint() Dim arrPoint(2) Dim i,k,j For i=0 To 9 For k=0 To 9 For j=0 To 9 arrPoint(0)=k arrPoint(1)=i arrPoint(2)=j

Call Rhino.AddPoint (arrPoint)

Next Next Next

End Sub

Option Explicit'Script written by <martina hatzenbichler>'Script copyrighted by < martinsche corperation >'Script version Saturday, 7 March 2009 3:53:38 PM

Call DrawPoint()

Sub DrawPoint() Dim arrCenter(2) Dim i,k,j Dim dblRadius For i=0 To 9 For k=0 To 9 arrCenter(0)=k arrCenter(1)=i arrCenter(2)=0 If i<2 Or k<2 Then dblRadius=0.1*i

Call Rhino.AddSphere (arrCenter, dblRadius) End If

Next Next

End Sub

Option Explicit'Script written by <martina hatzenbichler>'Script copyrighted by < martinsche corperation >'Script version Sunday, 8 March 2009 11:42:20 AM

Call Main()

Sub Main() Dim arrPoint(2) Dim i,j,k For i=0 To 9 For j=0 To 9 For k=0 To 9 arrPoint(0)=i*j arrPoint(1)=j*k arrPoint(2)=k*i Call Rhino.AddPoint (arrPoint) Next Next NextEnd Sub

the points become lines ...

the lines form a grid ...

the grid becomes a surface ...

- get user to pick a surface

- dublicate and subdivide edgecurves

- find the closest point on srf to edge- subdivision and extract isocurves in u-v direction

- create new srf with each isocurve - create a sphere in the middle of the new surfaces based on the curvature

- a facade of a building could place windows, its size depending on certain factors (sunlight, weather exposure etc.)

- a structure of a facade could break up where less is needed or when curved elements wouldn’t be appropriate (material - wood, too expensive, etc)

Inspired by the book “tooling” by Aranda/Lasch

SUBDIVISIONS

- get user to pick an initial closed polyline

- split polyline in single curves - divide each line into certain segments

- loop trough each line to add new lines by connecting divisionpoints

- store them in dynamic array

- starting the script again until a certain generation is reached

Option Explicit ‘Script written by <martina hatzenbichler> ‘Script copyrighted by <martinsche corperation> ‘Script version Montag, 13. April 2009 20:33:32 Call Main() Sub Main() Dim arrObject Dim dblGen,dblCurrentGen Dim dblProp If Not (Rhino.IsProcedure(“DynamicArrayProxy”)) Then Rhino.Command “-LoadScript DynamicArray.rvb” End If dblCurrentGen = 0 ‘get user input’

arrObject = Rhino.getObject(“pick a closed polyline”,4) dblProp = Rhino.GetInteger(“get Proportion”) dblGen = Rhino.GetInteger(“choose generation of subdivisions”) Call Rhino.EnableRedraw(False) ‘call recursive function’

Call RecursiveSubdivison(arrObject,dblGen,dblCurrentGen,dblProp) Call Rhino.EnableRedraw(True) End Sub Function RecursiveSubdivison(arrObject,dblGen,dblCurrentGen,dblProp) Dim arrCurves Dim arrDivisionPoints() Dim i Dim arrNewCurve Dim arrNewCurveClosed Dim arrNewCurveObject

first subdivision script

If dblCurrentGen < dblGen Then Dim arrSecondCurvePoint Set arrSecondCurvePoint = New DynamicArray ‘explode this polyline into its single curves’ arrCurves= Rhino.ExplodeCurves(arrObject) ‘devide each polyline into 5 pieces’ For i=0 To Ubound(arrCurves) ReDim Preserve arrDivisionPoints(i) arrDivisionPoints(i) = Rhino.DivideCurve(arrCurves(i),dblProp) ‘store second point in dynamic array’ arrSecondCurvePoint.push (arrDivisionPoints(i)(1)) Next ‘to close polyline arrSecondCurvePoint.push (arrSecondCurvePoint.Data(0)) ‘convert dynamic array to ‘normal’ array arrSecondCurvePoint = arrSecondCurvePoint.DataArray ‘connect those new points with each other to form a new polyline’ If IsArray(arrSecondCurvePoint) Then arrNewCurve=Rhino.AddPolyline(arrSecondCurvePoint) Else Call Rhino.MessageBox(“screeeeeam”) End If ‘clean up Call Rhino.DeleteObjects(arrCurves) Else Exit Function End If dblCurrentGen = dblCurrentGen+1 Call RecursiveSubdivison(arrNewCurve,dblGen,dblCurrentGen,dblProp) End Function

changing subdivisions, generations and connecting points

subdivisions create curves

applying created subdivisions to an object

when subdivisons become 3d

pick a closed polyline

subdivide polyline until a certain generation

create surfaces out of subdivisions

add colourrange based on surface-area

move surface based on surface-area

arrSRFarea = Rhino.SurfaceArea (arrNewSrf(0)) dblSRFarea = abs (arrSRFarea(0)/1000) If dblSRFarea >= 255 Then Call Rhino.ObjectColor (arrNewSrf,RGB(1,0,0)) Else Call Rhino.ObjectColor(arrNewSrf, RGB(255-dblSRFarea,0,0))

End If

Call Rhino.MoveObject (arrNewSrf(0), array(0,0,0),array(0,0,dblSRFarea))

add colourrange

move surface

initual curve

top view

perspective 1

perspective 2

a game ...

starts with a polyline ...

....50 generations, 2 divisions

....20 generations, 8 divisions

....100 generations, 50 divisions

back <<<

changing the playrules ...

..to create a constant height and thickness

it then ...

... becomes a staircase

... with some structure

- get surfacevolume centroid of each surface

- draw a line from each centroid to c-plane

- loop trough the lines and create pipes

Option Explicit 'Script written by <martina hatzenbichler> 'Script copyrighted by <martinsche corporation> 'Script version Tuesday, 14 April 2009 3:47:32 PM Call Main()

Sub Main() Dim arrObject Dim dblCurrent Dim dblMax Dim dblDiv Dim arrCurves Dim Nr Dim delete 'get user input' arrObject = Rhino.GetObject("pick a closed polyline",4) dblMax = Rhino.GetInteger("choose number of generation") dblDiv = Rhino.GetInteger("choose an equal(2 or 4 or 6 or 8 or 10...) number of division") 'exlode initual curve for subdivisions' arrCurves = Rhino.ExplodeCurves(arrObject) dblCurrent = 0 Nr = 0 If Not (Rhino.IsProcedure("DynamicArrayProxy")) Then Rhino.Command "-LoadScript DynamicArray.rvb" End If Call Rhino.EnableRedraw(False) Call Subdivisionsyeah(arrCurves,dblCurrent,dblMax,dblDiv,Nr) 'clean up' delete = Rhino.ObjectsByType(4) Call Rhino.DeleteObjects(delete) Rhino.EnableRedraw(True) End Sub

subdivisions ‘constant hight’ script

Function Subdivisionsyeah(arrCurves,dblCurrent,dblMax,dblDiv,Nr) ‘if certain generation is reached exit function’ If dblCurrent >= dblMax Then Exit Function End If Dim arrSubdivision Set arrSubdivision = New DynamicArray Dim arrNewLine Dim arrSrfLines, arrLastSrfLines Dim arrSplitSrfLines, arrSplitLastSrfLines Dim arrNewSrf, arrNewLastSrf Dim i,j Dim arrDivPoints() Dim arrLastLine Dim arrSRFarea Dim dblSRFarea ‘divide all curves into certain number of subdivisions’ For i = 0 To Ubound(arrCurves) ReDim Preserve arrDivPoints(i) arrDivPoints(i) = Rhino.DivideCurve(arrCurves(i),dblDiv) Next ‘loop trough each line to create new line’ For j = 0 To (Ubound(arrCurves)-1) ‘firstlines’ arrNewLine = Rhino.AddLine(arrDivPoints(j)(1),arrDivPoints(j+1)(1)) arrSrfLines = Rhino.AddPolyline(array(arrDivPoints(j)(1),arrDivPoints(j+1)(0),arrDivPoints(j+1)(4),arrDivPoints(j)(1))) arrSplitSrfLines = Rhino.ExplodeCurves(arrSrfLines) arrNewSrf = Rhino.AddPlanarSrf (arrSplitSrfLines) arrSubdivision.Push (arrNewLine)

‘add colourgradient based on the surface area’ arrSRFarea = Rhino.SurfaceArea(arrNewSrf(0)) dblSRFarea = abs(arrSRFarea(0)/1000)

If dblSRFarea >=255 Then Call Rhino.ObjectColor(arrNewSrf,RGB(1,0,0)) Else Call Rhino.ObjectColor(arrNewSrf,RGB(255-dblSRFarea,0,0)) End If ‘increase hight and move surface’ Nr=Nr+10 Call Rhino.MoveObject (arrNewSrf(0), array(0,0,0),array(0,0,Nr)) ‘clean up’ Call Rhino.DeleteObjects(arrSplitSrfLines) Next ‘lastline’ arrLastLine = Rhino.AddLine(arrDivPoints(Ubound(arrDivPoints))(1),arrDivPoints(0)(1)) arrLastSrfLines = Rhino.AddPolyline(array(arrDivPoints(Ubound(arrDivPoints))(1),arrDivPoints(Ubound(arrDivPoints))(dblDiv), arrDivPoints(0)(1),arrDivPoints(Ubound(arrDivPoints))(1))) arrSplitLastSrfLines = Rhino.ExplodeCurves(arrLastSrfLines) arrNewLastSrf = Rhino.AddPlanarSrf (arrSplitLastSrfLines) arrSubdivision.Push (arrLastLine) arrSRFarea = Rhino.SurfaceArea(arrNewLastSrf(0)) dblSRFarea = abs(arrSRFarea(0)/1000) ‘add colourgradient based on the surface area’ If dblSRFarea >=255 Then Call Rhino.ObjectColor(arrNewLastSrf,RGB(1,0,0)) Else Call Rhino.ObjectColor(arrNewLastSrf,RGB(255-dblSRFarea,0,0)) End If

‘move surface’ Call Rhino.MoveObject (arrNewLastSrf(0), array(0,0,0),array(0,0,Nr)) Call Rhino.DeleteObjects(arrSplitLastSrfLines) arrSubdivision = arrSubdivision.DataArray ‘clean up’ Call Rhino.DeleteObjects(arrCurves) dblCurrent = dblCurrent+1 Call Subdivisionsyeah(arrSubdivision,dblCurrent,dblMax,dblDiv,Nr) End Function

script to create structure for each polysurface

Option Explicit'Script written by <Martina Hatzenbichler>'Script copyrighted by <martinsche corporation>'Script version Friday, 29 May 2009 5:21:06 PM

Call Main()Sub Main() Dim arrSubdivision Dim i Dim arrCentroid Dim arrStrunctureLine Dim pipeRadius Dim STRLines Set STRLines = New DynamicArray 'get user input' arrSubdivision = Rhino.Getobjects ("get polysurfaces",(16)) pipeRadius = Rhino.GetReal("Enter radius of pipestructure") Call Rhino.EnableRedraw(False) 'loop trough each polysurface'

For i=0 To Ubound(arrSubdivision) 'get objects centroid' arrCentroid = Rhino.SurfaceVolumeCentroid (arrSubdivision(i)) 'draw a line from the centroid of each object to groundlevel and store in dynamic array' arrStrunctureLine = Rhino.AddLine(arrCentroid(0), array(arrCentroid(0)(0),arrCentroid(0)(1),(0))) STRLines.Push (arrStrunctureLine) Next STRLines = STRLines.DataArray Call PipeAll(STRLines,pipeRadius) Call Rhino.EnableRedraw(True) End Sub

Function PipeAll(STRLines,pipeRadius)

Dim Str Dim i 'loop trough each line and create pipe' For i=0 To Ubound(STRLines) Rhino.SelectObject STRLines(i) Str = CStr("Pipe Enter " & pipeRadius & " " & pipeRadius & " Enter") Rhino.Command Str Rhino.UnselectAllObjects Next

End Function

it then becomes a building

... or a pavillion

... or a sculpture

when subdivisons become architecture

pick an outline ...

create a constant height

offset surfaces to create a thickness

add a structure to each created plattform

when subdivisons become a city

London

Toronto

San Francisco

RomeCopenhagen

New York

basic city grids

subdividing the subdivisions

... to offer the possibility of growth

the subdivisions change their behaviour based on certain attractors

the created subdivisions which are not intersecting with any attractors

- stop intersecting

the created subdivisions which are not intersecting with any attractors - stop intersecting - are deleted

pick a cityoutline and attractors

mainstreet, important citypoint, rivers, etc

dividing towards attractors until certain srf-area

delete surfaces if not intersecting any attractor

create a ‘tower’ in the center of each surface depending on srf area

a possible value-based placeholder for later input

from each surface a tower is created

its size is shaped depending on surface-area (towers might intersect with each other)

towers are only created if area stopped intersecting

to avoid towers to intersect with each other

comparison

1

2

pick your own towerbase

arrObject = Rhino.GetObjects(“pick the outline of a city”,4) arrAttractorCrv = Rhino.GetObjects(“pick an attractor curve”) dblMin = Rhino.GetInteger(“choose min surface area”) arrTowerBase=Rhino.GetObjects(“pick an outline for the towerbase”)

user input

Function towers(towerBases,arrTowerBase) Dim obj Dim arrSplitPolyline Dim arrCentr Dim arrpath Dim arrTower Dim dblLevel Dim arrTowerBaseCentr Dim arrCopyTowerBase Dim arrTowerBaseSrf arrTowerBaseCentr = Rhino.CurveAreaCentroid (arrTowerBase) dblLevel=10 'get info for tower----lots of info' For Each obj In towerBases dblLevel=dblLevel+1

arrCentr=Rhino.CurveAreaCentroid(obj) arrCopyTowerBase = Rhino.CopyObject(arrTowerBase(0),arrTowerBaseCentr(0),arrCentr(0)) 'draw tower based on the slected crv' arrSplitPolyline = Rhino.ExplodeCurves(arrCopyTowerBase) arrTowerBaseSrf= Rhino.AddPlanarSrf (arrSplitPolyline) 'add path to extrude surface to form tower' arrpath = Rhino.AddLine(array(0,0,0),array(0,0,dblLevel)) arrTower = Rhino.ExtrudeSurface (arrTowerBaseSrf(0), arrpath,True) 'clean up ' Call Rhino.DeleteObjects(arrSplitPolyline) Call Rhino.DeleteObject(obj) Call Rhino.DeleteObject(arrpath) Call Rhino.DeleteObjects(arrTowerBaseSrf) Next End Function

‘pick your own tower-base’ function

sections

pick a different ‘tower-base’

..here the script can interact with other scripts

uniform tower height

a city ...

...when subdivisions create parks, courtyards and towers

arrTowerBase = Rhino.ScaleObject (arrSRF(0), arrC(0),array(0.2,0.2,0.2)) arrTowerBasearea = Rhino.SurfaceArea(arrTowerBase) If arrTowerBasearea(0) > 1000 Or arrTowerBasearea(0) < 100 Then 'if area too big, add a park' If arrTowerBasearea(0) > 1000 Then Rhino.CurrentLayer ("Park") arrpath = Rhino.AddLine(array(0,0,0),array(0,0,10)) arrBaseCourtyard = Rhino.ScaleObject (arrSRF(0), arrC(0), array(4,4,0)) arrBlockCourtyard = Rhino.ExtrudeSurface (arrBaseCourtyard, arrpath,True) 'clean' Call Rhino.DeleteObject(arrpath) Call Rhino.DeleteObject(arrBaseCourtyard) End If 'if area too small, add a tower' If arrTowerBasearea(0) < 100 Then Rhino.CurrentLayer ("Tower") arrpath = Rhino.AddLine(array(0,0,0),array(0,0,sqr(dblLevel)*10)) arrBaseCourtyard = Rhino.ScaleObject (arrSRF(0), arrC(0), array(4,4,0)) arrBlockCourtyard = Rhino.ExtrudeSurface (arrBaseCourtyard, arrpath,True) 'clean' Call Rhino.DeleteObject(arrpath) Call Rhino.DeleteObject(arrBaseCourtyard) End If 'else add a courtyard kind of building' Else Rhino.CurrentLayer ("Courtyard") arrpath = Rhino.AddLine(array(0,0,0),array(0,0,sqr(dblLevel)*8)) arrTower = Rhino.ExtrudeSurface (arrTowerBase, arrpath,True) 'draw courtyard block based on srf area arrBaseCourtyard = Rhino.ScaleObject (arrSRF(0), arrC(0), array(4,4,0)) arrBlockCourtyard = Rhino.ExtrudeSurface (arrBaseCourtyard, arrpath,True) ' cut out towerbase from courtyardblock to form courtyard...and therefore street, towerblock and each courtyard' arrCourtyard = Rhino.BooleanDifference (array(arrBlockCourtyard), array(arrTower),True) End If

...parks

...towers

...courtyard-buildings

based on the surface area, the city-divider creates...

pick a city outline

get attractor curves

subdivide until certain srf-area

created towers

created courtyard-buildings

created parks

resulting city-structure

The ‘city-divider’-script offers the possibility to create various cities with different densities.The script is built up on certain user inputs.

The user is asked to pick a city outline and then some attractors - curves which are intersecting with the cityoutline.The attractor-curves can represent mainroad systems, rivers or important areas in the city such as city cent-ers, buisness districts, housing areas etc.The user decides on a minimum surface area at which the script stops intersecting.

Now, the script starts to create certain building typologies based on the respective surface areas. it loops through each polyline and; If the area is too big, it creates a park, with minimal constant height, If the area is too small, it creates a tower, with height increasing the closer to an attractor, Otherwise, creates typical city buildings with a courtyard, with less variance within height differences.

This values can be changed easily in the script to create different values within a city. Trough changing the heights of each buildingtype or the value that creates them, the ‘city-divider’ can create

- greener cities or denser cities - city centers with office towers or family based housing districts etc.

‘city-divider’

‘city-divider’ script

Option Explicit'Script written by <martina hatzenbichler>'Script copyrighted by <martinsche corporation>'Script version Samstag, 16. Mai 2009 10:58:56

Call Main() Sub Main() Dim arrObject Dim dblCurrent Dim dblMin Dim arrAttractorCrv 'get user input' arrObject = Rhino.GetObjects("pick the outline of a city",4) arrAttractorCrv = Rhino.GetObjects("pick an attractor curve") dblMin = Rhino.GetInteger("choose min surface area") dblCurrent = 0 If Not (Rhino.IsProcedure("DynamicArrayProxy")) Then Rhino.Command "-LoadScript DynamicArray.rvb" End If Rhino.EnableRedraw(False) Call subdivisioncitymap(arrObject,dblMin,arrAttractorCrv)

Rhino.EnableRedraw(True)

End Sub

Function subdivisioncitymap(arrObject,dblMin,arrAttractorCrv) Dim arrCentroid Dim arrCurves Dim arrCurveMidPoint() Dim arrPolyline Dim i, obj Dim arrCurvePts Dim arrPolylines Dim dblCurrent Dim arrCheckIntersection Dim dblIntersections Dim LayerJames

Dim bla Set bla = New DynamicArray Dim towerBases Set towerBases = New DynamicArray If Not IsNull(arrObject) Then ‘looping trough all attractors and check for any intersecting’ For Each obj In arrObject dblIntersections=0 For i=0 To Ubound(arrAttractorCrv) arrCheckIntersection= Rhino.CurveCurveIntersection (obj,(arrAttractorCrv(i))) If Not IsNull(arrCheckIntersection) Then dblIntersections=dblIntersections+1 End If Next If Not dblIntersections=0 Then ‘ thats the important bit i turned off or on’ ‘Call Rhino.DeleteObject(obj) bla.Push (obj) Else towerBases.Push (obj) End If Next ‘looping trough each subdivision which “pass” the test of area and intersection’ arrObject=bla.DataArray bla.flush For Each obj In arrObject ‘get the midpoint of the closed polyline citything’ arrCentroid = Rhino.CurveAreaCentroid (obj) ‘get the endpoints the curves is made out of’ arrCurvePts =Rhino.CurveEditPoints (obj)

‘take your curve and split it into its lines’ arrCurves = Rhino.ExplodeCurves(obj) ‘get the midpoint of each line’ For i=0 To (Ubound(arrCurves)) ReDim Preserve arrCurveMidPoint(i) arrCurveMidPoint(i) = Rhino.CurveMidPoint(arrCurves(i)) Next ‘connect each midpoint of each line with the center’ For i=0 To (Ubound(arrCurves)-1) arrPolyline = Rhino.AddPolyline(array(arrCurveMidPoint(i),arrCurvePts(i+1),arrCurveMidPoint(i+1),arrCentroid(0), arrCurveMidPoint(i))) dblCurrent = Rhino.CurveArea(arrPolyLine) ‘check if the area is too small If dblCurrent(0) < dblMin Then Call Rhino.DeleteObject(arrPolyLine) Else bla.Push (arrPolyline)

End If Next ‘last polyline’ arrPolyline = Rhino.AddPolyline(array(arrCurveMidPoint(Ubound(arrCurveMidPoint)),arrCurvePts(0),arrCurveMidPoint(0), arrCentroid(0),arrCurveMidPoint(Ubound(arrCurveMidPoint)))) ‘check if the area is too small If dblCurrent(0) < dblMin Then

Call Rhino.DeleteObject(arrPolyLine) Else bla.Push (arrPolyline) End If Next ‘cleaning’ Call Rhino.DeleteObjects(arrCurves)

arrPolylines=bla.DataArray ‘this is veeeery important...either to turn it off or on->subdiv the subs or not’ ‘bla.flush

Call subdivisioncitymap(arrPolylines,dblMin,arrAttractorCrv) Rhino.AddLayer (“Layer_James Layer”) Rhino.CurrentLayer(“Layer_James Layer”) towerBases=towerBases.DataArray Call towers(towerBases) End If End Function

Function towers (towerBases)

creates towers, buildings with courtyards and parks based on surfaces area. This part is changed easely and therefore different city patterns are created

...when subdivisions create city districts

pick city district outlines

get attractor curves

attractor curve (water way, road)

attractor area(places of interest)

subdivide until certain srf-area

create city based on certain rules

SCRIPTING BESIDE CITIES

i can’t believe that i am actually having fun with writing scripts for computers ...

...scripting brithday presents

...created subdivisions become a facade-structure

ideas of scripting architecture

TOOLING EMERGENT URBANISM

BUILDING HIGHT or `tenging’

STREET WIDTH or `width of the street ‘

CONNECTED FACILITIES or `salt and pepper’

FACADE SUN LOUVRES or `shading’

toolbar for emergent urbanism

TOOL DESCRIPTION

My approach towards architecture and modern technology has changed a lot since I have immersed myself in the topic.

It has made me understand that there is a lot more behind it then just letting the computer design for you. Without the process of the architects consideration and manual intervention it just remains a computer program without any use.The basic idea, how the system developes and what possible outcomes it might pro-vide, still has to come from the designer themselves.

It’s a new language that is, at the beginning, quite hard to learn, but once you un-derstand the basic rules, it becomes a very interessting and useful design tool that offers a much broader approach towards architecture.

written byMartina HatzenbichlerStudentnr. 3242104

Strange ProceduresTim Schork, Paul Minifie