Computing Things
This workshop focuses on using computers to create complex 3D designs, particularly for building facades. It highlights the power of parametric modeling software like Grasshopper, which lets you automate design steps and easily update your models. Over two days, you will get hands-on experience creating foldable rib structures on curved surfaces and exploring advanced facade panel rationalization techniques.
This workshop focuses on using computers to create complex 3D designs, particularly for building facades (the outer walls). It highlights the power of parametric modeling software, like Grasshopper, which lets you automate design steps and easily update your models. This approach can be great for efficiency and handling changes. However, the workshop also acknowledges the value of manual modeling, which can be simpler and more adaptable for some designers. The workshop will help participants understand advanced techniques that combine these approaches.
Over two days, you will get hands-on experience. First, you'll learn how to create foldable rib structures on curved surfaces using computer-aided geometry processing. Then, you'll explore how to divide up facade panels into a pattern and group them based on their shape and location, and then give them materials and colors in Rhino. We're also going to delve into generating a more intricate pattern called the Ron Resch Pattern and add color to it using the same grouping techniques. The overall aim is to equip participants with the tools to apply these techniques in their design projects.
- Create doubly curved surfaces using loft operations and control point manipulation in Grasshopper
- Subdivide surfaces using U and V parameters for directional control of rib structures
- Apply attractor logic to filter and deform curves, creating folding patterns on surfaces
- Generate foldable rib structures on curved surfaces using computer-aided geometry processing
- Compute the Ron Resch pattern for hexagonal panel rotation on NURBS surfaces
- Connect mesh vertices and define surface normals for panel protrusion based on curvature
- Cluster facade panels by distance criteria and apply limited color palettes for rationalization
- Automate the baking process with organized layers and material assignment in Rhino
Session 1: Foldable Rib Structures on Curved Surfaces
- Creating doubly curved surfaces using loft operations and curve control
- Surface subdivision using U and V parameters for directional control
- Filtering curves with attractor logic to create folding deformations
- Interpolating curves to maintain surface curvature accuracy
- Applying fold patterns with fixed and deformable curve sets
- Generating smooth geometric explorations through parametric control
Session 2: Advanced Pattern Computation and Clustering
- Computing the Ron Resch pattern for hexagonal panel rotation on curved surfaces
- Triangulation techniques with rotation control over NURBS surfaces
- Connecting mesh vertices to construct complex 3D patterns
- Defining surface normals for panel protrusion based on curvature
- Differentiating rotation and protrusion using curve attractor logic
- Clustering panels by distance criteria and applying limited color palettes
- Automating baking processes with layer organization and material assignment
Omar Kaddourah
Omar Kaddourah is a Senior Designer at Zaha Hadid Architects with extensive experience in computational design and urban architecture. Through his professional journey, he has contributed to significant projects including the 1.2 million square meter Unicorn Island Master Plan in China, where he specialized in facade model design and rationalization.
As a computational design expert at BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), he was instrumental in developing a comprehensive algorithmic toolkit comprising over 30 tools for urban design applications. Omar shares his expertise through teaching and research, focusing on advanced computational methods including mesh topology, optimization, and digital fabrication.
