Computational Design Technologies

Computational Design Technologies

Among the wide landscape of digital design tools, the computational ones emerge as those that can promote non-standard design approaches to architectural conception, development and construction.

Bat-yam Cans Pavilion

Bat-yam Cans Pavilion

This cans pavilion was made during the Bat-Yam International Biennale of landscape urbanism in Israel. The palm trees bestow an ambiance of fantasy designers chose to further emphasize by using shiny tin cans as building blocks; city conservation using a familiar household material in a new context.

RhinoRstab Grasshopper3d Plugin

RhinoRstab

This paper by Sebastian Dietrich, Sven Schneider and Dimitry Demin presents a new open-source structural analysis plugin for Grasshopper – RhinoRstab. The plugin bridges data between the worldwide established software:  Rhinoceros3d and Dlubal RSTAB.

Evaluating Facade Designs

Evaluating Facade Designs

This article by Evangelos Pantazis and David Gerber proposes a new computational design methodology, intended for use in the area of conceptual design of building design. The proposed methodology is implemented into a multi-agent system design toolkit.

Orbicular 3D Printed Lamp

Orbicular Lamp

The Orbicular lamp by Nervous System is a series of table lamps based on how veins form in leaves. Each lamp is a completely one-of-a-kind design 3D-printed in nylon plastic with its own unique form and pattern of veins.

Tangible Means Knowledge through Materials

Tangible Means

With this document edited by Anne Louise Bang, Jacob Buur, Irene Alma Lønne and Nithikul Nimkulrat, authors wish to explore different ways in which experiential knowledge through materials can be given more appropriate consideration within the framework of research.

Ada Interactive Pavilion

Ada

In collaboration with microsoft research, artist-in-residence jenny sabin has designed the ‘ada’ installation for the tech company’s redmond campus. The work takes its name from ada lovelace, mathematician who is often credited as one of the first computer programmer.

Kinetic Sculpture Orbs

Kinetic Sculpture Orbs

New York City-based design studio Hypersonic teamed up with Plebian Design to create a standalone system of 804 orange spheres which rise and fall in a concerted visual representation of how, within the perceived chaos of data sets, natural patterns eventually reveal themselves.

UGEARS Mechanical Models

UGEARS

UGears is the creator and manufacturer of unique self-propelled mechanical model kits designed for self-assembly without glue and made entirely of high-grade wooden material.

Creative Optimization

Creative Optimization

This thesis by Yassin Salah El-Din Ashour presents a workflow called the ‘creative optimization workflow’ using a Multi-Objective Optimization (MOO) engine called Octopus that runs within Grasshopper3D, a parametric modeling tool, and multiple simulation software.

Material That Matter

Material That Matter

This thesis by Andrea Minuto will introduce you to a vision called Smart Material Interfaces (SMIs), which takes advantage of the new generation of engineered materials. They are capable of changing their physical properties, such as shape, size, and color, and can be controlled by using certain stimuli.

Lighting Interactive Smart Facade

Lighting Smart Facade

Giuseppe Ridolfi and Arman Saberi’s students at The University of Florence designed an interactive smart facade using Rhinoceros 3D, Grasshopper 3D and Kangaroo Physics.

Incessant replication: Computational floor plan generation

Incessant Replication

This thesis by Ron Aasholm studies the process of promptly harnessing a computational design methodology and applies it to floor plan design. A specific evolutionary algorithm, found in Galapagos, is analysed and applied as it used in the model demonstration.

3D Cellular Automata

3D Cellular Automata

This video by Softology is about 3d cellular automata. Visions of Chaos is a professional high end software application for Windows. It is simple enough for people who do not understand the mathematics behind it, but advanced enough for fractal enthusiasts to tweak and customise to their needs.

Computational Urban Design

Computational Urban Design

This thesis by Saeran Vasanthakumar introduces a design tool that attempts to optimize urban energy needs through the mass-customization of urban typology. Developing low-energy, high-density urban typology is a critical goal for cities given current energy consumption and urban growth trajectories.

Stalactite Installation Art

Stalactite

TETRO+A and WHITEvoid present its immense light structure ‘STALACTITE’ which floats above the audience of the bright brussels festival 2018 in belgium. it invites to ‘switch off’ the irrelevant and concentrate on the bliss of the pure audio-visual statement.

Design for Deconstruction

Design for Deconstruction

This Master’s thesis by Anastasios Kokkos is focused on the ambiguous topic concept of Designing for Deconstruction and its application within the construction industry with a computational approach.

Parametric Architecture

Parametric Architecture

The interest of this research by Francesco di Niccolo focuses on the dynamics and the potential of computational design, in particular through the parametric design and writing algorithms. The research has attempted to outline the main design methodologies in the vast panorama of computational design.

Drones Find Missing Objects

Drones Find Missing Objects

RFly, a drone-based wireless system that was designed by MIT researchers can scan and locate items in warehouses. The system leverages cheap, battery-free RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) stickers, which are attached to every item in the warehouse similar to barcodes.

Performance Driven Architecture

Performance Driven Architecture

Performance-driven architectural design by Xing Shi and Wenjie Yang, emphasizes on comprehensive optimization of various quantifiable performances of buildings. As the leading profession of a project team, architects play a vital role in conducting the performance-driven design.

Gyroscopes

Gyroscopes can often seem to defy the laws of physics. However, these devices actually serve as perfect examples of several laws of Physics and play important roles in some of technology’s biggest breakthroughs.

Algorithmic Architecture

Algorithmic Architecture

Algorithmic Architecture by Dr. Tony Kotnik discusses subjects like computational design and digital architecture. Recent theories of form in architecture have focused on computational methods of formal exploration and expression.

Mercedes Benz Stadium

Mercedes Benz Stadium

Arthur Blank, the owner of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS’s Atlanta United, wanted Mercedes-Benz Stadium to provide an architectural icon for the city and a fan experience that is second to none. HOK’s design reimagines what a stadium can be, creating a building that looks and functions like no other and that transforms the experience of going to a live event.

Drawing Machine

Drawing Machine

Two towers weighted with pendulums create elaborate ink spirograph images in ‘drawing machine’, by swedish-born, copenhagen-based designer eske rex, was on display at the mindcraft 11 exhibit of danish craft during milan design week 2011.

Self Assembling Parts

Self Assembling Parts

What if a table or a bridge could build itself? If researchers at the self-assembly lab at MIT have their way, parts will someday put themselves together. In This article Skylar Tibbits explains what a self-assembling future could look like.

Silk Pavilion

Silk Pavilion

Designed by the Mediated Matter research group at the MIT Media Lab in collaboration with Prof. Fiorenzo Omenetto (TUFTS University) and Dr. James Weaver (WYSS Institute, Harvard University), The Silk Pavilion explores the relationship between digital and biological fabrication on product and architectural scales.

Essential Mathematics

Essential Mathematics

Essential Mathematics for Computational Design by Rajaa Issa introduces to design professionals the foundation mathematical concepts that are necessary for effective development of computational methods for 3D modeling and computer graphics. This is not meant to be a complete and comprehensive resource, but rather an overview of the basic and most commonly used concepts.

Metamaterials Islamic Pattern

Metamaterials Islamic Pattern

Ahmad Rafsanjani and Damiano Pasini of McGill University in Montreal, set out to create a new class of futuristic materials that grow when stretched and get their abilities from the geometries of ancient Islamic art. They could be useful in medical devices and satellites.

Scutoid

Scutoid

A completely new geometric shape has been discovered by a group of researchers looking into the dynamics of cells that contribute toward the embryonic development and lead to the formation of human organs. Lehigh University professor, Javier Buceta, helped discover this geometric shape— the scutoid. 

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