LC SEKAI

Introduction

Today I'm going to introduce the Rhino & Grasshopper 3D modeling for this tree branch supported pavilion. This structure is divided into two parts, the tree branches supporting structures and the ceiling with circle packing pattern.

1. Use the Rabbit (L-system) to build the tree structures.

a. set 17 points as the locations of the tree trunks;
b. set random heights and uneven radius to the branches & trunks.

2. Create the elevated waved mesh surface

a. build a square grid, and give each point on this grid sin-wave trend;

b. set two points as attractions to control the crest of the wave;

c. either python script or evaluate component could be applied.

d. raise the elevation of the mesh surface to the top of the tree branches.

3. Terminal branches

Find the end points on branches and connect them with the closest points on the surface, and give these lines radius to make the terminal branches that touch the bottom of the surface.

4. Make the circle packing pattern

a. create a rectangle and find the random points inside this boundary, use this points to building a mesh;
b. use this mesh to apply different force objects to the kangaroo component to create the circle packing pattern.

5. Project the circle packing pattern onto the waved surface

a. draw a kidney shape curve and trim with the circle packing pattern;

b. use the waved mesh surface to create a waved surface in Rhino;

c. project the trimmed circle packing pattern onto the re-referenced waved surface;

d. make the patch.

6. Apply color patterns

Use the color wheel to give the ceiling structure color patterns.

Different color can be endowed with different themes.

Project Movie

Main Station Stuttgart

Location:

Stuttgart, Germany

Built:

International competition 1997, 1st prize

Execution 2009 - 2021

GFA 185,000 m²

Project Background

This building is a new underground central train station which allows for the integration of Stuttgart into the growing network of high-speed rail traffic in Europe.

http://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/16836_Main_Station_Stuttgart

The structure and the “lighting cones“ connect the platform level with the square and park above. Varied and broad views along with the elegance of the supporting structure give the station its unmistakable identity. The form of the modular shell supports is based on the reversed-suspension model.(http://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/16836_Main_Station_Stuttgart)

http://openbuildings.com/buildings/main-station-stuttgart-profile-4830/

Parametric Modeling -- Rhino & Grasshopper

Step 1 Using Kangaroo to create the basic structures

I used three kangaroos to build the dome and the two layers of the supporting structures. Actually, three kangaroos are too much for one modeling since it could increase the computer calculation burdens. These processes could be combined into data tree branches, but the process would be difficult to understand, this time I just used three kangaroos to build the model. Instead, the result meshes need to be simplified before doing the next step.

I directly degenerated the mesh faces in Rhino after baked the results. Simplifying the meshes in Grasshopper is possible, but it requires plug-in or #C script.

Step 2 Using Mesh Difference command to trim the structure

I inputted two meshes to do the mesh difference.

Step 3 Filling the holes on the structure (Step 3 & Step 4 in modeling)

First, I needed to find the edges on the meshes.

For filling the holes between the dome and supporting structures, I used data management by shifting and reversing the data stream, and got the surface.