Digital Form-Finding: A Case Study in Complex Geometry

This paper aims to investigate recent trends in computationally based design. The case study in this paper illustrates a parametric approach to designing and building complexly shaped architecture. The selected project, designed by the primary author for an international design competition, demonstrates benefits and problems associated with the use of advanced digital design and manufacturing techniques. The development of sophisticated digitally based environments has led directly to a preoccupation with their use in developing forms and shapes involving highly complex geometric forms and manipulations. A common approach here is to define a building envelope in terms of a series of parametrically defined elements such as the structural ribs. A contrasting parametric approach would be to define measures that control the geometric definition of the outside envelope directly and generate the supporting structure subsequently. The latter approach is exemplified in a highly transparent pavilion that is built of doubly curved acrylic skin over hollow-tube steel ribs. The complex external shape is a priori determined. Sectional planes are passed at regular intervals through the whole shape; and the geometry of the intersection is used to define the shapes of structural members. As a result, orthogonal egg-crate structural system is formed of planar but curvilinear ribs. Shorter blue ribs are assigned primary structural functions. The pavilion is fitted with aluminum horizontal louvers for solar control.