Project 2

The problem:

The idea for this part of the project is to affect the parameters of the dome panels with a gradient. Basically change the member width for each panel  so that it goes from thin panels to thick ones. This change will be done to limit the sun's penetration to the interior courtyard. Therefore, a conceptual sun was created in the massing family. The conceptual sun was used to generate the distance from each panel to the conceptual sun. This was done as a strategy to make the panels that have greater sun exposure  to become thicker, while the panels that have less sun exposure will become much thinner.

Revit API:

Revit API was used to create the changes and the repetitive tasks:

The following snippet of code describes the assignment of and getting the objects from the Revit environment. First, we get the id of the massing family inside the project. Then we get the panels ids from within the massing family, as well as the id for the conceptual sun. Finally we send the ids to the GetDistance function in order to make the changes.

The following snippet of code describes affecting the panels based on their distance from the conceptual sun. Basically we go through a loop which calculates the location of each panel and calculates the distance between the panel and the sun. The function then returns that distance and assigns it to the "Distance" parameter in each panel.

The following image shows the difference between the original panels (on the left), and the affected panels (on the right).

ARCH653 Project 1

The Louvre, Abu Dhabi

by Jean Nouvel

status: under-construction

“A large, shallow dome, 180m in diameter, floats above the collection of buildings, with only four support points around its perimeter truss. The dome unites this micro-city, and takes up the Islamic tradition of the perforated screen and the use of self- similarity and fractal organization of patterning to create a special micro-climate below. The space beneath is animated by the shadow play caused by the modulation of light by the complex, lacy mesh of small openings across the dome’s surface, reflected on the buildings and the water of the inlet.”

Study of the initial duplication of the fractal pattern

Study of the initial duplication and 12.5 degrees step rotations of the fractal pattern

Result of the initial duplication and rotation of the fractal pattern

Fractal pattern studies

Fractal pattern shadow studies:

This experiment was done using a software called modo. The pattern in this rendering is procedural, not generated from the previous diagrams.

This experiment was done using a software called modo. The pattern in this case is a direct translation of the diagrams into a three-dimensional surface.

The Louvre in Revit

Step1: pattern based curtain panel

The first step was to create a pattern based curtain panel family.

Step1.5: alternative pattern based family

While the previous family is the most basic form that can be duplicated to generate the pattern, this alternative family contains a more complex form that can generate the same pattern. However, because the first pattern fits within a smaller foot print, it will morph more efficiently with the dome shape. Thus, the family in Step1 was chosen to move forward.

Step2: massing family for the volumes

The height of the whole building and all its masses is controlled by a multi- plier. This multiplier allows for the change of all the volumes in the design proportionally. This in return will maintain the relationships between all the volumes. Dome at this stage was only a place-holder in the model.

Step3: dome massing family

The creation of the massing for the dome was the trickiest part of this model. While it might seem very simple to accomplish with a revolve, the outcome of a revolve would not work in this case. The design of the dome requires that the pattern is applied to the dome uniformly, while the revolve will result in small subdivisions at the center and large subdivisions towards the perimeter as in #1. In order to solve this problem, a lot of experiments were done including importing the form from external modelers. However, in the end, using a section of a Torus, while not perfect, it gave the best results.

Step4: a different method for dome making

#1 is where the profiles are lofted to make a surface.

#2 a void mass is then used to subtract the unnessisary parts from the dome

#3 shows the result of the subtraction

#4 shows the pattern applied uniformally on the surface of the dome

Step5: rotation parameter

As per the diagrams of the fractal pattern, each layer rotates 12.5 degrees at every step. Thus, each layer of the dome’s exterior shell has a rotation parameter.

Step6: passing parameters

The parameters of each of the exterior layers of the dome are passed to the project. The parameters include:

U subdivision for the curtain panel

V subdivision for the curtain panel

Rotation angle

Pattern based family’s frame width

Pattern based family’s frame depth

Pattern based family’s material

Step7: final model isometric

Step8: final model perspective

Step9: final model rendering

a. The revit model was exported using SAT format.

b. The SAT format was brought into another software called MoI, which is a NURBS modeler.

c. The model was then exported from MoI using Lightwave format.

d. Finally, the model was brought into modo for final renderings.

note: the reason for this long process is that MoI can handle and export quad and n-gons unlike Rhino, and Revit in most cases.