ARCH655 PARAMETRIC MODELING IN DESIGN

FINAL PROJECT_HARBIN OPERA HOUSE

Instructor: Dr. Wei Yan

Texas A&M University

Fall 2016

Video: https://vimeo.com/193578233

Description

The final project is to develop the midterm product. After finishing the whole building, I found the dome was the most complicated and interesting part. So I decide to focus on the dome design by using Genetic Algorithm and scripting method. 

1. dome dividing: using scripting and Genetic Algorithm to optimize the size of divided surface so that it can meet the desired area.

2. physical engine experiment: combine the Kangaroo and Genetic Algorithm to control the height of the dome to meet any requirement

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Dome Division

1. Find the dome surface based on previous model.

2. Using Lunchbox to divide the surface to several panels

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3. Trying to control the area of each divided panel. If there is a desired area for the panel, the question is how to make each panel to be very similar size to the input panel.

4. The python script use "for loop" to calculate the difference of the area of each panel and the desired area, then get the sum of each difference.

5. Using Galapagos to minimize the sum of difference in order to find the proper division which will meet the requirement.

PHYSICAL ENGINE EXPERIMENT

1. Using the same mesh to do the experiment.


2. Using the edges of the mesh as the connections of the spring.


3. Apply the conditional statement to automatically determine the Uforce points. If the distance between the point and the boundary is larger than the given value, those points would become the Uforce points.


4. Similarly, using the method to determine the anchor points.


5. Using Kangaroo to simulate the shape


6. Define the distance between the highest point on curve and the base surface as the height. The question is to control the height by controlling the size of the Uforce.


7. Projecting all the points on the base surface, produce a list include all the distance. Then using list function to find the largest one.


8. Using the largest value to subtract the desired height. If the subtraction become zero, it means the height is the desired value.



9. Using Galapagos to minimize the subtraction, the variable is the Uforce. After calculation, the proper Uforce will be used in design. Therefore, this experiment can get us a beautiful dome with an accurrate height.

Reference:

Pallett, J., and Mark Burry. The new mathematics of architecture. Thames and Hudson, 2010.

http://www.archdaily.com/778933/harbin-opera-house-mad-architects http://www.i-mad.com/press/mad-architects-unveils-completed-harbin-opera-house/