Parametric Modelling of Architectural Developables

The distinction whether a geometric description is complex or not is particularly important from an analysis and construction technology viewpoint in relation with the digital means of modelling this geometry. As complex geometry possibly leads to insurmountable problems or disproportionate high costs, realising a design may be reliant on rationalisation of the geometry. This means that embedding structural, manufacturing and construction aspects early on in the design process is of interest and is largely related to notions of surface rationalisation.

A design approach is proposed which takes into account the definitions of rational surfaces with which initial design definitions can be transferred to rationalised designs with the aid of digital tools. Since they contain specific characteristics in relation to the integration of geometric design with manufacturability and constructability, the research focuses on parametric definitions of the rational surface class of developable surfaces. As such, the design approach is concentrated on using analytical logic of this surface class to inform the rationalisation design process whilst providing the designer with a certain design freedom.

The digital design tools are developed as custom components for Grasshopper [1], a parametric plug-in of the 3D modelling software Rhinoceros.