Fabrication Aware Form Finding Workshop

Description:
Can we rationalize the design of free form surfaces by using computation to integrate design drivers which relate to form distribution and performance targets? Reciprocal form finding workshop focused on computational form finding of free from shells structures and their materialization using reciprocal frames. Emphasis was given on how to explore form finding by integrating a traditional building techniques, that of reciprocal frames.
Participants were introduced into an integrated design workflow which includes agent based modelling for form finding and set of programming and visual scripting and parametric tools namely: Rhinoceros 3d, Grasshopper (Kangaroo, Ladybug, HoneyBee) and, Processing (IGEO) for design implementation of the form found geometries
The integrated workflow was used to design, analyze and evaluate different design alternatives based on their performance. One design approach was selected for fabrication and assembly and was installed in the Texas A&U school of Architecture.
The goal is to teach students computational form finding and introduce them to an integrated design methodology, where analytical tools can be used along with fabrication constraints of a specific system for driving the design process and improving the design outcomes.