The Software Behind Frank Gehry’s Geometrically Complex Architecture

http://priceonomics.com/the-software-behind-frank-gehrys-geometrically/

42 7 11 years ago

clay_to_n• 11 years ago

Interesting article, I had no idea Frank Gehry led the rise of BIM software.

Though the article didn't really go into it, there is a distinction between Building Information Modeling (BIM) software and parametric design software.

BIM programs combine the architectural model with the other elements of the construction - such as things like wiring, plumbing, etc - so that as one thing changes, everyone can be on the same page. They also have version control. The programs can also track construction timelines and costs.

Parametric design software is different - it lets you create more complex designs through algorithms. You can make small tweaks in the parameters of a design and see how it affects the final result, as everything is tied together. This is behind a lot of the crazy and organic-looking architecture you see today. To do that stuff by hand in a 3D modeling program could be quite painful. I know Grasshopper[1] is a well-known Rhino plugin for this.

(I don't know a ton about this stuff, as I switched from an architecture degree to CS after a year once I realized tools like Grasshopper existed. I decided I'd rather learn to program and apply it to architecture then learn architecture and try to pick up some programming)

[1] http://www.grasshopper3d.com/

themodelplumber• 11 years ago

Thanks for the information on Grasshopper. I use other software for procedural graphic works, so I was wondering--does Grasshopper do any kind of structural engineering support work, or is it mainly for auditioning procedurally-generated shapes?

(BTW my CS advisor flipped his top every time he heard someone say they were studying CS to learn programming. I left CS after hearing that lecture a few times. :))

someremains• 11 years ago

We use GH (Grasshopper) to generate fully attributed and restrained models for FEA packages and then pipe them over real time to visualize (in the FEA pacakage) and run solvers. It allows us to create complex and very large FEA models quickly and iteratively to solve some tricky engineering problems.

There are structural solutions on top of GH like Karamba [0] and interesting physics engines like Kangaroo [1].

[0] http://www.karamba3d.com/ [1]: http://www.grasshopper3d.com/group/kangaroo

santaclaus• 11 years ago

Isn't post-parametric architecture all the rage these days (at least in all of the architecture talks I've been to, I know next to nothing about the field)?

triggercut• 11 years ago

It actually summarizes the history rather well. The foresight from Gehry was really taking parametrics from the Mechanical-CAD world and applying them to Architectural CAD whilst everyone else was still emulating the drawing board virtually (and unfortunately many still do), the hierarchical nature of the relationships you get from parametric modelers, and having to abstract out your physical objects, surely made the jump to storing structured information a lot more natural.

The real power in practice comes from the information interoperability between stakeholders, which it didn't really touch on, but enough to highlight it's biggest roadblock, contracts. For information into how to create a productive contractual environment you can look into Integrated Project Delivery arrangements.

"(I don't know a ton about this stuff, as I switched from an architecture degree to CS after a year once I realized tools like Grasshopper existed. I decided I'd rather learn to program and apply it to architecture then learn architecture and try to pick up some programming)"

Similar to you I started out in Architecture but spent around 3 years in that program (at three separate universities) before finding a rather unique degree that combines both (Architectural Computing). I did my final project on Parametric Structures that were also "intelligent" in Bentley Generative components.

Randgalt• 11 years ago

A believe the software is just a random number generator.

meric• 11 years ago

Here's an article on one of the Gehry's buildings designed from the crumpling paper technique as described: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/preview-of-gehry-opening-a-young-a...

It's 50m from my office and every time I walk past it I worry the metal frame of the glass windows is about to fall - in fact one corner is already damaged with a glass panel broken from what appears to have been a truck crashing into the bit of it that hung over the road.

The Software Behind Frank Gehry’s Geometrically Complex Architecture

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