Goals
The project’s objective was to create a structure that serves as the roof of an urban space and can host various social, cultural, sporting, and other activities.
The starting point of the project was not only the structure but the visitors’ experience: the emotions that may arise from being inside this semi-permeable space. The structure adopts a system of two columns that support the roof with an organic pattern and a waffle structure.
Background
Previously public spaces
The square was thought of as a place of reception and, not only were gathering places, but also elements of control and representation of power, connection and reception to the citizens.
In cities, urban spaces became places where freedom of expression, exchange of ideas, and civic participation were exercised. Nowadays, public spaces seek to offer social inclusion, functional and accessible to all people.
Public spaces cannot be categorized as homogeneous spaces, as they depend on different functions such as social, cultural, economic, and symbolic, and also on the meanings given to them by different audiences. Therefore, the meaning and form of public space are not fixed, as they change with the changing dynamics of society.
Inspiration
A reference to this type of space would be the structure of the Metropol Parasol in Seville Spain. Where they use the waffle structure with a geometric and organic form, using new materials in the construction system such as wood, and using digital modeling for its design, linked to the design of the reticular grids of the past.
TUTORIAL
1. Creation of a surface
I start by adding the “Plane Surface” component to generate a surface from a base plane. Then i add the Multi-Dimensional Slider, which generates a pair of normalized coordinates, which represent a position within the surface, where the coordinates “Size X” and “Size Y”: Define the overall dimensions of the structure. These parameters allow dynamic adjustments of the shape and shape behavior.
2. Creation of force fields and force field-influenced curves.
The generated surface is evaluated with the component “Evaluate Surface”. Then force fields (one rotational and one point charge) are generated with the “Spin Force” and “Point Charge” elements: Afterwards the “Merge Fields” i use: Both fields are combined and field lines, i.e. curves following the direction of the force, are generated.
The creation and subdivision of an initial curve as the “circle” command and is used as the starting point for these field lines. This circle is divided into points to initiate multiple paths in the force field.
3. Addition of a Surface
A “Surface” component was added, which now feeds both the “Evaluate Surface” and “Plane Surface”, so instead of working only with a flat surface generated with “Plane Surface”, the system could now evaluate a more complex surface.
4. Curves and surfaces
Curves defined by vertices are created, where their parameters can be adjusted by the “nurbs curve” component. From this curve, an initial surface is generated by interpolating the curves. From this surface, later i can make a displacement with the loft command.
With the “Field Line” component the curves are drawn and distributed according to a point. The curve is divided into equidistant points and with the graph mapper component the parameters can be controlled more dynamically.
Using the “Offset Curve” command, the curves can be shifted to both sides and the thickness of the shift can be controlled.
5. Parameterized surfaces and movement
The surface is extruded with the Boundary Surfaces command in a direction defined by the z vector. With the command “Factor and vector multiplication” the surface is parameterized as it moves.
6. Organic shapes and modulation
With the offset surface command i can create different variations by assigning a value to it. Using also the Deconstruct Brep i can work with edges and vertices of the surface.
7. Baked
i use the baked command in loft, offset surface, deconstruct Brep, and extrude, to convert the objects generated in Grasshopper into permanent objects inside Rhino, when this is done it is assigned to a layer and kept in a group.
Final result
As a result, i have a waffle structure in which the supports emerge fluidly from the base to the top surface, effectively distributing the loads while maintaining an organic shape, and creating a space for people to enjoy.
