Part 1

For Part 1 of the assignment, I chose to modify the existing “Parametric Tower - Twisting Rectangular Mass” family. As seen in a screenshot below, I added parametric equations to the family type so the only independent variables were the base width, the height, and the twist. The two screenshots directly below show the building form generated from two different combinations of these three input variables.

For the Dynamo section of Part 1, I closely followed the example provide in Canvas. I used the “BuildingForm.EvaluateSingleInput” custom node and “List.Map” to evaluate the specified output parameters for varying inputs. I then used four separate “Data.ExportToExcel” nodes to export the input parameter and three output parameters to Excel to form the data table seen below.

Part 2

For Part 2, I created my new building form in Dynamo to allow for rapid generation of different building forms. My building has a square base and top, an octagonal middle, and a 45 degree twist at the top. The two parameters I decided to flex were the base radius and the top height. Two different variations of my building form can be seen below, as well as a more detailed description of my Dynamo code.

While the base radius and top height were the two variables I chose to flex, my custom node (in orange) is set up so you can easily change which input variables to flex. All major inputs for the building form were left outside the custom node, as seen in the pink on the left. I created a combination of input values to test, and then I cycled through the different combinations of inputs using the “Function Apply” node. I then grouped the results together and exported them to Excel using the “Data.ExportToExcel” node. A screenshot of the generated data table is seen at the bottom of this journal entry.

Below is the Dynamo code for my custom node. I closely followed the example provided on Canvas. I created three separate polygons and lofted the profiles to create the building form. I then computed the floor areas by intersecting rectangular surfaces on XY planes with the wall surfaces, and I also calculated the gross volume and surface area using their corresponding nodes.