In this assignment, you’ll explore how to change the surface of a structure to respond to data from various input sources, including:
data files and image files
physical properties of the surface elements, such as location, elevation, or orientation
You can useDynamo or Grasshopper to complete your design work for each part of the assignment. Feel free to mix it up and use different platforms for each.
Steps to Complete
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Stage 1 - Rise and Shine (for 2 or more units)
For Stage 1, you’ll work with data that is sampled from an image file to adjust the color or height of wall panels.
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Part 1 - Use Image Data to Adjust the Color of Surface Panels
Here are some examples of colorizing a grid of wall panels to create artistic effects.
A here’s a much larger-scale example - the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. It uses a hexagonal grid over a spherical surface.
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Step 1 - Create an Arc-Shaped Wall Surface
Provide sliders that will allow users to quickly change:
the arc’s radius
the arc’s starting angle
the arc’s ending angle
the height of the wall
Draw an arc curve on the base plane.
Select this arc curve and extrude it in the Z direction to the specified height.
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Step 2 - Panelize the Wall Surface
Use the Lunchbox Panel.PanelQuad node to divide the surface into rectangular panels.
Set the u and v inputs to create a grid of nearly square panels - similar to the pixels on an LED screen.
Create formulas to smartly determine the u and v inputs based on the length of the arc curve and the height of the wall. The number of panels should update as the wall dimensions change, and the panels should maintain a nearly square shape.
If using Dynamo, use the panel points and a very simple adaptive panel (for example, Rect Seamless Panel-4pt)- to create the wall panels in Revit.
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Step 3 - Read an Image File and Sample the Image Data
Copy an image file into the same folder as your main graph.
Read this image file.
Sample the image data to determine the colors that will be applied to the panels on your wall.
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Be sure to use the same u and v values to sample the image data, so you’ll have a one-to-one mapping from the image data to your wall panels.
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Step 4 - Map the Sampled Colors to the Wall Panels
Map the list of color values to the adaptive panels using the workflow shown in the examples.
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Finishing Part 1
Save your files for this part of the assignment using a file name that ends with “_Stage1_Part1”
Save a screenshot showing your model geometry with the image colors mapped to the wall panels.
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Part 2 - Use Image Data to Adjust the Height of Surface Panels
Here are some examples of adjusting the height of surface panels to create artistic effects.
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Step 1 - Create a Serpentine (S-Shaped Wall Surface)
Provide sliders that will allow users to quickly change:
the length of the wall
the height of the wall
the number of waves in the wall
the amplitude of the waves in the wall
Draw a line of the desired length on the base plane.
Use a variation of the Sine or Cosine node to transform this line into a wavy curve on the base plane.
Select this wavy curve and extrude it in the Z direction to the specified height.
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Step 2 - Panelize the Wall Surface
Use the Lunchbox Panel.PanelQuad node to divide the surface into rectangular panels.
Set the u and v inputs to create a grid of rectangular panels - about 4” tall x 8” wide - similar to bricks in a wall.
Create formulas to smartly determine the u and v inputs based on the length of the base curve and the height of the wall. The number of “bricks” should update as the wall dimensions change, and the “bricks” should maintain their 4” x 8” shape.
If using Dynamo, use the panel points and a very simple adaptive panel (for example, Rect Seamless Panel-4pt)- to create the “bricks” in Revit.
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Step 3 - Read an Image File and Sample the Image Data
Copy an image file into the same folder as your main graph.
Read this image file.
Sample the image data to determine the height values that will determine the thickness of the “bricks” in your wall.
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Be sure to use the same u and v values to sample the image data, so you’ll have a one-to-one mapping from the image data to your wall panels.
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Step 4 - Use the Sampled Colors to the Set the Heights of the Wall Panels
Map the list of color values to set the “Height” of each of the adaptive panels using the workflow shown in the examples.
If using Dynamo, use the Color.Brightness node to transform the brightness of each sampled color into data value (ranging from 0 to 1).
Remap the brightness values from the sample image into a range of heights from 4” to 12”.
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Finishing Part 2
Save your files for this part of the assignment using a file name that ends with “_Stage1_Part2”
Save a screenshot showing your model geometry with the brightness values of the sampled image mapped to the thickness of the wall panels.
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Stage 2 - Gonna Need Shades (for 3 or more units)
For Stage 2, you’ll create a model of a simple building form and panelize the wall surfaces. Then evaluate the orientation of the wall panels (relative to the sun position) and use this data to adjust parameters of the wall panels.
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Step 1 - Create a Model of a Simple Two-Level Building Form
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Create a resizable rectangle on the base plane to represent the footprint of the lower level.
Provide sliders that will allow users to quickly change:
the building length at the lower level
the building depth at the lower level
the height of the lower level walls
Extrude the boundary lines of this rectangle to the height of the lower level walls.
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Offset the rectangle defining the lower level footprint to create another rectangle to represent the footprint of the upper level.
Provide sliders that will allow users to quickly change:
the offset distance of the upper level walls relative to the lower level.
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This distance could be positive (to specify that the upper level walls extend outside the lower level walls) or negative (to specify that the upper level walls are inset from the lower level walls.
the height of the upper level walls
Extrude the boundary lines of this rectangle to the height of the upper level walls.
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Step 2 - Panelize the Wall Surfaces
Use the Lunchbox Panel.PanelQuad node to divide the wall surfaces into rectangular panels.
Set the u and v inputs to create a pattern of tall rectangular panels - similar to the glazing panes of a curtain wall.
For simplicity, specify that your panelized walls surfaces will be 1 panel tall.
Create a formula based on the length of each wall segment to determine the number of panels in the horizontal direction for that segment.
Provide a slider to set the desired panel width.
Divide the wall segment length by the desired panel width to compute the number of whole panels that could fit into this length.
Use a Ceiling node to round this number up to the next whole integer.
Use this number to specify the number of panels.
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Step 3 - Place or Create Shading Elements at each Wall Panel location
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If using Dynamo
Use the panel points to place adaptive panel components at each wall panel location in Revit.
Use one of these adaptive panel component families from the CEE 120C/220C Shared Library:
Rotating Shade Panel - 4pt
Folding Shade Panel - 4pt
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If using Grasshopper
Create geometry to represent the shading elements by following the workflows in one of these examples:
Rotating Shade Panel
Folding Shade Panel
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Step 4 - Set the Sun position
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If using Dynamo
Specify the Sun Settings in your Revit project file.
Use the SunSettings.Current and SunSettings.Direction nodes to get a vector representing the sun’s position from your Revit project settings.
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If using Grasshopper
Create a point that will represent the sun position.
Provide sliders to easily move the point’s location to simulate the movement of the sun through the day.
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Step 5 – Evaluate the Directness of the Wall Surface Panels to the Sun
Create node logic to evaluate the directness of each surface panel to the sun.
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Use our class examples as a starting point for building the logic in your graph.
Map the computed directness values to a new range with:
0 representing the least direct orientation.
1 representing the most direct orientation.
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Step 6 – Provide Visual Feedback using Color to Indicate the Directness of Each Panel to the Sun
Create node logic to map the computed directness values to a range of colors – for example:
Green to indicate the panels with the least direct orientation.
Red to indicate the panels with the most direct orientation.
Set the color of the surface panel elements based on the computed directness values.
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Step 7 – Adjust the Panel Geometry based on the Directness of Each Panel to the Sun
Adjust the parameters of each panel based on the computed directness values.
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If using Dynamo
Use the panel points to place adaptive panel components at each wall panel location in Revit.
Set the parameters available, based on the adaptive panel component family used:
Rotating Shade Panel - 4pt
Set the Shade Rotation
Set the Shade Width
Folding Shade Panel - 4pt
Set the Fold Location
Set the Fold Outdent
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If using Grasshopper
Adjust the geometry representing the shading elements by following the workflows in one of these examples:
Rotating Shade Panel
Folding Shade Panel
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Finishing Stage 2
Save your files for this part of the assignment using a file name that ends with “_Stage2”
Save a screenshot showing your model geometry with the wall panels responding to the sun location at two different times of day.
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Stage 3 - Cover Your Eyes (for 4 units only)
For Stage 3, you’ll create another model of a simple building form and panelize the wall surfaces. Then, follow a similar workflow to evaluate the orientation of the wall panels (relative to the sun position) and use this data to adjust parameters of the wall panels.
For Stage 3, you’ll be using the same logic for computing the directness of each wall panel to the sun. So, you may want to Save As your graph from Stage 2 under a new name and modify it for this stage.
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Step 1 - Create a Model of a Tall Polygonal Tower Form
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Create a resizable polygon on the base plane to represent the footprint of the base of the tower.
Provide sliders that will allow users to quickly change:
the radius of the tower at the lower level
the number of sides of the polygon
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Create a second resizable polygon with the same centerpoint to specify the footprint at the top of the tower.
Provide a sliders that will allow users to quickly change:
the radius of the tower at the top level
the height of the top level
Use the same input for the number of sides for this polygon,
Translate this polygon in the Z direction to the top level.
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Create a third resizable polygon with the same centerpoint to specify the footprint at mid-level of the tower.
Provide a sliders that will allow users to quickly change:
the radius of the tower at the mid-level
Use the same input for the number of sides for this polygon.
Compute a height for this mid-level, then translate this polygon in the Z direction to this height.
Loft these three polygon to create an exterior wall surface for the tower.
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Step 2 - Panelize the Wall Surfaces
Option 1: Use the Lunchbox Panel.Hexagon node to divide the wall surfaces into hexagonal panels.
Set the u and v inputs to create a pattern of hexagonal panels that are about 8’ tall x 8’ wide.
Experiment with the Parameter for Adjusted Hexagons to see the effect this has on the shape of the hexagon panels.
Option 2: Use the Lunchbox Panel.PanelQuad node to divide the wall surfaces into rectangular panels.
Set the u and v inputs to create a pattern of rectangular panels that are about 8’ tall.
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Step 3 - Place or Create Panels with Resizable Openings at each Wall Panel location
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If using Dynamo
Use the panel points to place adaptive panel components at each wall panel location in Revit.
Use one of these adaptive panel component families:
From the CEE 120C/220C Shared Library:
Rect_Panel with Resizable Opening - 4pt
Hexagon_Panel with Resizable Opening - 6pt
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If using Grasshopper
Create geometry to represent the shading elements by following the workflows in this example:
Hexagonal Panel with Openings
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Step 4 - Set the Sun position
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If using Dynamo
Specify the Sun Settings in your Revit project file.
Use the SunSettings.Current and SunSettings.Direction nodes to get a vector representing the sun’s position from your Revit project settings.
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If using Grasshopper
Create a point that will represent the sun position.
Provide sliders to easily move the point’s location to simulate the movement of the sun through the day.
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Step 5 – Evaluate the Directness of the Wall Surface Panels to the Sun
Create node logic to evaluate the directness of each surface panel to the sun.
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Use our class examples as a starting point for building the logic in your graph.
Map the computed directness values to a new range with:
0 representing the least direct orientation.
1 representing the most direct orientation.
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Step 6 – Adjust the Panel Geometry based on the Directness of Each Panel to the Sun
Adjust the parameters of each panel based on the computed directness values.
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If using Dynamo
Use the panel points to place adaptive panel components at each wall panel location in Revit.
Set the parameters available, based on the adaptive panel component family used:
Rect_Panel with Resizable Opening - 4pt
Set Panel Frame Width Parameter A (0.02 to 0.49)
Set the Panel Frame Width Parameter B (0.02 to 0.49)
Hexagon_Panel with Resizable Opening - 6pt
Set the Panel Frame Width Parameter (0.02 to 0.49)
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If using Grasshopper
Adjust the geometry representing the shading elements by following the workflows in this example:
Hexagonal Panel with Openings
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Finishing Stage 3
Save a screenshot showing your model geometry with the wall panels responding to the sun location at two different times of day.
Save your files for this part of the assignment using a file name that ends with “_Stage3”
Submit
Please create a folder named “Module 4” within your personal folder in our Autodesk Construction Cloud project.
Then, upload these items to your Module 4 folder using the web interface:
Your Revit project (.RVT) file
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Please the following naming convention for your uploaded files:
"#ofUnits_NameAndLastName_Module#".
For example:
4units_SampleStudent_Module4.rvt
For 2 or 3 units: Your Dynamo graph (.DYN) file for Part 1
For 4 units: Your Dynamo graph file for Part 2
Create a link to your Module 4 folder:
Right-click on the Module 4 folder in the file tree (at the left side of the interface) and choose Share from the pull-down menu.
Choose Share with Project Members, then switch to the Link tab.
Click the Copy button to copy the link to your clipboard.
Images/screenshots showing your surface with the effects applied:
For 2 units: a first image showing your image mapped to the surface
For 3 units: a second image showing your embossed or debossed surface
For 4 units: a third image showing your panels adapting to sun directness
A brief description of your design outlining the parameters that can be used to flex and dynamically change your structure
Please create a folder named “Module 4” within your personal folder in our Autodesk Construction Cloud project.
Then, upload these items to your Module 4 folder using the web interface:
Your Revit project (.RVT) file and Dynamo graph (.DYN) file for each stage of the assignment.
Or, your Grasshopper (.GH) file for each stage of the assignment.
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Please the following naming convention for your uploaded files:
"#ofUnits_NameAndLastName_Module#_Stage#".
For example:
4units_SampleStudent_Module4_Stage1.rvt
Create a link to your Module 4 folder:
Right-click on the Module 4 folder in the file tree (at the left side of the interface) and choose Share from the pull-down menu.
Choose Share with Project Members, then switch to the Link tab.
Click the Copy button to copy the link to your clipboard.
