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Bio-inspired Structural Design with Vector-based Graphic Static
Performative Design | Online Workshop | English | Europe-Mideast-Africa
Description:
Key Words: Vector-based Graphic Static,Combinatorial Equilibrium Modelling,Interactive Structural Form Finding,Bio-inspired Structural Design
Required Skills: Proficiency in the use of Rhino and Grasshopper. Knowledge of scripting with Python is an advantage, although not required.
Required Software: McNeel Rhino 7 and Anaconda 3.
Required Hardware: Computer with the required software installed.
Maximum number of participating students: 24
The workshop introduces participants to novel methods for designing 3D structures in static equilibrium. The workshop will focus specifically on the Vector-based Graphic Static (VGS) and the Combinatorial Equilibrium Modeling (CEM) tools developed as plug-ins for the McNeel Rhinoceros and Grasshopper parametric software environments. VGS extends conventional 2D graphic statics to the third dimension and allows taking advantage of the interplay between form and forces during the structural design process. The CEM is an innovative geometry-based approach to structural design that is grounded on vector-based graphic statics and graph theory, and which is particularly tailored for the design of mixed tension-compression structures. The workshop will explore the design possibilities offered by combining the VGS and CEM tools. The goal is to exploit the potentials of equilibrium-based modeling for the conceptual design of structures starting from bio-inspired organizational principles and patterns, such as branching systems, spider webs, and phyllotaxis,. The workshop will first introduce the theoretical background and basic knowledge of the VGS and CEM approaches. Then, the application of the VGS and CEM tools will be investigated using some simple design exercises. Once the participants are familiar with the digital tools and methods, they will start exploring the bio-inspired structural configurations based on different VGS and CEM Grasshopper definitions.

The expected outcome of the workshop is:
• A series of diagrams explaining the design process using VGS and CEM.
• A video showing the interactive design process using VGS and CEM.
• Renderings of the final design.
• One physical model per group (optional).
Schedule:
Jun 27 - Jul 3
  • Day 1 / Jun 27

    9:00 - 11:00 (GMT+2:00) Zurich

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    03:00 - 05:00 (EST)

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    09:00 - 11:00 (CET)

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    15:00 - 17:00 (China)

    Introduction and outline of the workshop. Input lecture on structural design and graphic statics.
  • Day 2 / Jun 28

    9:00 - 15:00 (GMT+2:00) Zurich

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    03:00 - 09:00 (EST)

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    09:00 - 15:00 (CET)

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    15:00 - 21:00 (China)

    Tutorial on the Vector-based Graphic Statics (VGS) tool. Tutorial on the Combinatorial Equilibrium Modelling (CEM) tool
  • Day 3 / Jun 29

    9:00 - 15:00 (GMT+2:00) Zurich

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    03:00 - 09:00 (EST)

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    09:00 - 15:00 (CET)

    |

    15:00 - 21:00 (China)

    Simple design exercises to familiarize with the tools. Introduction to the bio-inspired VGS and CEM Grasshopper definitions.
  • Day 4 / Jun 30

    9:00 - 15:00 (GMT+2:00) Zurich

    |

    03:00 - 09:00 (EST)

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    09:00 - 15:00 (CET)

    |

    15:00 - 21:00 (China)

    Students work in groups. Q&A time.
  • Day 5 / Jul 1

    9:00 - 15:00 (GMT+2:00) Zurich

    |

    03:00 - 09:00 (EST)

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    09:00 - 15:00 (CET)

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    15:00 - 21:00 (China)

    Students work in groups. Q&A time.
  • Day 6 / Jul 2

    9:00 - 15:00 (GMT+2:00) Zurich

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    03:00 - 09:00 (EST)

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    09:00 - 15:00 (CET)

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    15:00 - 21:00 (China)

    Preparation of workshop submissions. Q&A time.
  • Day 7 / Jul 3

    9:00 - 11:00 (GMT+2:00) Zurich

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    03:00 - 05:00 (EST)

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    09:00 - 11:00 (CET)

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    15:00 - 17:00 (China)

    Final presentations
Instructors:
  • Pierluigi D'Acunto Technical University of Munich,Assistant Professor
    Pierluigi D'Acunto graduated with honors in Building Engineering-Architecture from the University of Pisa in 2007 and received a Master of Architecture with distinction from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London in 2012. In 2018, he completed his PhD with distinction at ETH Zurich under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Joseph Schwartz. Since 2006, he has gained professional experience in various architecture and engineering offices in Italy and Switzerland and he has been awarded in several international architectural competitions. From 2012 to 2018, he was a research assistant at the Chair of Structural Design at ETH Zurich and, from 2018 to 2021, a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer. Pierluigi is currently Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Structural Design at the Department of Architecture of the Technical University of Munich (TUM). His research explores the convergence of architecture and structural engineering through computer-aided design and emerging construction technologies. His research interests are geometry-based methods for structural design, computational design through equilibrium models, structural form-finding with machine learning, and fabrication-aware structural design using advanced digital manufacturing.
  • Patrick Ole Ohlbrock ETH Zurich,Lecturer, Postdoc
    Ole holds a degree in Civil Engineering since September 2013. He studied Civil Engineering with the minor subject Architecture at the Technical University of Munich from 2007 to 2013. Between his undergraduate and master's degree, he worked as an intern at Schlaich Bergermann and Partner, each half a year in Stuttgart and New York. In 2020, he obtained a PhD with distinction from ETH Zurich under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Joseph Schwartz. He is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher and Lecturer at the Chair of Structural Design at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. His research focuses on the development of computational tools for the conceptual design phase. His research interests are geometry-based methods for structural design, computational modelling of strut-and-tie models, renewable building materials and structural form-finding with machine learning.
  • Giulio Piacentino McNeel,Developer
    Giulio Piacentino received a Master in Architecture degree from the Delft University of Technology in 2008, and holds a bachelor in Architecture Sciences from the Polytechnic University of Turin, during which he also studied for a year as Erasmus student at the Chalmers University of Technology, focusing on sustainability. During the times in the Netherlands, he collaborated with Nio Architekten and the Studio Makkink & Bey in Rotterdam. Since 2009, he works on design technology with the Seattle-based company Robert McNeel & Associates, at first from the Barcelona regional office and then from Italy, his home country. He supports users in design and architecture, develops the GhPython add-on and collaborates on core geometry projects for the Rhinoceros 3D modeling program, written in C#, C++ and Python. He also routinely organized classes, workshops and lectures in several physical locations, as well as online. These include a workshop at the ArchitecturalGeometry conference at Chalmers, Sweden of 2018, Rhino Python Master Class at the Design Modelling Symposium 2013, Berlin; a workshop on building design tools with Grasshopper and RhinoCommon at AAG 2010, Vienna; and a generative design workshop with Grasshopper at eCAADe 2009 in Istanbul. Giulio enjoys the crossing between nature and technology, and the designed as well as the pristine outdoors.
  • Yuchi Shen SouthEast Univeristy ,Ph.D candidate
    Yuchi SHEN is a Ph.D. candidate in Southeast University the school of architecture. He was also a visiting Ph.D. student in ETH Zurich under the supervisor of Prof. Joseph Schwartz during 2019 to 2020. His research topic is bioinspired structural form finding with Vector-based Graphic Static. He is now working cooperatively on developing the VGS tool.
  • Jean-Philippe Jasienski UCLouvain,Teaching & Research assistant
    Jean-Philippe Jasienski graduated in Architectural Engineering from the UCLouvain (Belgium) in 2012 with magna cum laude, having undertaken an exchange programme at the Universidad del Bío-Bío in Concepción (Chile) during his master. He currently works part-time at the LOCI faculty from UCLouvain as a research and teaching assistant. He has been developing a PhD in the Structure & Technologies research unit since 2012 with Prof. D. Zastavni (UCL), L. Ney (Ney & Partners) and C. Fivet (EPFL). His research examines the properties of vector-based 3-dimensional graphic statics for both structural design and analysis. For that purpose, he collaborates closely with researchers from the Structural Design Chair at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich where he was a visiting researcher in 2017. Jean-Philippe also teaches architecture studios and structural design courses and is co-promotor of master thesis. Alongside his research and educational practice, he is partner at MATADOR, a Brussels-based architecture office. He has been awarded in several competitions and projects he was involved in were granted national and international prizes.
  • Federico Bertagna ETH Zurich,PhD Candidate
    Federico holds a master's degree in Building and Structural Engineering from the University of Pisa. During his studies, he has cultivated his interest in architecture through participation in international workshops and design competitions. He spent the last year of his master's studies at the ETH Zürich as an invited visiting student. After his graduation, he attained practical experience while working as an intern at Shise, a structural engineering office based in Tokyo, Japan. His research interests focus on building envelopes and more specifically on the interplay of structural and functional aspects as guiding parameters in the early design stage. Since September 2019 Federico is a PhD student and a teaching assistant at the Chair of Structural Design.