SketchUp script clips #1: Setup and basic ideas

In this series of posts, I will be exploring how one can create scripted geometry in SketchUp. Traditionally, this has been more the realm of programs like Rhino. And justifiably so. Rhino is NURBS-based and can create and modify curved geometry much better than SketchUp. However, SketchUp is an easy-to-use program for working with polygon-mesh-based […] Read more..

Shells and tension structures

Shells and tension structures (cable nets or fabrics) are beautiful structural elements that provide a very lightweight organic shape with a visually clear structural language. When it comes to creating these, however, specialized tools are required since the underlying math is anything but trivial. If you want to work with shells or tension structures, try […] Read more..

Free ‘hopper manual published

If you are into curvy, parametric, formula-generated shapes for architecture, product design or whatever, then this is for you: Andy Payne of LIFT Architects has published an introductory manual for Grasshopper, the Rhino plugin. This document should get you going faster. You can download the manual directly from their website. Enjoy!

Hopping with a Rhino

Inspired by one of David Fano’s recent blog posts, I decided to give Rhino’s Grasshopper plugin (formerly called Explicit History) a try. It is pretty amazing what can be done with it and how easy it is to use. I haven’t venture too far at this point – there’ll be more to come when I […] Read more..