I’m currently working on a project for an architecture studio where we are learning Grasshopper and parametric modelling. My design is a tower with a triangulated exoskeleton / space-frame facade. The form tapers and shifts as it goes up, so the outer structure is irregular.
So far, I have been able to generate the facade structure in Grasshopper using a base polygon, scaled/offset profiles, and triangulated connections between them. However, the model currently only produces the exterior structure.
For the next step, I need to create floor plates (about 6–12 levels) that follow the building form so the model starts to read as an actual building. I understand how to create horizontal floor plates, but I’m not sure how to connect those plates to the facade geometry, especially since the outer structure is irregular.
Ideally, the floor plates would be generated by slicing the building form so that each plate adapts to the outer structure.
I’ve attached a reference image of what the result might look like, and my current Grasshopper file.
I would appreciate any help or guidance on this matter.
Form-finding can be fun in design projects, but when it’s too abstract like what’s in your file (wink wink), trying to ‘ascribe’ or ‘rationalize’ the actual architecture can feel like Frankensteining.
Maybe from here you could explore point volumes of sorts, perhaps start simple with a 3D convex hull* (to get something) and slice that to expand your form-finding without losing play: Floor Plates.gh (34.8 KB)
*Alternatively, you’ll have to start over, first defining the strictly-necessary form constraints that then dictate the envelope (which may or may not be convex).
I noticed you used a plug-in to make the floor plates. Is there another way to do that without the plug-in?
Also, you suggested starting over and defining the strictly necessary form constraints that then dictate the envelope. Can you please explain how I can do that? I am just a bit lost cause I wasn’t sure how I could make a model that is similar in a different way that I did.
I see, I thought it was a plug-in. Sorry about that.
I’m sorry for asking so many questions, but I’m still very new to Grasshopper and I was hoping to get some advice. I was thinking about using the surface that comes from the Convex Hull 3D step and using that as my new façade, and then make it into a triangulated facade so the building looks more like the image I attached earlier.
Do you think that would be a good approach, or would you recommend another method that might make it look more similar?
