Digital Fabrication

Parametric Design

Grasshopper is a powerful tool for creating parametric Digital Fabrication models that can be customized by adjusting various parameters to achieve the desired outcome. This flexibility allows designers and architects to iterate quickly and efficiently, exploring multiple design options and variations until they arrive at the optimal solution.

Developable Surface

Mathematically speaking, a Developable Surface is a smooth surface that has zero Gaussian curvature, which means it can be flattened onto a plane without any distortion. This characteristic makes it a highly desirable surface for generating forms for architecture and can significantly reduce building costs due to their unique property.

The digital fabrication model utilizes card stock to produce 80% of the Developable Surfaces. The remaining 20% of non-developable surfaces are created using 3D printing. Rhino’s Gaussian analysis tool is used to verify if a model meets the requirements for developable surfaces. In addition, the Zebra pattern analysis tool is employed to ensure that the model satisfies the 3D printing criteria of having no seams.