Project 2

PROJECT 1 OVERVIEW:

I created the parametric 3d model of "Dynamic Tower" in Dubai using mass modeling interface in Revit.  My model could be modified by these parameters:

1- Total Height

2- Floor Heights

3- Floor Rotations

4- Exterior Windows Frame Thickness

I had the following limitation in the modeling process:

1- Floors had to be added manually

2- No random rotation pattern

3- Floors were not scalable

4- No connection between different categories (Height and Frame thickness)

To overcome these limitation I had to remodel my family mass and also use Dynamo which is a Revit plugin. 

REMODELING THE FAMILY MASS:

I started the final project by remodeling the family mass of the floors to make them scalable. The previous model was created from various lines and curves and scaling the mass using one parameter was impossible. I created the new family using points that define the edges and have a certain distance from the center which can be changed by one parameter. These points are connected using "Spline through points" function to create a closed boundary. 

I defined new parameters to change the shape of the wings by the defined factors of  F1 and F2 which will be multiplied by the main radius. I made F1 and F2 as instance parameters so I can change them for each floor individually. 

DYNAMO:

I used Dynamo which is a visual programming application to create my parametric tower. 

I categorized the nodes into 5 groups so it can be read easier. The two groups on the left create the main elements of the building and the three on the right are making modifications to the model based on the implemented family instances. 

FLOORS: 

In order to place the family instances and create the tower I used "Family Instances By Point" node. I used number nodes to define the total height and number of points which will be defined as the number of floors. So I created a list of numbers from 0 to "Total Height" which defines the Z coordinate in "Point by Coordinates" node. By connecting my "Floor Mass" family type and points to the "Family Instances By Point" node I created the tower. So by changing the range of the total height I could make the building taller or shorter. Also I can change the number of points (number of Z coordinates in the list) and get different number of families which means different number of floors. 

- Changing the "Total Height" node from 1378 to 2000: 

- Changing the "Floor Numbers" node from 80 to 40:

I defined another node to change all of the floors' heights at the same time using the "Set Parameter By Name" node.

- Changing the "Floor Height" node from 14.8 to 10: 

CORE:

I created a cylinder mass and loaded the family into my model. Using "Set Parameter By Name" node I could change the radius and height of the cylinder. I related the height of the cylinder to the total height by a formula so the cylinder height will be always slightly higher than the total height. 

The radius of the cylinder will define the minimum radius of the top floor of the building on the subsequent nodes so it will be always bigger than the cylinder radius. It means by changing the cylinder radius the shape of the tower will change. 

- Changing the radius "Number" node from 37.5 to 25:

FLOOR ROTATION PATTERNS:

I used the "Family Instances Set Rotation" node to rotate the floors. I used the list that I created for floor numbers to give each floor a different rotation. I created 4 different rotation patterns. I connected all of the rotation lists to a single list so I can choose each pattern by changing the index number:

0- This pattern creates rotations for floors based on their floor number. The number node will give different degrees to the pattern. 

- Changing "Rotation Pattern Degree" from 0 to 3:

1- I used "List Shuffle" node to create random rotation pattern for my model. 

- Random rotation pattern:

2- In order to create an irregular interesting rotation pattern I created a formula based on the tan(degree) and floor numbers. 

- Formalized rotation pattern based on tan(22): 

3- I used the "Sun Setting" node to get the "Sun Altitude" so I can get different inputs for my rotation pattern's simple formula based on the sun position. 

- Changing the sun position from 10:00 AM to 7:00 AM:

    

FLOOR SCALE AND SHAPE: 

I used "Set Parameter By Name" nodes to change the radius of floors, F1 factor and F2 factor (which modifies the wings edges) based on the floor number. So the main radius or edge radius will increase or decrease gradually. 

- Changing the base floor's radius "Number" node from 100 to 150:

- Changing the center edge (F1) radius steps "Number" node from -0.001 to +0.002:

- Changing side edges (F2) radius steps "Number" node from +0.001 to +0.005:

Window Frame Thickness:

I used the "Set Parameter By Name" nodes and connected them to the number of floors so the thickness of  the windows will increase or decrease based on the defined start and steps.

- Changing the steps "Number" node from 0 to 0.02: 

Animation:

Video: 

Project 1

INTRODUCTION: 

I chose "Dynamic Tower" (aka. Da Vinci Tower) a rotating 80 stories skyscraper in Dubai, UAE for my class project. Although the project was never built the concept of the project was interesting for me to create a parametric model in Revit. The geometry of this building can be changed by the rotation of each floor independently. This project was designed by the Italian architect David Fisher.

Source: http://www.dynamicarchitecture.net/

DESCRIPTION AND DIAGRAMS: 

I started the modeling by creating a mass model family using the extrusion function. I defined rotation and height parameter for my mass model:

In order to make a parametric relationship between floors in the building, I defined a parameter called "Floor Number". Floor number is unique for each individual floor and determines its rotation and elevation from the ground: 

The total height of the building and number of floors is defined as parameters in the model and the height of the Floors from ground will be calculated using this formula:

(Total Height / Number of Floors) * Floor Number

The floor rotation is determined using the floor number parameter to give each floor a unique rotation. Also a parameter called "Angle Factor" is defined to flex the final rotation pattern. Depending on the desired pattern, different formulas can be used for rotation. I used this formula to make an inconstant rotation patter: 

Pattern 1: Sin(Angle Factor * Floor Number * 10°) * Floor Number * Angle Factor * 1° 

To make a consistent pattern, this formula can be used: 

Pattern 2: Floor Number * Angle Factor * 1° 

Based on the original design of the project, I created  for curtain panel pattern. The frame can be modified using "Frame Depth" and "Frame Width" parameters:

To create the final mass model of the building, I inserted 80 mass floor families and gave each one an unique number so the tower was created:

The tower can be modified by changing the following parameters:

a. Total Height: will change the total height of the building by changing the distance between the floors.

b. Floor Height: the height of the floor mass family will change.

c. Angle Factor: will flex the rotation pattern.

d. Frame Width and Depth: will change the curtain wall pattern

On the following screenshots you can see the changes made by each parameter:

SCREENSHOTS:

Screenshot 1: Angle Factor = 0 , Total Height = Default, Floor Height = Default

 

Screenshot 2: Angle Factor = 0 , Total Height = Taller, Floor Height = Default

Screenshot 3: Angle Factor = Pattern 2 , Total Height = Default, Floor Height = Default

 

Screenshot 4: Angle Factor = Pattern 2 , Total Height = Default, Floor Height = Shorter

Screenshot 5: Angle Factor = Pattern 1 , Total Height = Default, Floor Height = Default

Screenshot 6: Building Envelop Parameters

RENDERINGS:

VIDEO: