ProgrammaticConstraints_Edwards

To complete the Programmatic Constraints lab, we modeled a Rhino file after OMA’s Seattle Public Library. Using the Grasshopper plugin called LunchBox enabled us to use data located in an Excel file to drive the components of the script.

Lunchbox will grab specified data out of an Excel file that is open and sourced from the desktop. This is accomplished by using ExcelRead components. We used a file that had rough estimates of the dimensions of the floor plates found in the Seattle Public Library and their respective heights in relation to one another to manipulate the Grasshopper script. The script was set up so that the parameters were controlled by number sliders that were referencing the Excel file information. These parameters were manipulated to create volumes that were similar to the main spaces found in the form of the Seattle Public Library.

The columns of data used from the file to manipulate the script were the Width, the Number of Floors, and the Floor to Floor Height. Using a MassAddition component and Vector components, the volumes were stacked up on top of one another, and a Replace component was used to remove every other volume to create spaces between the programmatic “boxes” of Seattle Central. A set of Random components was then used to manipulate the volumes in the X and Y axes.

LunchBox also provides the user with an array of textures and grids to use on surfaces. Once I chose the iteration of the script that I found to be the most interesting, I used this texture feature to add a diagrid structure to the programmatic boxes. I then used Rhino to create a series of planes to replicate the form of the Seattle Public Library. I decided, however, to alter the planes defining the interstitial space slightly, in order to better display the success of the script. Once I created the planes, I used LunchBox to add a separate texture from the diagrid of the programmatic boxes.