Forces of Nature

The aim of this assignment was to use the Live Physics Engine, Kangaroo, to create a live interactive simulation of an installation on the rooftop of the IAAC Campus. Kangaroo allows us to explore form-finding in real-time as we adjust Grasshopper parameters, and simulates how mesh forms will respond to changes in force, such as gravity and wind. 

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Form-finding Catalogue

Beginning with a simple mesh, transformations were explored  through a series of parameters:

Key variables for the form-finding of this Pole Play Pavilion are as follows:

  • the Pole extension height
  • the arc end height

  • the positioning of the moveable anchor points

These form variations, combined with gravitational loads and wind loads result in an ethereal, undulating mesh whose fabric flexes and expands in response to these forces.

“Pole Play Pavilion” is a project of IAAC, Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, developed as part of the Computational Design course at the Master in Advanced Architecture program in 2018/19.

Student: Megan Smylie

Tutor: Rodrigo Aguirre

Support: Daniil Koshelyuk