General Objectives:



Introduction and knowledge about 3D modelling tools within Architectural process.

Introduction and knowledge about algorithms generating tools and generative

processes.

Introduction and knowledge about Digital Fabrication tools linked to the materialization

of the architectonical design.

Specific Objectives:



Using of CAD software, specifically NURBS based software, as a support of generative

tools within Architectural process.

Using of Algorithmic Development tools, specifically visual environment based tools, as

a support of plenty functional algorithms in Architecture.

Using of digital fabrication tools in order to develop physical models.

Module 1. Parametric Design Tools I. Geometry y Parametrization.

Module 2. Parametric Design Tools II. Form Control and Discretization.

Module 3. Digital Fabrication Tools

Module 4. Design and Digital Fabrication Workshop.

The course is based on ERAGIN-Project Based Learning (PBL). In this way the students organised in

groups will deal with different exercised that will be focused on several real questions.

Depending on the complexity of the tasks, at least 3 exercises will be developed.

The structure of each project follows the scheme bellow:



1st Part

Project presentation

1. Basic Theoretical introduction about geometric concepts.

2. Basic Tutorials about algorithmic development.

2nd Part. Workshop

3rd Part. Presentation

A. Each group has to explain briefly his idea by a public oral presentation. (5 minutes long)

B. Each group should prepare a panel explaining the idea, chosen place, references. ( 1 panel A1 PDF) The

panel will be uploaded to EGELA after the presentation.

C. In order to improve the understanding of the whole idea, photos, sketches, schemes, physical models,

anything valid are welcome.

D. Any idea has to be developed from a parametric point of view. In this way, you have to bear in mind how it

would be build up by using algorithms. How can you use Grasshopper into the process, throughout the

whole process or in a part at least. This point will be specifically reflected on the presentation

The subject will follow a continuous evaluation including the entire projects. The student’s career

and the participation during lectures, tutorials and workshop sessions will be taken into account.

This evaluation method requires a maximum attendance of the students.

The final evaluation of the subject will be obtained through of a weighted mean of the former

projects. It will be indispensable to fulfill all the deliveries to pass the subject.

Students who cannot attend the lectures and workshops during the course due to justified

reasons will have the possibility of proving the abilities and competences related to the subject

through a final evaluation. Thus, any student who wants to renounce the ordinary call

(continuous assessment) must deliver a written notification and justification to the teacher

during the first month of the course and will have the possibility for a final evaluation

consisting on the delivering the exercises developed during the course.

Grasshopper is a visual programming editor developed by David Rutten. It is a plug-in for
Rhinoceros 3D modelling environment based on NURBs
Grasshopper and Rhino offer us the opportunity to define precise parametric control over
models, the capability to explore generative design workflows, and a platform to develop higherlevel
programming logic.
Both programs are at your disposal installed in the computers at the Computer Rooms. Besides
you can install a trial-version of them for free during 3 months.

Basic bibliography

SCHUMACHER, Patrik. Parametricist Manifesto

POTTMANN, Helmut. A. Asperl, M. Hofer, A. Kilian. ARCHITECTURAL GEOMETRY. Bentley I.

Press. Exton, 2007

TERZIDIS, Kostas. ALGORITHMIC ARCHITECTURE. Architectural Press, London, 2006

KOLAREVIC, Branko. ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIGITAL AGE. DESIGN AND

MANUFACTURING. Spoon Press. NEW YORK, 2003

CARPO, Mario. The Alphabet and the Algorithm. MIT Press, Cambridge, 2011

CARPO, Mario. The Second Digital Turn. MIT Press, Cambridge, 2017

WOODBURY, Robert. ELEMENTS OF PARAMETRIC DESIGN. Routledge. New York, 2010

DOLLENS, Denis. DE LO DIGITAL A LO ANALÓGICO. Gustavo Gili. Barcelona 2002.

In-depth bibliography

SHELDEN, Dennis. DIGITAL SURFACE REPRESENTATION AND THE CONSTRUCTIBILITY OF
GEHRY'S ARCHITECTURE. Thesis Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of
Architecture.
VELTKAMP, Martin. FREE FORM STRUCTURAL DESIGN. IOS Press BV. Amsterdam 2007
JIANLONG, Zhang. CHENGYU, Sun. Tongji University, GLOBAL DESING AND LOCAL
MATERIALIZATION. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
Milena Stavric, Predrag Sidanin, Bojan Tepavcevic. ARCHITECTURAL SCALE MODELS IN THE
DIGITAL AGE.
DUNN, Nick. DIGITAL FABRICATION IN ARCHITECTURE. Laurence King Publishing. London,
2012.
IWAMOTO, Lisa. DIGITAL FABRICATIONS. Architectural and Material Techniques.
Princeton Architectural Press. London, 2009
BEORKREM, Kristopher. MATERIAL STRATEGIES IN DIGITAL FABRICATION. Routledge. New
york, 2013
GONZALEZ QUINTIAL, Francisco. METODO DE ADAPTACION DE FORMAS DE DOBLE
CURVATURA MEDIANTE SUPERFICIES DESARROLLABLES Tesis Doctoral.