Interlocking Pavilion

The interlocking frame structures represent a quintessential example of parametric design since very old times. More recently, they gained widespread attention through the Metropol Parasol in Seville, captivating architects and designers. I’ve extensively explored these structures on this blog, attempting various methods like manual slit drawing and solid/region boolean operations. My latest iteration aimed for greater simplicity and adaptability on complex surfaces. I call this new version Interlocking Pavilion. The ribs now align perpendicularly to the surface, which is a very difficult task for me. Of course, the ribs cannot be fully perpendicular to the surface and planar at the same time, if the surface is doubly curved. This is why, I draw geodesics along the sections. Still, the geodesics are not perfectly planar. So, I projected them on their optimum planes. This definition should work with most 4-sided untrimmed surfaces, with possibly some minor adjustments.

This Grasshopper definition crafts perpendicular interlocking structural systems on any given NURBS surface. Input parameters include the four-sided and untrimmed surface for creation, rib thickness, and count, allowing for experimental structural exploration. The outcome comprises closed polysurfaces, readily suitable for laser cutting, CNC processing, or 3D printing. OpenNest add-on can be used to arrange plates for laser cutting. Developed solely with native Grasshopper components in Rhinoceros 7, this definition requires no external add-ons.