In this 5th episode of Grasshopper for Beginners, the interface continued by exploring the interface of Grasshopper. With the help of these two methods (tabs and search box), we can find the components. We can select them with the left click and place them on the canvas with the left click again. Now take random components and try to place them on the canvas with both methods. Therefore, components with different functions are the building blocks of GH definitions. The…

In this fourth episode of Grasshopper for Beginners, the explanation of the graphical user interface continued. We call the data flow diagrams definitions. GH definitions are rendered on a large blank screen area called canvas. We can zoom in and out (zoom) the canvas with the middle mouse wheel. Or pan sideways by holding down the right mouse button. Tabs and panels are menus where all the components of the GH are grouped and placed. Left-clicking on the tabs displays…

The Istanbul Bilgi University Scientific Research Project, titled “Exploring the Possibilities of Using Game Engine-Based Collaborative Virtual Environments in Architectural Design Studios”, or “Virtual Design Studio” in short, is about testing a virtual environment for online and blended models of education in architectural design studios. The presentation tools used in the architectural studios are directly effective in determining the boundaries of design thinking. Today, there is no specialized tool for architectural design studios or a generally accepted pedagogical method in…

We will try to create collapsible structures in this new series called Folding Experiments. In this example, we will be using Grasshopper and Kangaroo components to understand the Folding Experiments: Basics first. Like other projects, this is a Parametric Modeling course exercise that usually includes primary Grasshopper usage. In our first example, we will try to fold a mesh object. To be able to fold a surface like origami, we need to define the folding creases and faces. The most…

The dwg format maps in Turkey are often problematic. You need to clean these for architectural studios. Maps mostly contain height information of buildings. But the contours of the buildings are distorted and polylines are generally exploded. The map of the region where we worked in the studio I conducted in the Fall 2021 term was also problematic. I created a Map Cleaner Script in Rhino Python and converted the building drawings on the map into solid 3D models. We…

Let’s make some nostalgia. I thought of a very simple and useful algorithm that I can generate with Grasshopper. At the concept stage in architectural projects, I tried to derive figures that could symbolize the trees on the land. To make random low poly trees in Grasshopper we need several lists of random numbers first. The Facet Dome component will meet all our needs. In the code I shared on this page, I arranged the data tree structure to handle…

Installation In this episode of Grasshopper for Beginners, we will look at the Interface. If you do not have the Rhino software, you can download the 90-day trial version from www.rhino3d.com and install it. The website will give you the latest version, Rhino 7. The compatibility of the applications and examples with the Rhino 7 version has been checked. Therefore, all applications and examples can run on version 1.0.0007 of GH used on Windows-based computers, and SR34, the latest version…

The SpaceChase plugin for Grasshopper focuses on initiating dynamic capabilities to Space Syntax theory by introducing the “Dynamic Canvas” model along with real-time editing capabilities in an interactive physics-based environment. Therefore, SpaceChase is a software development project for “Mekan Dizimi Tasarım Uygulaması” (no:119M082) under the ARDEB 1001 program of TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey). Architectural design, as a cognitive activity, has always been fed by architectural knowledge based on practice and theory, and it has been questioned how creative…

“Strange Start Startling Stop” was designed by Mary Purdy at the State University of New York in 1985. The composition is based on a hexagonal lattice (above figure). There are four prototiles, marking the four key moments in the shape-shifting process. The first prototile is a regular hexagon, which is also the first tile of the composition. This prototile morphs into a shape that is a composition of four smaller hexagons, creating the second prototile. This morphing process finishes at…

We continue the Grasshopper for Beginners (2) series with the data flow programming concept. Control flow diagrams we use in traditional programming languages control the sequence of executed commands. In data flow diagrams, the focus is not on the order of commands but on how the data progresses. In the previous example, it doesn’t matter whether the Circle and Polyline command runs first. As a result, both are prerequisites for Extrude. Extrude command will not be executed until both are…