
II


ALGORITHMIC MODELLING With GRASSHOPPER






Introduction

Have you ever played with LEGO Mindstorms NXT robotic set? Associative 
modelling is something like  that!  While  it  seems  that  everything  
tends  to  be  Algorithmic  and  Parametric  why  not architecture?

During  my  Emergent  Technologies  and  Design  (EmTech)  master  course  
in  the  Architectural Association (AA), I decided to share my experience 
in realm of Algorithmic design and Associative Modelling  with  Grasshopper 
 as  I  found  it  a  powerful  platform  for  design  in  this  way.  I  
did  this because  it  seems  that  the  written,  combined  resources  in  
this  field  are  limited  (although  on‐line resources are quiet 
exciting). This is my first draft and I hope to improve it and I also hope 
that it would be helpful for you.

Mohamad Khabazi
































© 2009 Mohamad Khabazi

This book produced and published digitally for public use. No part of this 
book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission from the 
author, except in the context of reviews.

m.khabazi@gmail.com www.khabazi.com/flux
III


Contents


Chapter_1_Algorithmic Modelling 
............................................................................
............................ 1



Chapter_2_The very Beginning 
............................................................................
.................................. 5

2_1_Method 
............................................................................
........................................................... 6

2_2_The very basics of Grasshopper 
............................................................................
...................... 7

2_2_1_Interface, workplace 
............................................................................
............................... 7

2_2_2_Components 
............................................................................
............................................ 8

2_2_3_Data matching 
............................................................................
....................................... 14

2_2_4_Component’s Help (Context pop‐up 
menu)...................................................................... 
16

2_2_5_Type‐In component searching / adding 
............................................................................
 17

2_2_6_Geometry Preview Method 
............................................................................
.................. 17

2_3_Other 
Resources...................................................................
..................................................... 18



Chapter_3_Data sets and Math 
............................................................................
............................... 19

3_1_Numerical Data sets 
............................................................................
...................................... 20

3_2_On Points and Point Grids 
............................................................................
............................. 22

3_3_Other Numerical Sets 
............................................................................
.................................... 23

3_4_Functions...............................................................
.................................................................... 25

3_5_Boolean Data types 
............................................................................
....................................... 28

3_6_Cull Patterns 
............................................................................
.................................................. 30

3_7_2D Geometrical 
Patterns....................................................................
....................................... 35



Chapter_4_Transformation....................................................
.............................................................. 46

4_1_Vectors and 
planes......................................................................
.............................................. 48

4_2_On curves and linear geometries 
............................................................................
.................. 49

4_3_Combined Experiment: Swiss 
Re..........................................................................
..................... 57

4_4_On Attractors 
............................................................................
................................................ 68
IV




Chapter_ 5_Parametric 
Space.......................................................................
....................................... 80

5_1_One Dimensional (1D) Parametric Space 
............................................................................
...... 81

5_2_Two Dimensional (2D) Parametric 
Space.......................................................................
........... 83

5_3_Transition between spaces 
............................................................................
........................... 84

5_4_Basic Parametric Components 
............................................................................
...................... 85

5_4_1_Curve Evaluation 
............................................................................
................................... 85

5_4_2_Surface Evaluation 
............................................................................
................................ 86

5_5_On Object Proliferation in Parametric Space 
............................................................................
 88



Chapter_6_ Deformation and Morphing 
............................................................................
................. 96

6_1_Deformation and Morphing 
............................................................................
.......................... 97

6_2_On Panelization 
............................................................................
............................................. 99

6_3_Micro Level Manipulations 
............................................................................
......................... 102

6_4_On Responsive 
Modulation..................................................................
................................... 106



Chapter 7_NURBS Surface and 
Meshes......................................................................
....................... 112

7_1_Parametric NURBS Surfaces 
............................................................................
........................ 113

7_2_Mesh vs. NURBS 
............................................................................
.......................................... 124

7_2_1_Geometry and Topology 
............................................................................
..................... 124

7_3_On Particle Systems 
............................................................................
.................................... 126

7_4_On Colour Analysis 
............................................................................
...................................... 135

7_5_Manipulating Mesh objects as a way of 
Design......................................................................
 139



Chapter_8_Fabrication.......................................................
................................................................ 141

8_1_Datasheets 
............................................................................
.................................................. 143

8_2_Laser Cutting and Cutting based Fabrication 
.......................................................................... 
155



Chapter_9_Design Strategy 
............................................................................
................................... 170



Bibliography................................................................
.................................................................... 174
