Parametric Design and Digital Fabrication

Parametric Design and Digital Fabrication will provide you with skills and (deepened) knowledge of using computational techniques in the design process within the paradigm of parametric design.

This will be taught through tools as they are currently implemented in modern software. This includes 3D modelling (e.g. Rhinoceros 3D coupled with visual programming plugins such as Grasshopper 3D) and coding (e.g. Python and COMPAS).

We will be looking at principles of designing efficient structural forms using form-finding techniques and informed by fabrication constraints. To this end, relevant digital fabrication methods for construction will be explored using computational pipelines for production using available CNC tools (e.g. 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC knitting etc).

This elective will offer you powerful toolsets to work on geometry modelling, optimisation, and evaluation of performance in structural design, as well as the natural extension of parametric models towards digital fabrication.

These skills will be directly applied in an integrated building design and manufacturing exercise/assignment carried out in groups. The module will be taught and co-taught by experts from both TU Delft, other international research institutions, and industry who have detailed knowledge of emerging research fields as well as current practice.