ARCH 653-Project 1

Accessing BIM Data for Creative Design and Applications

Introduction:

For this project, we need to extend the functionality of parametric BIM, using Revit Dynamo. Therefore, this project is an extension of my midterm project. In the first place I tried to make my building parametric which I could not achieve in the previous project.

Fig 1: Modelling concept of Aldar Headquarters

Fig 2: Change in the thickness of the panel

The architect of the building specified that the main facades of the building were defined by using toroidal geometry cut by a cylinder to create the perfect circle in elevation. By using this, each horizontal section through the facade is described by a circle of varying radii at different heights with their centers passing through the same vertical axis. Following the above concept I created a parametric model using Revit which also works using the Dynamo code in Fig 3.

Fig 3: Dynamo code to change the parameters of the building

According to the design of the building, it requires around 10,000 different sizes of panels. Therefore, the designers changed it in such a way that only 10 sizes of panels are required. This is done by changing the thickness of the frames alternatively for each floor such that it will be a mirror image for all the floors staring from the equator of the building. The change in the size of the panel is incorporated as shown in the Fig 2.

Fig 4: Dynamo code which changes the material according to the pattern

I tried to adopt the same concept by changing the thickness of the frames and angles gradually for the panels. To achieve this I used the dynamo code to vary the thicknesses of the frames as mentioned above. The color of the panel material (Glass) is changed to represent the variation in the thicknesses. The code uses an excel file which represents the pattern of variation (The panels will be repeated in the given sequence).A python script shown in the Fig 5 is used to connect the different parameters and the elements.

Fig 5: Python script for varying the thickness

Fig 6: Excel file to change the pattern

Fig 7: Application of the pattern using dynamo

Fig 8: Dynamo code for sun angle and azimuth angle

Fig 9: Dynamo code to rotate the panel w.r.t sun and azimuth angle

To change the orientation of the panels with the sun direction, I wrote a code, starting with the concept of finding the sun angle and azimuth angle with respect to the surface. Then, applied the curtain panels to one surface of the rectangular mass and changed the orientation of the panels along two axes with respect to the sun direction. The panels will be rotated w.r.t to both sun angle and azimuth angle with the change in time.