evolute. blog
behind the scenes
EvoluteTools PRO 2.0 was released at the end of January 2012. Over the past year we added more functionality and increased the stability of the software, it continues to grow with your help. We wish to thank everyone for the provided feedback and hope you will enjoy the Anniversary Offers. Besides the 20% discount for new customers, the newly purchased licenses can be used on TWO machines at the same time. Offer expires on the 1st of March. Contact us for the subscription discount instructions. Don’t miss out !
As part of the design team, we are extremely happy to share this news with you. KREOD just won the Surface Design Award. Evolute was responsible for rationalizing KREOD’s complex input surface, designing the panel layout, the complete parametric detailing of the wooden members and connections, as well as outputting the production geometry for fabrication. Want to know more about KREOD’s geometry ?
We’ve been cooking this one for some time, now it is finally online and we can welcome you on our new homepage. We added a few more projects we worked on, and there will be more coming soon. So, how do you like it ?
EvoluteTools PRO & Rhino Architectural training in Shanghai & Beijing, by Shaper3D : http://shaper3d.cn/artc/architecture/#tab6
Courses are organized every few months, so if you missed this ones out, keep an eye on the Shaper3D webpage for the next dates. If you are in Asia and you want to get a head start with EvoluteTools PRO, this courses are a must do.
In order to help and support our users in getting the most out of EvoluteTools, we now provide two Primer Manuals. The EvoluteTools Primer, written by Kris Hammerberg, is intended to be the ultimate starting point for new users of EvoluteTools, as well as a reference for more experienced users, while the EvoluteTools Scripting Primer, written by Marko Tomicic, aims to introduce users to the new possibilities within the EvoluteTools scripting interface, and to showcase how to take advantage of them with the many example scripts included. Both Primers, along with all example files, are available for free in our Learning Center.
The new update rolled out to our customers recently. Besides the several bugfixes, the most notable feature of the new release is the ability to prescribe ballpacking radii for individual vertices. The outcome ? Well, with this feature you can group panels by size, pretty handy. Need more ? Tell us what exactly ?
KREOD is a ground-breaking sustainable sculpture and London’s newest architectural landmark. The brainchild of Chun Qing Li, Managing Director of Pavilion Architecture, KREOD is an innovative architectural sculpture, organic in form, environmentally-friendly and inspired by nature. Resembling three seeds, these pods combine through a series of interlocking hexagons to create an enclosed structure that is not only magnificently intricate but secure and weatherproof. KREOD functions beautifully both as an architectural landmark and an imaginative exhibition space – its three pods can be combined in a variety of configurations or installed as free-standing forms.
As part of the design team, Evolute was responsible for rationalizing KREOD’s complex input surface, designing the panel layout, the parametric detailing of the wooden members and outputting the production geometry for fabrication. As with any ambitious project, KREOD’s design and manufacturing constraints updated dynamically based on available resources. Throughout the project, Rhino3d, EvoluteTools Lite and EvoluteTools PRO were used for modeling, analysis, geometry optimization, production data generation, as well as a data exchange platform. Evolute proposed a torsion free hexagonal panel layout, as the dual of a circle-packing optimized triangular mesh. The circle-packing optimization forces the incircles of each triangle to be tangent to the adjacent corresponding incircles, as pictured below. After one step of subdivision, the hexagonal panel layout is achieved, carrying crucial features that lower the fabrication costs – the angles around each vertex are 120 degrees, allowing prefabrication of node elements if needed.Once the hexagonal panel layout was adopted, we could proceed in refining the solution for an even distribution of hexagons according to the engineering constraints – size of hexagons and boundary conditions. Several panel layouts were explored in an attempt to find the perfect balance between aesthetics and the physical limitations involved.
A breakthrough in KREOD’s design was brought up by the Ramboll engineering team while designing a connection detail strong enough to take the loads of the structure, elegant and simple to manufacture at the same time. The reciprocal connection became KREOD’s signature. Based on this detail design, Evolute coded the generation of the member layout in tune with all the aesthetic and manufacturing constraints. The parametric generation of the components was programmed in RhinoScript.
When the complete solid model was approved by Pavilion Architecture, Evolute extended the generative code to export all the production data automatically, in a process called “file to factory”. Using EvoluteTools PRO and it’s powerful RhinoScript interface, around one thousand members were parametrically generated, along with their labeling. The exported data was sent directly to CNC fabrication equipment.
For more information and assembly process check out the KREOD blog.
Photos and renderings courtesy of Pavilion Architecture, Kin Ho, Ed Kingsford, Jaap Oepkes and Evolute. More images on our Facebook page.
This two-day conference at the IIT campus in Chicago taps into the latest developments in high-performance building enclosures, from systems and materials to designs and delivery strategies. Day 1 Symposium brings together the most diverse thought-leaders in the industry, the profession, and the academy. You’ll walk away with new information, new insights, and new contacts. The keynote presentations, panel discussions, and Day 2 Digital Fabrication Workshops give you one-on-one access to the foremost practitioners in the design and delivery of the 21st century building skin.
Evolute is proud to host a workshop on PARAMETRICALLY DRIVEN OPTIMIZATION FOR FREEFORM FACADES, more details available.
The Conference is presented by The Architect’s Newspaper and Enclos. Early bird registration ends on September 14th , don’t miss out !
Our second intern, Kris Hammerberg, just started today. He just flew here from the US so he has a bit of catching up to do with the local time. Despite the jet lag, he does look excited ! 
EvoluteTools Lite is not just a paneling and geometry optimization tool, it can also be used for Form Finding. The “fairnesssprings” parametric optimization can be used to relax meshes and explore interesting tent-like structures. Check out our tutorial on Form Finding with EvoluteTools Lite :