Anyi's Blog

Project2 - Video - Anyi Qu

For my project 2 I would like to use energy and daylight simulation in grasshopper for a planning project in Johnstown, PA. The result will help me with my final study and landscape architecture design.

Johnstown is a severely shrinking city in United States, my purpose is to redevelop a site (about 110 acres along the Conemaugh river) and use the existing vacant land for outdoor activities. I will use three simulation of LADYBUG plugin to analyze the suitable activities for different vacant lots.

Vacant Map of the site

1. Shadow Range Analysis

Import weather data from energyplus.net, set the location as Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA.

Using the date as 21st Dec, as it has the shortest day of the year in north hemisphere, it can help identify shadow areas.

Calculate the sunlight hours, add legend.

The shadow range analysis map can show me the sunlight duration in different area. After overlaying the map with the vacant map, I can tell the possible activities for each lot.

2. Map Annual Comfort on Sunpath

Import the weather data as analysis1, using Outdoor Solar Temperature Adjustor and calculate the comfort level.

To define the comfort level, using range from -3 to +3 to represent extreme cold to extreme heat, color range from deep blue to dark red.

The panel of month can be adjusted to see the weather comfort level in an exact month and time.

The comfort level can help me decide the suitable days for the outdoor activities and festivals, such as annual Marathon.

3. Monthly Wind Rose

Import the weather data, set the time range from January to December (12 months in total). Set 12 grids with appropriate spacing for individual maps.

Define the wind speed with 10 levels, using white-yellow-blue color to represent wind speed from low to high.

Generate the wind rose maps and add month and legend.

The wind rose map in each month can tell whether we need permanent and temporary wind-block facilities in winter, and how can we bring more summer wind to public space.

Project 1 Final Rendering - Created by Anyi Qu

1. CASE STUDY INFORMATION

Figure 1

The case study I chose for project one is Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi, my goal is to create the dome structure which allows sunlight to easily go through and light up the interior space.

Figure 2

Figure 3

The dome is composed of different patterned layers, and a truss structure attached with the upper dome layers and other layers below.

Figure 4

Figure 5

The dome is built above the museum gallery, it looks like it's floating above the sea.

Source: Figure 1-5: https://www.gooood.cn/louvre-abu-dhabi-a-new-architectural-landmark-by-jean-nouvel.htm

2. BUILDING THE MODEL

Video:

http://youtu.be/s8Uy9yiSIgA

Screenshot 1

To build the cover-shaped dome, I created a Catenary curve using the UnaryForce and Kangaroo, which I can use the number slider to control the segments number and the stiffness.

Screenshot 2

I bake the catenary curve and rotated it twice with 90°, and use the Sweep1 function to build a curved surface.

Screenshot 3

In order to inset the pattern, I divide the surface with 10×10 squares, and transform them into SolidBox with height. For different layers, I change the number slider with 10×10, 15×15, 20×20, 25×25, 30×30, 35×35 to build 6 different layers.

Screenshot 4

For the pattern, I traced the shape in AutoCAD, and extrude the curve and build a geometry. Using BoundingBox function to create a boundary box.

Screenshot 5

I insert boundingbox into the solidboxes and get a patterned geometry.

Screenshot 6

For the cover dome, in order to only get the center circle shape, I create a cylinder extruded from a circle curve to cut the geometry.

Screenshot 7

Using SolidDifference, bake the geometry and delete the outer useless part. Repeat this step for other 5 layers.

Screenshot 8

For the supporting truss, I first draw the radial shape in AutoCAD, then extrude the shape through Z Unit.

Screenshot 9

To get the same shape as other 6 patterned dome layers, I need to split the geometry by the curved surface I just created, bake it and delete the upper part.

Screenshot 10

After that, I copy the surface in Z Unit, split the geometry again and delete the useless part below.

Screenshot 11

Now I have 1 supporting truss and 6 patterned dome layers. I align them with the centroid point, rotate them with certain degrees to get a chaos pattern from top view.

Screenshot 12