I finally finished the script for the exhibition space we have designed where we suspend 3024 mason jar lids from a T-bar ceiling.  In order to streamline the process, I used the Grasshopper plug-in to parametrically control several aspects of the design.  Below, I try to explain each step of the process and how the script works.  This script is much more detailed than the previous version, as now all of the steps are embedded into 2 scripts: one grasshopper definition which deals with all of the math behind the project, and one rhinoscript that deals with exporting the data to Microsoft Excel for easy access. 

The two files you will need to create the suspended ceiling are as follows:
Grasshopper: Suspended Ceiling_grasshopper.wrm
Rhinoscript: Export_curvedata_excel.rvb (special thanks to Troy Zezula for the collaboration on the script)

Note: The definition and script are protected under the GNU General Public License.  If you use/publish/sell any portion of these files, you should make reference to "Andrew O. Payne, LIFT architects"

Step 1: The script needs a surface that is larger than the point grid area in order to function properly, so the first step is to generate a sufrace using any of Rhino's surface creation methods. This is the only step that is required prior to launching Grasshopper and running the definition. Click image for more detail.Step 2: The first part of the definition creates a staggered point grid based on a variable offset distance (inches) which is parametrically driven by an integer slider labeled "point spacing". It is important that the point grid is created above the surface (z-axis). Click image for more detail.Step 3: The next part of the definition duplicates the staggered point grid created in Step 2 and moves them along the z-axis so that the copies are below the given surface. Next, a vertical line is created between the original point grid and the duplicates. Click image for more detail.Step 4: The definition uses a surface-curve intersection event to create a new point at the location where the vertical lines created in Step 3 intersect the surface. A new line is then created from the new intersection points and the original point grid created in Step 2. Click image for more detail.Step 5: The script then uses a few components and functions to create a label that defines what panel the vertical line will be attached to, what lid will be attached to the vertical line, and the length of each line. A text tag is placed at the midpoint of each line similar to: "Panel1_Lid1 72.000". The distance is measured in inches and rounds the length of the line to the nearest one thousandth. All text tags must be baked into the scene in order to export the data to excel. (special thanks to Troy Zezula for collaborating on this part of the script). Click image for more detail.Step 6: Once all of the text tags have been baked into the scene, use the "Load Script" command and locate the rhinoscript called "Export_curvedata_excel.rvb". The use the "Run Script" command and select the loaded rhinoscript from the menu. Follow the on screen directions in the command prompt and select all of the text tags. Excel will automatically open, and a new file will be created with the panel labels and lengths organized for easy access. Within Excel you can convert the length stored from Rhino (rounded to the nearest one thousandth) into a more managable dimension using feet and inches and a specified tolerance. Click image for more detail.

With a turn out of 21 people for our fourth "Put a Lid on It" volunteer party, we were able to get a great deal accomplished.  It has really been an amazing process with an unbelievable response from the community.  We've now completed 29 out of 84 panels (over 1,000 lids finished) for the mason jar lid ceiling.  If you're interested in taking part in our exhibition pavilion for the Slow Food Nation event being held in Fort Mason on Labor Day weekend, please stop by our office any Thursday evening (6:30-9:00) or Sunday evening (4:00-7:00) between now and the event date.  Thanks again for all those who have contributed so far to make the Pickle Pavilion become a reality!  Below are a few miscellaneous pictures from the whole fabrication process.

Our team finally decided to go forth with our second full scale mockup of the suspended mason jar ceiling and here are a few shots from this weekend's test.  I was pretty satisfied with our connection detail between the mason jar lid and the fishing line that we are using to suspended the lid from the peg board ceiling.  We were able to come up with a system that eliminates all knot tying by threading the fishing line through the back of an ear ring and sandwiching it between the ear ring back and the back side of one piece of a circular velcro strip.  It did take a little practice, but overall the system seems to work pretty efficiently.  The velcro also allows for some adjustability which will hopefully work in our favor once we begin final assembly. 

I've been working on a few new scripts for Rhino's new Grasshopper Plug-in to help optimize the design process for a new architectural installation that our office has been working on.  Essentially, the concept for the ceiling of the installation involves hanging roughly 3,000 mason jar lids in an undulating wave pattern.  I began by developing two scripts that would parametrically control both the form of the wave pattern surface, as well as the spacing of the lids.  Each of these elements were crucial, as each influence the overall construction time and budget (which is less than $6,000 for the entire 700 sq.ft pavilion).  Below are the steps I used in Rhino to create the ceiling system.  I will continue to post diagrams, and construction photos to document the process of the installation, which is set to open Labor Day weekend in San Francisco, CA.

Note: All source definitions were generated with Grasshopper Build 0.3 unless otherwise stated.


Step 1: Load the Cosine Curve Generator definition through Rhino's Grasshopper plugin.  Download Source Code
Step 2: Bake curves from definition into Rhino scene

Step 3: Create surface from a network of curves

Step 4: Load the Staggered Point Array definition through Rhino's Grasshopper plugin.  Special thanks to Zach Downey and David Fano at SHoP architects for collaborating on the script.  Download Source Code

Step 5: Bake staggered point array from definition into Rhino scene

Step 6: Project points to surface

Step 7: Run script to replace points with the mason jar lid block.  Download Source Code from Rhino Wiki

Step 8: Finished Ceiling - Total number of suspended mason jar lids: 3,024 @ 8" O.C.

With a background in science from the University of Delft in Holland, Theo Jansen's kinetic sculptures inspire a sense of wonder at the complexity of nature.  For the past 10 years, he has explored the idea of making mechanisms that walk in the wind, ultimately generating a series of "beasts" that rome the beaches living out their own lives.  While there are a full series of sculptures, I found the Animaris Rhinoceros sculpture particularly interesting.  I decided that I would need to create an interactive digital model of the system to understand the mechanics behind the design.  The digital model uses Inverse Kinematics and Bones in 3D Studio Max to create the connections needed for the machine.  Essentially, each side of the model is rigged with Inverse Kinematic solvers and then parented to an invisible "Crank" in the middle.  By rotating the center crank (named Crank1) around the Y-axis, the system begins to "walk" forwards or backwards depending on the rotation of the crank.  Once the initial rig is created, it can be instanced to create the full system as shown in Mr. Jansens actual sculpture Animaris Rhinoceros. 

Download Animaris Rhinoceros.zip (3D Studio Max 9 size: 39k)

Note: The model is protected under the GNU General Public License.  If you use/publish/sell any portion of this model, you should make reference to "Andrew O. Payne, LIFT architects"

It's been a while since I have seen something that has truly changed the way I look at technology... But a few of the projects designed by Johnny Chung Lee, a Ph.D. graduate student at Carnegie Mellon's Human-Computer Interaction Institute, are quite remarkable in their ingenuity.  While many of his projects are applicable becuase of their use of products that are readily available, two projects of his stand above the rest.  If you haven't seen these yet, make sure to check out his demonstrations of "Head Tracking for Desktop VR Displays using the Wii Remote" and "Foldable Interactive Displays". 

Head Tracking for Desktop VR Displays and other Wii Projects
Projector-Based Location Discovery and Tracking with Foldable Displays
About Johnny Chung Lee

I just completed a new rendering for a house that I am working on in St. Helena, California for Sagan Piechota Architecture.  The rendering has been updated to show the current material selections as well as a new cast bronze paneled wall in the entry of the main house.  I am currently researching fabrication techniques on how to cast large panels of bronze, as well as finishing a cost analysis for our client.  Below are a few of the most recent construction photos of the house.




All images copyright 2007 by Sagan Piechota Architecture

After a long time coming, I finally decided to continue my research on actuated tensegrity systems.  I had already created a fully rigged tensegrity module whose compression member's rotation was driven by the distance from the apex of the system to the midpoint.  This distance was wired to a slider in the 3D Max file, so the user can easily drive the system by the use of one simple device.  However, to complicate matters a little bit, I decided it would be more interesting to rig these modules up into a system, or a wall type structure where all the modules were connected and thus getting more displacement out of the design.  Through a little more math and a lot more time, I was able to create a 4x4 wall system that is fully controlled by the same slider that controls the vertical movement of an actuator inserted in the middle of each module (which would ultimately control the distance from the apex to the midpoint).  This system could be configured to work with a sensor so that the structure could change shape according to various environmental stimuli. 

Download Tensegrity Wall.zip

Note: The model is protected under the GNU General Public License.  If you use/publish/sell any portion of this model, you should make reference to "Andrew O. Payne, LIFT architects"

Make sure you take a look at the lecture given by Sean Hanna at the Subtle Technologies event held at Toronto University.  While he readily admits that the manipulation of individual molecules for the production of nano-scale materials is still out of the realm of reality, his focus has been to study micro-structures (at the scale of the millimeter instead of the nanometer) and genetic algorithms in order to create learning materials.  His research is readily applicable at other scales as well.   Click here to go to the lecture.  

This is a remake of a cantilevered bookshelf I made few years ago.  The concept is the same as the previous version, however I've simplified the design and eliminated any kind of connection pieces between the counter weight and the steel plate.  Essentially, this bookshelf can be made with one precast concrete counter weight, one structural steel channel, and one custom piece of sheet steel slotted down the middle to accomodate and adjustable bookend (not shown) to stop the books from toppling over as  they are placed farther down the shelf.