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.