Reciprocal frame structure design with parametric tools

Abstract

Nowadays, computational and digital design play an important role surrounding architecture practice, to the point its almost dependable on. Technological advancements have allowed computers to be an integral design tool for architects, as have parametric design tools which have allowed designers to quickly explore many ideas within a given set of parameters and quickly adjust them to visualise different results. These advances have allowed architects to push boundaries of geometrically more complex structures and, with the use of specialised programming softwares, any parametric model can be defined. The initial subject being studied for this research was structural design with parametric tools. After thorough research to give focus to this broad subject, and after various third-parties showed interest in contributing to the development of this project, we narrowed down the main focus: Develop, with a programming language, an optimised digital design-to-production tool for a timber reciprocal frame structure. We aimed the development of this project towards the its exhibition in the 2o Forum of Timber Constructions but, due to the unexpected Covid-19 pandemic, the congress got postponed, as did the proposal and construction for its final design. Due to this, this dissertation results in an extensive research and explanation for developing said tool and focuses mainly on explaining the development of the script and its possibilities to adapt to any surface geometry, which will further be the main tool used when proposing a final design for the next Forum.