Week 4: Solar Gain Study: Students learned to inform their designs by importing external data from an excel spreadsheet. This provided knowledge allowing for color coding solar gain levels and parametrically adjusting building skin apetures.




Week 4: Solar Gain Study: Students learned to inform their designs by importing external data from an excel spreadsheet. This provided knowledge allowing for color coding solar gain levels and parametrically adjusting building skin apetures.




This august we held the first workshops factory seminar in North America. It was a 4 week seminar which introduced the potential of scripting as not only a generative tool but as an analysis tool. The seminar was based on rhinoscript, teaching the fundamentals of visual basic, exercising and exploring the rhinoscript library, and practicing through a series of exercises , tutorials and independent investigations.
WF_94 took place in New York from July 22nd to August 12th. Participants included both students and professionals.
We would like to thank Studios Go for their fantastic facilities and cooperation.
Week 1: Visual Basic Introduction. Students began writing scripts using basic rhinoscript commands in looping and conditional statements.
One of the Introductory exercises– brick stacking, script based on simple rules moving, scaling and rotating objects.
The role of the computer as an integral tool for architecture is rapidly changing. When once it was simply used to create construction documents it is now used as a design aid and in some cases a consultant. This class will offer the opportunity for architects and designers to begin to understand and utilize the algorithmic process as a tool for design by way of Rhinoscript. Scripting is not considered a means to an end but rather a valuable tool used to make certain tasks less tedious and certain decisions more informed.
There are many tools currently available to achieve parametric control of a project. We are choosing Rhinoscipt because of its relatively low cost and high level of resources and documentation. We also feel it is important for our students to come away from the class more comfortable with computer syntax. Learning to understand syntax is a timeless skill which will always be at the core of the algorithmic process. Additionally we feel that scripting is something that is learned overtime with a very “hands on” attitude. This is why we leave ample time between classes for independent investigation.
This seminar utilizes techniques that include both “bottom up” and “top down” design strategies, aiming to provide exposure to both theoretical and practical applications of scripting in architecture.
This class is specifically focused on dealing with populations of parametric and standardized components. All scripts and documentation will be provided in class.
At the conclusion of the seminar students will be able to read, modify and compose scripts written with Rhinoscript. Furthermore students will understand the potential of using scripting as a tool for analysis and optimization rather than simply a form generator.
Class Structure
Classes will be held from 7:30 to 10 on Wednesday nights at 28 west 27th st in Manhattan at Studios GO . Each class will consist of a short lecture, guided example and work session. Scripts will be distributed to provide an example and basis for independent study between classes.
For further information and pricing contact workshops factory : workshopsfactory@gmail.com with the subject “nyc”.
Spaces Available
Please find the Syllabus below