Planning curvy structures for architects and engineers

1. Planning curvy structures
for architects & engineers
Online workshop for the Performance Network
May 10th - 12th
2021
6 hours over 3 days
19:30 - 21:30 CET
Design-to-Production,
Seestrasse 78,
8703 Erlenbach / Zurich
www.designtoproduction.com
Free-form
from scratch
More info and registration:
www.performance.network

2. D2P-Process-model
V
Production &
Installation
VI
Operation
IV
Production
Planning
III
Detailing
II
Coordination
I
Concept
Maintenance
Assembly
Fabrication
Engineering
Material
Design
Context
Live Data
(LOD 550)
AsBuilt
Model (LOD 500)
Production
Model (LOD 450)
Detailed
Model (LOD 400)
Coordination
Model (LOD 300)
Context
Model (LOD 100)
Reference
Model (LOD 200)
Design-to-Production | Seestrasse 78, 8703 Erlenbach / Zurich | www.designtoproduction.com
1. Topics, dependencies, stages & models (~1.5 h)
Free-form projects consist of custom-made bespoke
parts, relying on off-site digital fabrication and digital
modelling for their production. This added complexity
calls for a planning process, where all aspects from the
material sourcing to the on-site installation need to be
considered from the start. Shape, fabrication, material
and assembly are intertwined and inseparable.
Even though a holistic approach to designing is
required, the process can be broken down into different
stages and approval rounds. But each phase calls for
specific content, also in a digital process!
Which information to gather when in the project, what to
storeindigitalmodelsandhowtocreateitparametrically
is clarified in the first part of the workshop.
Designing a freeform building from competition to
completion is like navigating in uncharted territory:
decisions have to be taken early on, but foreseeing
their implications down the road to production can be
hard without prior experience. Asking key questions at
the right time, challenging assumptions and identifying
important crossroads can save a lot of effort and
tedious backtracking – but how to come up with good
questions?
At D2P we have seen our share of freeform projects
and – frankly – experienced quite some dead ends
and wrong turns. These explorations resulted in a D2P-
process-map to safely navigate the solution space
of freeform projects. Familiarize yourself with it in this
workshop and embark on an exciting journey guided
by a team of experts and illustrated by example of
executed projects.
2. Drafting the map (~3 h)
During this interactive discussion, we build a road-
map for the conceptual stage of a free-form project:
questions to challenge or support decisions, trying to
anticipate and avoid late surprises. Each aspect of the
project will be illustrated with the help of built exam-
ples to guide the conversation.
3. Zooming out Q&A (~30 min)
We can now take a step back and look at the entire
process with an holistic view. Time to ask any remai-
ning questions and bid you farewell on your journey
into the free-form solution space!
Swatch HQ during construction ©Thomas Rohner
Swatch HQ timber grid and facade panels
Workshop fee: included in Performance network
membership - registrations open until May 3rd !