1. PARAMETRIC MODELING PRACTICING IN REVIT 1/12
Parametric Modeling Practicing In Revit: The Torre Agbar
Ruiqing Ding
Texas A&M University
Author Note
Ruiqing Ding, College of Architecture, Texas A&M University.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Ruiqing Ding, College of
Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, 77840. Contact: ericd2012@.tamu.edu
2. PARAMETRIC MODELING PRACTICING IN REVIT 2/12
Abstract
This paper will talk about how to use software and other parametric tool to control
performance of the building model and the mothed of managing the building information. This
paper chooses building Torre Agbar as project model. People can change the elevation of the
structure and shading devices according to the building performance through the revit or other
parametric software.
In addition, this paper will focus on the relationship between climate or time and the
building performance, and how to use the building performance information to design tower.
Keywords: Parametric, Building Performance, Torre Agbar, Climate, Design
3. PARAMETRIC MODELING PRACTICING IN REVIT 3/12
Introduction
Background
The Torre Agbar is a landmark in Barcelona, Spain and it was completed in 2005. The height of
tower is 473 feet and it has 33 floors above the ground. The shape of tower is an ellipse which
main axis is 34m and the minor axis is 31.5m. Its design combines a number of different
architectural concepts, which is built with reinforced concrete, covered with a façade of glass and
over 4,500 windows meanwhile it also has 4,500 LED devices which create luminous images on
its façade. Additionally, the outside skin of this tower is made of 59,000 glass louvers which can
be placed at different angles according to the temperature sensors of tower that control the angle
of the shading devices to reduce the consumption of energy.
Image 1
6. PARAMETRIC MODELING PRACTICING IN REVIT 6/12
Control the Luminous Images Based on Time Change
Methods and Result
The shape of this tower likes a bullet, which floor plans are regular ellipse. However, the ellipses
become smaller from 15th
floor, and the top of the tower is a dome which base shape is ellipse. I
use the Dynamo and Excel to create curtain panel for this tower. This tower`s skin colors are
composed of 40 variation of red, blue, yellow and green. In this project, I note each color with
number, for example, I note red with 1, blue with 2. Thus the Excel can create the number lists
which is related to the luminous images. After I make different materials with color and
distribute them among the curtain panel system, the curtain panel can be created on the base of
the Excel by the Python which can distribute the colors.
Image 2
Image 3
7. PARAMETRIC MODELING PRACTICING IN REVIT 7/12
Problems and Solutions
However, the big problem is how to create the number list based on a picture. Firstly, manually
creating the number list is not efficient method and I try to build a relationship between luminous
image and timing, because there are 4500 curtain panel. Secondly, the number list should be
changed with the change of time, thus the number list should be automatically changed.
In order to achieve these goals. I try to find software which can read the image and convert the
image to Excel number format. Fortunately, there is an online software named “pixel
spreadsheet” can convert picture to Excel number format, and this software convert the picture
based on RGB form. As the website (2006) motioned, the process have scraped out all of the
number based RGB from 0 to 255 and it will crack the digital pictures which are JPG, JPEG,
PNG and GIF files.
Image 4
In this way, I can get number list based on image. Thus I can make 40 different materials and
define them with the numbers which is showed in the Excel. With the help of “pixel
spreadsheet”, I can get the number list no matter what the image is. Therefore, I try to create 12
different number lists for the building, and design tower façade which can be changed
automatically according to the time, I also define with numbers as 1, 2, 3... In this situation the
“If” note in Dynamo could be a useful tool to achieve this goal. “If” note can help to decide
which list is “true” according to “formula” note. “If” note can only choose one option from two
options, however, I have 12 options. Thus I have to use multiple “If” notes, and put second “If”
result as “true” in third “If” note and as “false” in first “If” note.
8. PARAMETRIC MODELING PRACTICING IN REVIT 8/12
Image 5
Finally, I can use the Dynamo to control the façade of the tower and the façade also can be
changed automatically. In addition, I also can offer tens of thousands of façade options and they
can change every minute even if every second. Using the “if” note I also can create not only
different façade of tower at the same time but also in the different month or season or year.
Shading System Controlled by Sun Position
Methods and Result
In this design, finding the solar elevation angle is very important. Because I can use the altitude
of sun to determine the rotation angle of the shading system. The shading panel and sun light
should be perpendicular to each other.
Firstly, I use the Dynamo note to get the sun position coordinate in specific time. The coordinate
should have X, Y, Z vectors. However, in order to get the altitude of sun (sin hs
=sinφ·sinδ+cosψ·cosδ·cosΩ). In this situation, I simplify the calculation method. I use the
formula (tan hs=W/Y) to calculate the altitude angle which is related to rotation angle.
11. PARAMETRIC MODELING PRACTICING IN REVIT 11/12
Problems， Solutions and Future Work
The big problem in this method is all shading panel have same rotation angle. Thus, how to let
each shading panel has its own rotation angle is very important. Even in specific time, the
altitude of sun is specific, however the lactation of shading penal is different. In order to solve
this problem, I also use the solar azimuth to help me to determine the angle. However, in this
way the shading panel also just has one rotation angle, because I design the shading panel based
on the curtain panel pattern base family. Therefore, all of the shading panel are controlled by
same parameter.
In the future, I will try to redesign the shading penal as a curtain penal system family. So each
shading panel will be controlled by different rotation angle. Furthermore, I will add the
parameters to the single shading penal which rotation angle is related to the solar azimuth and the
altitude of sun.
Conclusion
Based on the parametric modeling practicing, I can achieve the main goal such as building the
relationship between façade of this tower and time or climate. This method can be used in variety
of architecture design.
