Specialised algorithms for different project stages in a postformed timber gridshell design

Abstract

This paper forms part of broader research collaboration between the design firm Gridshell.it, and the Department of Architecture, University of Naples that investigates the use of digital design tools in timber-based structures. This paper reports on the development of a digital-based application for form finding of timber post-formed gridshells. It provides the background to the current stage of development and outlines the mapping and code structure of the application. The tool is seen as a response to Gridshell Form Finding Tool or GFFT (Pone et al, 2013); its objectives are two-fold: 1) Perform a fast geometrical and structural optimisation to transform an arbitrary freeform into a viabl..