Parametric Muqarnas

by Tuğrul Yazar | March 13, 2012 13:00

This was an interesting topic in design computing[1] class. Geometric constructions based on strict relationships are becoming exciting in parametric modeling environments. I think muqarnas[2] includes such a relationship. There is a primary method of modeling this shape, introduced by Mete Tüneri. His solution to a simple parametric muqarnas object includes a surface with six reference points, with two boolean differences (one cylinder and one box) creating the component. In Grasshopper, I tried to simulate his process by adding real-time parameters such as the number of rows and row height. Input surfaces should be drawn in such a way that it can start the mirrored order of the muqarnas. Especially in curved walls, this definition is very useful in calculating all components and drawing them correctly.

You may check out the Rhino and Grasshopper files here. Although the 3dm is a Rhino 4 file, it still works in Rhino 7 (2022 December). The grasshopper file is also working nicely (after 10 years). This is an unbelievable feature of Grasshopper, I think.

We can construct concave, convex, and flat shapes. Also, starting surfaces (bases of the first row) don’t have to be the same size. The system organizes and draws appropriate surfaces to connect all of them without gaps or overlaps. However, it uses solid boolean operations that irritate Rhino and Grasshopper a little bit. Of course, there are lots of bugs and further improvements in this Parametric Muqarnas definition.

Source URL: https://www.designcoding.net/parametric-muqarnas/

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