Latest version of Houdini

I have heard from the newsgroup hat the latest version of Houdini (11.0.483) has fixed the python problem with the AttribCreate node. So if you install this version, then the nodes I have created should work... I have not yet had time to test it.

phtj_urban has been updated

The phtj_urban otl has been updated. I have made various improvements here and there with most of the nodes. (I have not yet fixed the problem with version 11 - that is coming soon.)

• sky, day, and sun view factors - I have added an option to switch on or off point generation
• privacy, scenic and unobstructed view factors - I have add the option to switch on or off line generation

These options should make it easier to work with these nodes. Download and overwrite as usual.

Deadline for individual submission

The deadline for the individual submission is approaching, so it is time to focus on this and get it done. The deadline is Monday 27th September, 2pm.

There are some key things to remember, starting with the most important:

• Make sure that you iterate!!! The complexity of the form is less important. The most important thing is that you have iterations showing differing levels of performance. Make sure that you extract the data and plot the graphs as we did during the tutorials. We discussed three different types of graphs - 1) parameter sweeps, 2) pareto graphs, and 3) spider diagrams. Use these techniques to understand whether you are improving things, or making things worse. In order to iterate through large numbers of variants, use the animation tools (e.g. the stair CHOP) to develop and evaluate variants automatically.
• When you are considering you evaluation criteria, you need to choose at least two criteria. Try to choose criteria that conflict - for example maximise day VF and minimise sun VF. Then you need to decide what surfaces to analyze - just analyzing everything may not make sense. You will also need to consider carefully how to calculate some global values that represent the overall performance of each variant - do you take the average? or the area weighted average? or just the total? or do you calculate the percentage above a certain threshold?For example, for sun VF you may want to calculate the number of windows with a sun VF of more than 20%.
• Start with a very simple building form!!! I would suggest something like a slab, or a group of slabs, or a tower. Make sure that everything you generate is the right plot ratio. The proportions of these forms should be building like - e.g. don't make apartment blocks that are 30 meters deep. Start by varying these simple geometries and running simulations for these variants. Find the simple form with the best performance. Try to choose parameters that result in forms are still feasible - there is no point in simulating something that you already know will not work anyway. So if you have a slab apartment block, then there is no point in varying the depth much, since you already know that it is very constrained by daylight and ventilation issues.
• Then you can start to make the form more complex to try and improve performance even more. This usually means adding a few parameters to your simple form so that you can generate further variants. Run the simulations again to check if you were right - did performance get better or worse? If it got worse, then try something else but make sure you keep the bad results in your graphs. When making the form more complex, don't over do it - keep it manageable. And remember - we are only interested in the overall massing, and some general ideas of internal layout (e.g. lift cores, circulation) - so don't worry about the handrails...
• Some of you are exploring some more complex form generating techniques, like metaballs and L-systems. But even with these techniques, start simple. Use these techniques to generate a range of building forms, from very simple to more complex, and then simulate to test so that you can understand how performance changes with complexity. So, an L-system can make a straight tower, and a slab block... so start there.
• In order to come up with an idea for your simple form, you may decide to run some initial simulations as a way of understanding the site better. This may involve inserting some simple geometries into the site - e.g. a big cylinder or a big box  (these are not really building forms, since the plan is much too deep). Some of you have already done this and produced some interesting data. Now it is time to start inserting some buildings.

For the submission, you must 1) do a presentation, and 2) submit an A3 landscape booklet covering your presentation. You may also submit a CD with animations if you wish.

Associative Design

Here is an interesting example of using parametric and associative modeling techniques in design. It is from students in the Ber lager Institute.

• Associative Design  - YouTube video
• Peter Trummer - Head of Associative Desig
• Some discussion

Scenic View Factor

There was an error with the Scenic View node that has now been fixed. SO please re-download phtj_urban.otl again and overwrite the old file.

Here is a test file using the new node:

• Example 7 - evaluating scenic view factor

Site for design project

The project site is in Jurong East:

•  Design Project Site

Your task is to design a high-density mixed-use development. Currently, the plot ratio for the site is approximately 5. Our aim is to explore the possibility of a higher density environment. For your project, you will need to make a proposal with a plot ratio of 8. This will result in about one million square meters of floor space.

It will be up to you to decide the detailed program, but the mixed-use development should include commercial, residential, and retail.. The site includes both an MRT / LRT station and a Bus Interchange, and the movement of large flows of people will therefore be an important issue. Car parking will also need to be considered.

Here are some links for Jurong East:

• Image of URA proposal
• URA site
• YouTube video

An interesting comparison is the Elements Shopping centre in Hong Kong. Our site is about 12 Hectares, and the Hong Kong site is about 14 Hectares. The plot ratio for the Hong Kong site is also 8:

• Comparison of two sites
• Elements Shopping Centre

To start with, you will need to gather information about Jurong East, and create a digital site model that includes the existing and future proposed buildings around the site. This model should be created as a group exercise - please divide up the tasks to maximize efficiency.

You will then split into your groups and start developing proposals for the site. You will need to develop the proposals using some form of Iterative Virtual Prototyping, following on from the elective. As part of this process, you will need to define how you are going to evaluate the performance of your proposals.

Houdini Modelling 101 v3

Here is the Houdini Modelling 101 document in PDF format - so that you can click on the links. This is the same as the one that I handed out in class. (I can't remember if I have sent this link before - but here it is.)

• Houdini  Modelling 101

I will try and add some more stuff over the next few weeks and uplaod an updated version. The current version does not cover the 3 ways of managing variants : 1) takes, 2) channels, 3) chops. This will be added to the next version of this doc.