phtj_chops

Here is the chops otl file. Also, the phtj_utils otl has been updated - a few bugs have been fixed.

• phtj_chops.otl
• phtj_utils.otl
• phtj_urban.otl 

Elective (AR5953a) Assignment 2

Assignment 2 for the elective (A5953a) is due in Monday 14th Feb. You will be asked to prepare a 15 minute presentation, using slides and video captures of Houdini. You need to create an A3 landscape booklet documenting your presentation. The assignment is worth 50% of the grade for the elective.

• The site is a large block (175m x 185m) based on a site in Marina Bay area. Please see the houdini file for more details. An abstract model of surrounding buildings has been generated using the densities from the URA 2008 plan.
• The task is to develop a proposal for a mixed-use urban morphology that is high density and that also provides good quality of life.
• Mixed-use in this case means office, residential, and commercial. The number of people working in the building should be equal to the number of people living in it.
• High density means an overall plot ratio of 13 (i.e. 420,000 sq meters). This is the plot ratio that has been set by the URA. Car parking should also be considered, and is not included in the area calculations.
• Good quality of life means thinking about various issues that make life enjoyable. These will include daylight, ventilation, views, privacy, open spaces, noise, etc. The importance of these issues will be different for residential, commercial , and office.

The aim of this brief is for you to demonstrate your own IVP design methodology. Therefore, the main focus is on the process rather than on the final outcome. You will need to show how you have used the IVP tools and techniques to achieve the final outcome.

Some other links:

• For more information on plot ratio
  http://www.ura.gov.sg/circulars/text/dcdgfahb_d0e127.htm#d0e144
• The URA development guidelines
  http://www.ura.gov.sg/circulars/text/dcdnrhb_d0e4.htm
• The general design guidelines for tall buildings should be followed
  Tall Buildings: A strategic design guide

Here are some key areas:

• Parking: 20 m2 per car
• Residential: 30 m2 per person
• Flat: 90 m2
• People per flat: 3.5 people
• Office: 20m2 per person

phtj_utils

Here is the otl file with some useful utility nodes. Also, the phtj_urban otl has been updated - a few bugs have been fixed.

• phtj_utils.otl
• phtj_urban.otl 

Urban simulations: phtj_urban.otl

Here is the otl file containing nodes for performing a range of urban simulations.

• phtj_urban.otl

foreach loop

Here is an example of a double foreach loop:

• foreach

parametric office

Here is an example of a parametric office:

• parametric office

Houdini videos

The version of Houdini we will be using is the apprentice version 11.


Videos

The first videos to watch are the ones included when you install Houdini. In Houdini, go to the menu, click Help > Start Here. This will open up your browser window, and there will be the various links, including some links to videos. The
"Introduction to Houdini UI" is the place to start.

• Introduction to Houdini UI

There are some excellent videos to help you learn Houdini. Many of these videos are for version 9, but if your are using version 11, that is OK - the interface is mostly the same in versions 9 and 10.

Peter Quint has also created some excellent videos to learn Houdini. These videos tend to be a bit easier for beginners, since they don't assume any prior knowledge.

• Peter Quint videos

On the Houdini Apprentice blog, there are some good videos to get started:

• Houdini Apprentice Blog videos
  
  • Introduction to Houdini's New User Interface
  • Introduction to Houdini's Node Based Workflow
  • View and Display Tools in Houdini 9
  • Working with Selection Modes
  • Working with Panes and Viewports
  • Working with Curves and Surfaces
  • Polygon Modeling with Subdivision Rendering

On the Houdini site there are also some other videos introducing the interface, which is useful for beginners.

• Houdini 9 Interface videos

And there are also some videos on specific tools:

• Surface Operations
• Copy Stamp
• Carve Tool
• Orient Objects to a Curve
• UV Texturing

There are also a set of commercial companies producing videos.

• CARDANFX
  
  • Free Videos
• 3D Buzz Houdini
  
  • H9 Fundamental Videos
  • How Do I... Videos
    

The is a Houdini You Tube channel where the Houdini people regularly uoload videos, oftend highlighting the latest features of the software. So these videos are probably less useful for beginners, but great to see the amazing things that can be dione with Houdini.

• Houdini YouTube channel

Of course there is also some other stuff on YouTube. here are a few:

• AppleSoldier Houdini Videos on YouTube
• AppleShakeGuru videos on YouTube
• CARDANFX videos on YouTube

There are also a bunch of commercial training videos that are not free. See the list of companies here:

• Companies creating Houdini training videos