COMPUTER
AIDED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
ARCH 2710: October 11, 2022
Exercise 4:
Rendering and
Light *
PART I: Due: October 20, 2023
PART II: Due:
October 27, 2023
PART III: Due: November 3, 2023
* All parts due by midnight of the dates indicated.
Overview
Method as well as aesthetic focus should be considered in this exercise which consists of two parts.
1. Rendering/Light Energy Simulation: Use global illumination software (V-Ray) to visualize which views and details may be significant to the case study. Begin to consider some material properties such as roughness, reflection, refraction, transparency in applying BRDF techniques in relatively abstract studies.
2. Geometrical Modeling: Continue to develop some part of the 3D model in greater details. This does not necessarily required your to undertake a comprehensively detailed 3D model for your case study whole. Increase the articulation of the 3D geometry of your project by working with the surfacing and solid modeling techniques you wish to explore. Include a working Grasshopper definition for some part of this exploration.
Tutorials and reference materials can be accessed from within Rhino from the menu item V-Ray/Help/Online Help. This menu item links to an online Rhino help site at Chaosgroup. Specific techniques that may be relevant may be taken from the workshop notes from the current term.
Figure 1 - Erin O'Brian case study abstract rendering, class exercise, Monjuic Tower, 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Santiago Calatrava
The Task
You are to produce a series of anywhere from 3 to 5 rendered images and submit them as as jpg files (avoid other formats such as png for now). The images you create should be based on their descriptive value with regard to explaining the character of the work of architecture, landscape architecture (or environmental sculpture, etc.) you have chosen, and not necessarily based on "standard" architectural views (e.g. elevation, axonometric projection, etc.).
You may choose to investigate several materials. Or, you may choose to render your model with one material only and put more emphasis on an investigation of geometry and light. Render your model with any of the V-Ray rendering features we will cover in the workshops. Choose the features that are most appropriate to the aspect of your project that you would like to examine, and not necessarily the most advanced or realistic technique. Try both artificial (spot lights, point lights) and natural (sunlight) lighting, but be careful to not overdo the number of lights you include as they may significantly add to rendering times.
How to hand in and pace yourself on this assignment
PART I: For Friday, October 20, submit a single rendered image to your submit file and send email notification to your SIA and to Earl Mark ejmark@virginia.edu. Use verbal feedback from your SIA (TA) or meet up directly for some guidance on how to proceed onto part II of the exercise. Discuss how to proceed with further developing your model and completing the exercise before the final submission of this exercise is due on October 29th. The single rendered image and feedback is required. For the workshop on Thursday, October 14th, bring a preview version of your massing model from exercise 3 so to initiate this rendering with direct SIA support. Park I will not be graded.
PART II: By Friday, October 27, continue on the development of the geometry of your model and beginning of a Grasshopper script, as simple as you wish to devise it, that allows you to directly explore a part of the geometry. For example, this could involve the exploration of part of a roof or dome, a curved wall, or some other physical feature of your project. It could involve an array of elements in your project such as windows or tiles on an elevation, columns in a plan, or some other repetitive elements. You may elect to submit a 2D or 3D based abstract use of Grasshopper rather than one that is very detailed. There is no immediate submission required by October 28th, but rather to touch base with your SIA and optionally Earl Mark to ensure that you are making progress in developing your use of Grasshopper scripting. The goal is not to become an expert in Grasshopper itself, but to be able to describe geometrical modeling as a process in ways that tools like Grasshopper allow. Part II will not be graded.
PART III: For Friday, November 3, submit 3 to 5 jpg file format renderings and your updated 3D model and grasshopper file. Your rendered images should be placed within your submit directory (CLASSES\ARCH2710-Mark-FAL2023\submit\ <your workshop meeting time>\<your name>) as you have done in previous assignments. E-Mail a short project description to Earl Mark ejmark@virginia.edu and to the SIA designated for you in the class.
As a more general guide to Grasshopper Techniques, you may want scan the Grasshopper Primer by Modelab.
Although not integral for ARCH 2710, for those with an interested more advanced methods an introduction to programming with the Grasshopper Python plugin can be found at on a this link: your-first-python-script-in-grasshopper. We will expore a few examles on an extracurricular basis. More tutorials including advanced topics on the Python environment can be found at: