Description of the building: The Eden Project is a visitor attraction in the United Kingdom, including the world's largest greenhouse. Inside the artificial biomes are plants that are collected from all around the world.

The complex comprises a number of domes that house plant species from around the world, each dome emulating a natural biome. The domes are made out of hundreds of hexagons plus a few pentagons that connect the whole construction; each of these is a transparent cushion made of tough plastic. The first dome emulates a tropical environment, the second a warm temperate, Mediterranean environment.

conclusion：Solid thinking can create very smooth surface. Grasshopper, it's a plugin for Rhino, which can create design by logic and generate model step by step.

First presentation:

http://designinterfaces.blogspot.com/2009/12/solid-thinking.html

Software Link

http://designinterfaces.blogspot.com/2009/12/rhinoceros-4.html

http://designinterfaces.blogspot.com/2009/12/solid-thinking.html

Remodeling Esplanade by Bonzai 3d and Rhino grasshopper

The building was designed by two architectural firms working in conjunction: by DP Architects (DPA) of Singapore and the London-based Michael Wilford & Partners (MWP).The design is insensitive to Singapore's location and climate as it would have created a greenhouse in the tropical climate of Singapore. According to DPA director Vikas Gore some form of shading was always intended, and a cladding of aluminum sunshades was added to the final design. The unique architectural design has been said to have an appearance similar to either a durian (a tropical fruit) or the eyes of a fly. Many Singaporeans casually refer to the Esplanade as "The Durian".

The software i used:

Bonzai 3d is a new 3D modeler developed to make 3D model easily, simple and quickly.The bonzaied 2.0 brings a number of new features including advanced NURBS modeling tools. According to the facade of Esplanade, this is the one way to generate 3d model.

Rhino grasshopper could be used as generating components of the Esplanade 's surface.

first presentation:

http://designinterfaces.blogspot.com/2010/01/alibre-design-v12.html

software links:

http://designinterfaces.blogspot.com/2009/12/bonzai-3d_23.html

http://designinterfaces.blogspot.com/2009/12/rhinoceros-4.html

Remodeling Esplanade Theatre using Sketchup parametric tools and Rhino grasshopper

The Esplanade occupies the site of the former "Satay Club", a popular food haunt for Singaporeans which had been discontinued prior to the Esplanade's construction. Currently, the "Satay Club" has been re-allocated next to Sembawang Shopping Center which is now demolished.

Officially opened on October 12, 2002, Esplanade was developed at a cost of SGD 600 million.

On 5 July 2005, the opening ceremony of the 117th IOC Session was staged in the Esplanade, featuring a 30-minute long performance aimed at showcasing Singapore's multi-cultural heritage to her international audience.

The original design, presented to the public in 1994, consisted of unadorned glass cases over the theaters, and initially elicited criticisms from the public, including calling it "two copulating aardvarks"[2]. Critics also accused that the design is insensitive to Singapore's location and climate as it would have created a greenhouse in the tropical climate of Singapore, but according to DPA director Vikas Gore some form of shading was always intended[3], and a cladding of aluminum sunshades was added to the final design. The unique architectural design has been said to have an appearance similar to either a durian (a tropical fruit) or the eyes of a fly. Many Singaporeans casually refer to the Esplanade as "The Durian".

The software I used is:
Sketchup Parametric tools and Rhino Grasshopper

Sketchup parametric tools could be conveniently used as a modeling tool, due to its powerful extrution and other tools.

Rhino grasshopper could be easily used as generating the model or components of the model.

first presentation:
http://designinterfaces.blogspot.com/2009/12/blog-post.html
The program i used:
http://designinterfaces.blogspot.com/2009/12/rhinoceros-4.html
http://designinterfaces.blogspot.com/2009/11/sketchup-7.html

BIM with Allplan 2008

Remodeling Nakagin Capsule Tower with Bonzai 3D & BIM exercises with Allplan

The Nakagin capsule Tower is the pioneer of capsule architecture built for actual use.

Kisho Kurokawa introduced the idea of metabolism, the architecture which based on concept “plug-in” building.
Metabolism building is designed with characters of recyclable, exchangeability, is prototype of sustainability architecture.

These capsules are clustered around two cores, each with diagonal sloping roof and pointed top. Each box shaped living unit was designed with built in stereos and calculators for single business workers.
The capsules were prefabricated complete with furniture and appliances.
Each capsule was connected to the main shafts by only 4 high tension bolt and are designed to be replaceable.

Re-Modeling the Eden Project using Sketchup soap bubble plugin and Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010

The Eden Project is a visitor attraction in the United Kingdom, including the world's largest greenhouse. The complex comprises a number of domes. The domes are made out of hundreds of hexagons plus a few pentagons that connect the whole construction. The project was conceived by Tim Smit and designed by architect Nicholas Grimshaw and engineering firm Anthony Hunt and Associates (now part of Sinclair Knight Merz).

Sketchup soap bubble plugin. Used it to create the series of domes, which transfers shapes into tensile surfaces which can be applied to the physics of a dome. Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010.Conceptual massing tool.The tool newly introduced to the 2010 version enables the user to apply a set of different patterns to a specified surface.

http://designinterfaces.blogspot.com/2010/02/autodesk-revit-architecture-2010.html
http://designinterfaces.blogspot.com/2009/11/sketchup-7.html

Generating the Eden Project using Solid Edge, Sketchup and Rhino Grasshopper

The Eden Project is composed of a number of geodesic domes. These domes are made out of hundreds of hexagons.

I first used Solid Edge to draw the outlines of the volumes. Then I imported the data into Sketchup to take advantage of the Soap Skin and Bubble plugin to create the bubble form. Finally, I imported the model into Rhino Grasshopper and used a script to generate the hexagonal structure.

First presentation: http://designinterfaces.blogspot.com/2010/02/solid-edge-nx.html

Solid Edge + NX

Solid Edge is a hybrid 2D/ 3D parametric design system developed by Siemens. Main features include product, sheet metal and assembly modeling as well as drafting. NX is a suite of integrated CAD, CAM, CAE and PDM applications which aids in the entire product development process starting from conception to manufacturing.