Course details

Update 2nd March 2015: Completed Section 6 about Data Trees and two Diagrid examples + bonus tip on remapping domains.

Update 26th Feb 2015: Added section 6 about Data Trees & Section 7 about Galapagos: a module for automatic optimisation and finding optimal solutions.

Update 23d Feb 2015: Section 5 with eight new lectures added: almost 45 minutes! Create a twisted tower, inspired by a design from S. Calatrava.

Update 20th Feb 2015: Added a PDF eBook with the course summary and highlights. This even previews some of the upcoming chapters.

Course price reflects recent updates. Join over 300 students now and receive all future updates or additions with no added cost.


In this course, you apply a basic knowledge of 3D modelling into a Parametric Approach.

Instead of creating one or two design models for a project, you learn how to develop an interactive, adapting model, controlled by a few chosen design parameters and capable of generating a wide range of design variants. Use the clever components to define an efficient and powerful system of interconnected components, creating geometry and applying geometric and mathematical operations.

Learn the same techniques innovative architectural offices apply, such as Foster of Hadid, to develop their complex designs.

Use a combination of modeled and generated geometry and still allow visual, artistic control over the result.

In a series of around three hours of video tutorials and a few short quizzes we learn Grasshopper, a parametric design add-in for McNeel Rhinoceros, which can be freely used, provided you have access to Rhinoceros.

  • The first lectures will explain the user interface and the basic concepts to control numbers, points and curves.
  • We extend this into 3D Surfaces and look at different approaches for panelling and subdividing of a façade or roof model.
  • There will be an extensive section where you'll create a model that is similar to a twisted tower design by Calatrava, built in Sweden, step-by-step.
  • And finally, we'll take a look at options for generative modelling, where we look at optimisation, using the Galapagos module.

So please join us and discover this widely popular visual programming system and discover how you can create some surprising results with ease.

Updated on 29 January, 2015
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