Tetragonal doesn't mean a square base. A tetragon is what you get when you deform a rectangle. A 'regular tetragon' is what you get when you skew a rectangle. http://www.mathopenref.com/tetragon.html
The angles and dimensions of each panel may still be different. I think the main reason Foster picked this solution is because all the panels are flat, which makes them cheaper (actually, I know that's why they did it, because I spoke to them about it). -- David Rutten [email protected] Robert McNeel & Associates On Apr 1, 5:59 am, Claudio <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello David. > > Glad you"ve answered. > > I dont really know if the panels are really identical. The only fact > that makes me think of that is an article in the detail magazine (an > architectural german magazine) they explain that the panels are > Tetragonal, Which means that they have a square base (a ; a) and a > different height (c). So iI'm guessing that at least the panels are > identical y the x & y axis. Otherwise as architect my self, I know > that curved surface are very difficult to populate with a single panel > solution, but is this solution that we all try to acheive. > > Anyway I'll continue my research. If you have any more ideas on how to > acheive this just keep me posted plz. > > Thank you > > On Mar 31, 4:03 pm, David Rutten <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Hi Claudio, > > > how do you know the panels in the Foster design are all identical? > > > Panelling with identical panels is a very complicated area of > > geometry. There are a number of obvious solutions: > > > - rectangular, triangular and hexagonal planar grids) > > - icosahedrons and other platonic solids > > - singly-curved surfaces with rectangular panels (this one only works > > for identical panel shape, not joint-angle) > > - special cases where the underlying surface is a direct emergent > > result of the panel geometry (for example penrose tilings) > > > And then there are weird special cases. > > > I found that many architects/engineers who face a facade-panelling > > problem don't even try and come up with a single panel solution. > > Instead, they try and minimize the number of different panels they > > need to build the whole shape more or less accurately. This is always > > a per-project problem that requires a per-project solution. Sometimes > > they'll even design the panel and the underlying surface at the same > > time, which gives you much more possibilities for solutions. > > > -- > > David Rutten > > [email protected] > > Robert McNeel & Associates > > > On Mar 31, 12:23 pm, Claudio <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Hi David, > > > > Can you please be more specific, In which cases this can be possible? > > > I'm also iterested in diving a surface with identical panels. Please > > > refer to this article for an exemple > > > :http://www.detail.de/rw_5_Archive_En_HoleArtikel_5990_Artikel.htm > > > And the architects website > > > :http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Projects/1276/Default.aspx > > > > In this case the roof has been divided with a glass pane responding to > > > a very simple rule called Tetragonal crystal system. (http:// > > > en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetragonal_crystal_system). I guess the > > > curvature of the surface is a critical parameter in this case. > > > > I'll be more then happy to continue this subject > > > > Thank you all > > > > On Mar 30, 4:06 pm, David Rutten <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Hi Steve, > > > > > creating a filling pattern with identical panels is only possible in a > > > > very small subset of cases. > > > > It's also impossible to create a closed pattern of hexagons on a > > > > freeform surface, unless you allow the hexagons to be non-symmetrical. > > > > > -- > > > > David Rutten > > > > [email protected] > > > > Robert McNeel & Associates > > > > > On Mar 30, 2:35 am, Steve Townsend <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > Hi, I am very new to grasshopper and beginning to get my head around > > > > > how to do things. > > > > > > The main thing I am trying to achieve is a curving surface made up of > > > > > a hexagonal grid (or even better equillateral triangles) that > > > > > redefines itself when the surface changes shape. > > > > > > An example of the sort of thing i wish to > > > > > achieve:http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pYWndsXyWeQ/Sb3_MS2utmI/AAAAAAAAChw/Z7dZW1y... > > > > > > I have followed the diagrid and panelling tutorials in the primer but > > > > > I need to create a grid where all panels are of identical size. > > > > > > Please could someone point me in the right direction of a way in which > > > > > I might achieve this? Does anyone know of any tutorials along these > > > > > lines? > > > > > > Many thanks, > > > > > > Steve Townsend
