Project - 2 Snowflake Tower Parametric Model using Dynamo

Snowflake tower, also known as Michael Schumacher tower is located in Abu Dhabi. It’s a 59 storey tall residential skyscraper. The Design of tower is inspired by a snowflake, hence the name. 

Snowflake Tower, Abu Dhabi

Tower Level-5 Geometry 

(Source: LAVA Architects)

Tower Floor Geometry 

(Source: LAVA Architects)

Floor Geometry Creation:

The Sample floor plan as shown in the figure was created in dynamo which is controlled by different input parameters and this script was converted into a custom node to create floors at different height.

Sample floor plan in Dynamo

 

Different Plans using different Parameters from the same script

Mass Creation from Different floor :

Using Different floor geometries at certain heights as shown in figure below the building mass was created in dynamo and imported in the Revit. As shown in the figure below, the 7 floor geometries were compiled in a list and form the list the solid was created.

Dynamo Script for Creating the mass

Solar Study on Façade Panels :

To create the solar study model, an Excel file was created which contains panel points obtained by dividing the surface of the building and importing it in Dynamo.

 Dynamo script for Solar Study

Solar Study Model and Panel color change as per Sun Direction

Project Movie:

Project – 1 Vancouver House Parametric Model

            Vancouver House is neo-futuristic residential building in Vancouver, British Columbia. It’s been design by the firm BIG (Bjarke Ingles Group) architects.

Source: S&P Real Estate

Vancouver House Description

Type : Mixed Residential and Commercial

Floor Count : 49

Height : 493 ft.

Completed : Est. (Summer 2020)

Architect : BIG Architects (Bjarke Ingles Group)

1.    Geometry of the Tower:

As seen in the image, the Building has been given a Shape of Triangle at the base and Rectangle at the top. This shape was chosen to feature complex site constraints at the base of the building as the Bridge passes at the base of  the building. This unique shape of the building provides vibrant public spaces under the bridge. It’s also been referred to as the new flatiron building by Bjarke Ingles.

source : BIG Architects

2.    Parametric Mass Model :

As shown in the figure 2 profiles were made and attached to the respective reference planes. The reference planed are controlled by the parameters Width and Length, which are defined to create a parametric mass body. 

Reference Profile Lines to Create Mass

Resultant Parametric Mass

Flexed Mass with update Parameters

3. Parametric Façade Envelope :

As seen in the rendered image in the beginning of the blog, Vancouver House consists different facades on different sides. Given below is the Façade Envelope Created from the mass model. The Envelope is created in such a way that with the change in the shape of the parent mass family the façade pattern will automatically change.

Façade Envelope

3.1 Projected Balcony Façade

The Façade with balcony is created using curtain wall pattern-based family with parameters to change the project and thickness of the balcony walls.

Parametric Balcony Facade 

Flexed Balcony Façade

3.2 Brick-Pattern Façade

For the other faces of the building the facade resembles the brick pattern in the Revit. So using the curtain wall – pattern based family the parametric façade model was created. As descripted below.

Parametric Façade for Brick Pattern Face

Flexed Parameter for brick pattern façade

4. Rendering 

External Rendering

Internal Rendering

Project Movie :