Finalist

Design by Spheres – A Project for Museum
Naomi AndoNaomi Ando “Design by Spheres – A Project for Museum” 2017, Material: VeroClear, Size: 180W x 90D x 93H (mm)“Design by Spheres – A Project for Museum” is a prototype of a small museum. A total of 12 spheres of varied diameters from 3.2 m
to 16 m were arranged inside a volume space that was 24 m wide, 12 m deep, and 12 m high. Dynamic spaces with spatial
fluctuations were realized by the algorithm to generate spheres with random diameters in random positions. Individual functions, suchas an entrance hall, a lobby, exhibition halls, a terrace, and storages, were given to each sphere, and architectural elements such as
stairways and floors were added. The structure of this museum was assumed to be constructed with reinforced concrete shells of 20
cm to 40 cm thick.

28

Finalist

Keywords: Sphere, Architecture, Algorithmic Design

1 Design by Spheres

spheres with random diameters in random positions.

Spheres, with centripetal spaces inside, have been used as aIndividual functions, such as an entrance hall, a lobby,

motif in various architectural designs, from the Pantheon

exhibition halls, a terrace, and storages, were given to each(ancient Roman architecture) to modern architecture.

sphere, and architectural elements such as stairways and“Design by Spheres – A Project for Museum” is a prototype

floors were added, as shown is Figure 1. The structure of thisof a small museum.

museum was assumed to be constructed with reinforced

A total of 12 spheres of varied diameters from 3.2 m to 16 m

concrete shells of 20 cm to 40 cm thick.

were arranged inside a volume space that was 24 m wide, 12m deep, and 12 m high. Dynamic spaces with spatial

2 Production Processfluctuations were realized by the algorithm to generate

Besides the random values for the diameter and positions of29

Finalist

Figure 1: Section of Exhibition Halls

Figure 3: Framework

Figure 2: Arrangement of Spheres

Figure 4: Exploded Diagram

the generated spheres, tangency or overlapping of spheres

the center points were in the [X-Y- Z] region; the radius ofwas controlled, as shown in Figure 2. The algorithm wasthe spheres varied from [R0] to [R0+R1]; overlapping of thed e s c r i b e d b y V B ( Vi s u a l B a s i c ) c o m p o n e n t o fspheres was allowed if it was smaller than [B]. This method

Grasshopper(1), which is a plug-in for Rhinoceros(2). Byof the “Design by Spheres” was firstly presented at AFGS

this method, spheres were arranged randomly with the2015[1].

following conditions: [N] number of spheres were generated;

Through a number of trials and errors in the automatic gener-30

Finalist

Figure 5: Trial Model (support materials are not removed)

Figure 6: Exterior View

Figure 7: Interior Views of the Exhibition Halls(2) Grasshopper: http://www.grasshopper3d.com/

ations, a framework of the model, as shown in Figures 3 and4, was determined. Trial model was fabricated by 3D printer,as shown is Figure 5. Then, some modifications for theReferences

structural rationality and planning efficiency were added for[1] Ando, N. Ishii, S., “Design by Spheres - A Computer
Graphic Material for Architectural Design Education”,

architectural design, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.

Proceedings of the Asian Forum on Graphic Science, P.83 Software & System(USB), 2015.

(1) Rhinoceros: http://www.rhino3d.com/

31