Disclaimer

The teaching materials shown in this platform are the result of a collaboration between the Chair of Architecture and Structure (Prof. Dr. Philippe Block) and the Chair of Structural Design (Prof. Dr. Joseph Schwartz) during the years 2015-2022. This platform is not updated since June 2023. If you are a bachelor or master student in Architecture at ETH Zürich, please follow the courses’ content in ETH’s Moodle learning platform in order to get the actualised course material.

Abstract

This course presents new structural design opportunities that emerge when graphic statics, an intuitive equilibrium-based method for the form-finding, analysis and design of structures, is combined with computational tools. After a review of graphic statics fundamentals and an introduction to basic parametric tools, the course focuses on studying different computational approaches to program graphic statics algorithms for the form-finding and analysis of structures, from linear (procedural) algorithms to programs with more complex data structures. More specifically, the students will build linear parametric graphic statics models using Grasshopper, read and code basic graphic statics algorithms using Python, and explore the design space offered by tools developed by the Block Research Group such as Interactive Graphic Statics (IGS) and RhinoVault2 (rV2). The practical potential and relevance of these methods will be demonstrated through various design-oriented tutorials and exercises.

Learning goals

At the conclusion of this course, participants will have:

- Fundamental knowledge of graphic statics.
- Basic parametric thinking and modelling with Rhinoceros and Grasshopper.
- Elementary skills in Python scripting.
- Experience using computational tools based on graphic statics for the design and analysis of structures.
- Understanding of the potential of studying graphic statics using computational tools.

Grading

Graded semester performance 

Registration

Registration at http://www.mystudies.ethz.ch/ is required.

Literature

"Skript Tragwerksentwurf I&II"
http://www.block.arch.ethz.ch/eq/course/4?lang=en
Printed versions can be bought at the chair of Structural Design Prof. Schwartz.

"Faustformel Tragwerksentwurf"
(Philippe Block, Christoph Gengangel, Stefan Peters,
DVA Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt 2013, ISBN: 978-3-421-03904-0)

"The art of structures, Introduction to the functioning of structures in architecture"
(Aurelio Muttoni, EPFL Press, 2011, ISBN-13: 978-0415610292, ISBN-10: 041561029X)

"Form and Forces: Designing Efficient, Expressive Structures"
(Edward Allen, Waclaw Zalewski, October 2009, ISBN: 978-0-470-17465-4)

Instructors

Dr. Lluis Enrique, Lecturer

Chaoyu Du, Teaching assistant

Selina Bitting, Teaching assistant