SmartNodes Pavilion Prototype

The application of the SmartNodes system to architecture enables significant flexibility in the design of building form, without significant compromises to cost. As a prototype design, we have designed a simple shell shape. This is generated with a designer using an interactive parametric model and has resulted in 207 simple linear beams connecting a network of 144 nodes. The geometric complexities of the design are localised to the nodes making the assembly a relatively straightforward task of fixing flitch plates to nodes.In even relatively simple structures, connection nodes are often fabricated in short runs. This makes them ideal for considering additive manufacture. The geometry of these SmartNodes components is further customised through an optimisation process known as Bi-directional Evolutionary Structural Optimisation (BESO) developed at RMIT University. This technique seeks to find an optimised topology for a given structural loading to produce a unique shape with minimum volume.