Abstract
Freeform structures play an important role within contemporary architecture. While there is a wealth of excellent tools for the digital design of free-form geometry, the actual fabrication on the architectural scale is a big challenge. Key issues in this context are free-form surfaces composed of panels which can be manufactured at reasonable cost, and the geometry and statics of the support structure. The present article is an extended abstract of a talk on the close relation between geometric computing for free-form architecture and discrete differential geometry. It addresses topics such as skins from planar, in particular quadrilateral panels, geometry and statics of supporting structures, structures in force equilibrium.
Reference
Pottmann, H., & Wallner, J. (2017). Freeform Architecture and Discrete Differential Geometry. In W. Kropatsch, N. Artner, & I. Janusch (Eds.), Discrete Geometry for Computer Imagery (pp. 3–8). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66272-5_1