As part of the studio project brief, Meditation and relaxation as well as habitational were the chosen programs for the Martian Colony to develop. The proposal resulted in 4 main central pavilions, which would generate an ascending path within them, and at the same time, serve as main placeholders for the modular habitational units, which are placed around them.
The meditation program consists of four pavilions themed around Earth, Water, Fire, and Air, each with its unique layout and activities. Within these pavilions, three main categories of units are assigned:
1. Habitational Units: These are single-story units designed to accommodate four people each.
2. Buffer Units: These units serve common purposes such as kitchens and labs, and are designed with two stories to facilitate adaptation to sloped terrain.
3. Support Units: These units connect the habitational and buffer units, housing secondary facilities like toilets, storage areas, and power stations.
These categories will be translated into Revit families during the design process.
Phases were planned out for the future expansion of the Colony, which will later be reflected on the Revit Documentation.
Modelling Method
The layering of the project is as follows:
The meditation program features pavilions interconnected by a continuous ramp and enclosed by a 3D printed wall. Utilizing Rhino inside Revit, these architectural elements are exported as wall and floor elements, ensuring seamless integration into the design process.
Complementing these structural components are the habitational, buffer, and support units, which are exported as families using Rhino inside Revit as well. This exportation includes detailed materials and subcategories, facilitating precise implementation within the project.
Moreover, the roof of the pavilions is constructed using adaptive panels, further enhancing the flexibility and functionality of the design.
Workflow
As part of the collaborative workflow and to divide and optimize work, both parts of the program were treated separately, later being merged into a unique centralized file, from which all imports for Rhino inside Revit were made.
Grasshopper workflow
The greatest challenge faced when moving from Rhino to Revit, was to import all of our units as different families, with each of their elements as subcategories and all these having the appropriate materials assigned.