Living Cubos is a web-based voxelized geometry analysis tool developed in Grasshopper using the VoxelTool plugin. The goal of this project is to explore how voxel geometry can connect design decisions with material performance and environmental impact.
The system allows users to interact with a parametric model directly through a browser interface. By publishing the Grasshopper definition to the web, the tool becomes accessible to users who do not need prior knowledge of Grasshopper or Rhino. This makes the workflow more open and easier to experiment with.
At the core of the tool is the ability to adjust the voxel grid resolution. Users can control the voxel size, which determines the level of detail in the geometry. A smaller voxel size produces a higher-resolution model, while a larger voxel size creates a more simplified structure.
The user can also choose a material from a predefined material database. Based on the selected material and voxel resolution, the system calculates key performance data including the number of voxels, the total volume, estimated weight, material cost, and embodied carbon. This allows users to immediately see how different design choices affect both material consumption and environmental impact.
The model selector allows switching between different furniture typologies, such as a voxelized stool or a table. Once the design is generated, the resulting voxel geometry can be baked and downloaded as a Rhino .3dm file. This allows users to continue developing or fabricating the model within their own workflow.
As part of the project, a small-scale prototype of the stool was also 3D printed to test the voxel assembly and structural logic. In the future, the goal is to fabricate the design at full scale, either through large-scale 3D printing or by producing wooden voxel blocks that can be assembled and glued together.
Living Cubos represents my personal development of a voxel-based analysis system designed to support my own design and building process. At the same time, it aims to share this functionality with others by making voxel-based design tools accessible through a simple web interface.
