Engineering & Innovation with Rhinoceros3D 
 


Rhino User Meeting Berlin 2024 - speakers

Andrea Rossi

Andrea Rossi

company EDEK, University of Kassel

about Andrea Rossi is an architectural researcher and computational designer. He holds a PhD with distinction from TU Darmstadt, and is currently postdoctoral researcher at the University of Kassel, while also providing freelance consulting services on computational design. Previously he held positions as researcher and computational designer at Coop Himmelb(l)au, IndexLab and ETH Zurich. His research focuses on computational design, robotic fabrication and architectural biomaterials. He is the developer of Wasp, an open-source toolkit for combinatorial design. He has recently been awarded the Kurt-Ruths-Preis for his doctoral dissertation on open-source software approaches for combinatorial design and fabrication.

talk Interfaces: Software, Machines, Materials

abstract Starting from the consideration that the majority of architectural design interfaces are still relying on a representational paradigm based on 2D drawings, the talk will explore the possibilities offered by reframing the idea of architectural interfaces in three complementary directions: software interfaces, which will discuss the potential of using open-source toolkits as more accessible and open model for computation in architecture; machine interfaces, which will discuss the power offered by developing tools to directly link design and fabrication; and material interfaces, which looks at the potential offered by directly integrating material behaviour in design.

Babette Hohrath & Raitis Pekuss

Babette Hohrath & Raitis Pekuss

company Packhunt

about Babette Hohrath is a seasoned professional in computational design and digital project management. As a Product Owner at Packhunt, she plays a key role in advancing the company's innovative platform, which aims to automate knowledge and processes within the building industry. With a background in structural engineering and computational design, Babette's focus is on enhancing efficiency and sustainability through digital solutions. At Packhunt, she oversees both Packhunt Studio & Marketplace and Packhunt for factories, driving the digital transformation of design and manufacturing processes. Babette’s expertise bridges the gap between engineering and technology, making significant contributions to the advancement of automated solutions in construction.

about Raitis Pekuss is a freelance computational designer and computational designer at Packhunt, specializing in construction automation and sustainable engineering. At Packhunt, he develops and reviews parametric models using tools like Rhino, Grasshopper, and Python. His notable projects include designing solar-powered houses for the Solar Decathlon, where he achieved a 3rd place finish and was a finalist for the New European Bauhaus prize. Raitis’s research at NYU Abu Dhabi focused on 3D concrete printing, exploring geometric complexity and productivity. He is also passionate about community engagement, having organized educational initiatives and advocacy projects in various countries.

Dr. Carlotta Schatten and Arjun Sharma

Dr. Carlotta Schatten and Arjun Sharma

company Airteam Aerial Intelligence GmbH

about Dr. Carlotta Schatten, Head of Machine Learning at Airteam, has 10 years of experience in applying machine learning across various industries. She leads the development of AI-powered software that transforms aerial drone data into precise 3D, CAD, and BIM models. These models streamline building measurements, planning, and inspections, saving significant time over traditional methods.

about Arjun Sharma is an Architect turned Software Developer with 10+ years of experience creating Software Tools and Plugins for Architecture, Automotive and Drone Industries. At Airteam, he works on integrating AI workflows in Rhino that generate highly detailed customer facing reports. His Interest areas are freeform surfaces, digital fabrication, photogrammetry and design technology. He is a registered Architect in India.

talk How Artificial Intelligence and Rhino power Up Airteam’s Solution

abstract Airteam (https://www.airteam.ai/) provides AI-powered software to convert drone data into 3D building models. This enables photovoltaic planners, roofers, and construction businesses to plan, measure and inspect buildings quickly and cost-effectively. This process saves about 90% of the time compared to traditional methods and delivers centimeter level accuracy. This talk will highlight Rhino’s essential role in integrating and extending our AI solutions for Object Identification, Geometry Generation, Analysis and Report / Architectural Drawing generation. Following the Airteam use case presentation, there will be a live demo of Rhino plug-ins.

Dan Cole

Dan Cole

company Webb Yates

about Dan Cole is a Senior Structural Engineer at Webb Yates Engineers, where he has been a key contributor since 2017 after earning his Master’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Bath. Dan has gained extensive experience in a wide range of projects, from award-winning residential refurbishments to large-scale infrastructure projects, including an underground structure supporting airport traffic at a major London airport. Dan is known for his proactive and creative approach to engineering, and he leads an internal computational design group at Webb Yates. This group develops bespoke software and computational design tools, exploring areas such as structural topology optimization. Dan is also instrumental in maintaining the company’s internal culture through his involvement in social activities and office improvements. His work often involves the use of parametric design tools like Grasshopper, which he employs to enhance efficiency and creativity in structural design. Dan's recent projects include developing 'Cactus,' a parametric tool that rapidly calculates structural member sizes and embodied carbon, providing sustainable solutions for design teams.

talk Cactus: How Webb Yates Engineers automated structural design and embodied carbon counting.

abstract Come and learn how Webb Yates are using Grasshopper and Shapediver to automate early stage structural design and carbon counting of buildings. We’ll introduce Cactus, our in-house parametric carbon modelling tool and the technologies we use to bring it together. We’ll also let you know how you can access Cactus to use for free.

David Rutten

David Rutten

company McNeel

about David Rutten is a prominent figure in the computational design community, known for his development of Grasshopper, a visual programming environment for Rhinoceros 3D. He has been with Robert McNeel & Associates since 2006, where he continues to work on supporting Grasshopper 1 and developing Grasshopper 2. David holds a Master's degree in Architecture and Urbanism from TU Delft. His work on Grasshopper has significantly impacted the field of parametric design, transforming how designers approach generative design and complex geometries. In addition to his contributions to Grasshopper, he has also been involved in developing other tools like RhinoScript and the Monkey VBScript editor for Rhino. David is not only a developer but also an educator, often conducting workshops and training sessions worldwide, where he shares his expertise in computational design and algorithmic modeling.

talk

Diego Apellániz

Diego Apellániz

company kevee

about Diego Apellániz is the Associate Director at kevee and a doctoral candidate with extensive experience in structural design, machine learning, and parametric design. His work integrates advanced computational methods with life cycle analyses to enhance project efficiency and sustainability. Diego has been recognized for his innovative approaches, winning the EFCA Future Leader Award for his contributions to the engineering consultancy field. He is proficient in digital technologies and has a significant impact on both practical project management and scientific innovation.

talk The dawn of AI Assistants in Rhino

abstract We at kevee and axxessio are excited to unveil our latest innovation: the “ai assistants” plug-in for Rhino. This tool seamlessly converts Grasshopper scripts into interactive AI assistants accessible through the ChatGPT interface of the plug-in. Users can now engage with their scripts via natural language or voice commands, share intricate Grasshopper definitions effortlessly, and benefit from smart assistance that educates and offers feedback on their projects. Experience this no-code solution and transform your design workflow in Rhino. Join us as we explore the integration of AI in architectural design, pushing the boundaries of creativity and efficiency.”

Dominik Zausinger

Dominik Zausinger

company Priedemann Facade Lab

about Dominik Zausinger is the Director of Digital Services with over 15 years of experience in the technology and construction industries. He leads digital transformation initiatives, develops innovative processes and tools, and represents his company at global conferences. Dominik's expertise spans strategic management, process optimization, and the integration of cutting-edge digital solutions. He is passionate about driving innovation and ensuring the highest quality in digital planning and execution.

Jens Böke, Lutz Tautenhahn, Tomas Mena

Jens Böke, Lutz Tautenhahn, Tomas Mena

company Priedemann Facade Lab

about Jens Jens Böke is the Head of Research and Development at Priedemann Façade Experts, where he leads innovative projects in façade technology. His expertise lies in integrating cyber-physical systems into façade design and construction, aiming to push the boundaries of traditional façade engineering. Jens's work focuses on leveraging new technologies to enhance façade performance and sustainability. His contributions to the field make him a key figure in exploring how advanced computational tools and methodologies can be applied to façade design challenges.

about Lutz Lutz Tautenhahn is a dedicated sustainability expert at Priedemann Façade Experts, where he focuses on the integration of sustainability in building façades. With a background in structural engineering and a PhD thesis on photovoltaic systems, Lutz has been instrumental in establishing Building Integrated PV (BIPV) solutions worldwide. His experience spans creative and technical roles, including significant contributions to façade engineering for projects such as the DHL campus at Leipzig airport. Lutz is passionate about how tools like Rhino and Grasshopper can address building regulations and sustainability reporting, driving innovative solutions in the building industry.

about Tomas Tomas Mena, an architect with a master's in computational design and digital fabrication from THOWL (Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe), is a seasoned professional in the field of parametric design and digital fabrication. Originally from Venezuela, Tomas is currently a Senior Project Manager in the Digital Twin team at Priedemann Façade Experts | Façade Lab. His work focuses on leveraging Rhino and Grasshopper to develop custom tools for distributed parametric project workflows in façade construction. Tomas has a strong background in parametric design, having first engaged with Rhino and Grasshopper during a digital fabrication workshop in Barcelona in 2011. His notable projects include the Schwarz Project Campus, where he played a key role in detailed freeform LOD modeling of façade elements.

Jeroen van Lith

Jeroen van Lith

company Planfinder

about architectural design processes. With a background in architecture and software development, Jeroen focuses on creating innovative tools that leverage artificial intelligence to generate floor plans quickly and efficiently. PlanFinder offers several functionalities, including the "Generate" command, which creates multiple floor plan options within seconds, allowing architects to explore various design possibilities without extensive manual drafting. Jeroen's work integrates advanced computational methods to accelerate design workflows, making it easier for architects to produce creative and functional layouts. His expertise in both architecture and technology enables him to push the boundaries of traditional design methods.

talk Introducing Chonk: Leveraging Clustering in CAD

abstract In this talk, we’ll introduce Chonk, a Rhino plugin that brings unsupervised learning into CAD design. By utilizing shape descriptors that are invariant to isometric transformations, Chonk provides tools to simplify and optimize your modeling workflows. We’ll discuss how Chonk can assist in selecting similar shapes, replacing blocks, and managing complex geometries more effectively. Additionally, we’ll explore how Chonk compares different geometries, merges duplicate block definitions, and applies unsupervised learning to refine design processes. See how Chonk can help you work more efficiently with CAD data.

Jochen Hölscher & Yury Nasonov

Jochen Hölscher & Yury Nasonov

company Hölscher Fassaden

about Jochen Hölscher is the Managing Director of Hölscher GmbH & Co. KG, a company specializing in facade construction. Under his leadership, Hölscher has become known for its innovative and bespoke facade solutions, integrating various materials and technologies to meet the unique needs of modern architecture. Jochen emphasizes the importance of digital transformation in facade construction, including the adoption of BIM (Building Information Modeling) to enhance planning and execution processes. He advocates for the integration of 2D and 3D planning tools to streamline workflows and improve project outcomes. Jochen's work ensures that Hölscher remains at the forefront of facade technology and sustainable building practices.

about Yury Nasonov is a leading expert in parametric architecture and design automation. At Hoelscher GmbH, he specializes in developing Rhino 3D plugins using C#, WPF, and Grasshopper, enhancing computational design processes for the AEC industry. Yury also runs his own practice, where he integrates contemporary technologies into architectural design and fabrication. His previous roles include architect at Stroyexpert and lecturer at Saint-Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, where he focused on innovative design methods and programming. With a deep passion for advancing architectural technology, Yury continues to shape the future of design through his technical expertise and teaching.

talk Path to automation of (unconventional) workflows

abstract We got used to a certain design paradigm that is limited by dominating tools. According to it we start from creating a low-detailed object and then only increasing detailing level through the project without possibility to simplify it. And then we struggle with too large model that are slow and do not allow us to work efficiently. But what do we really need? We will share our journey in developing tools and experiments for Rhino/Grasshopper with focus on automation, usability and working with complex facades.

Johannes König

Johannes König

company wearenarrativ

about After starting his professional journey in architectural competitions—designing, leading teams, and crafting visuals for various projects—Johannes in 2012 decided to dedicate himself full-time to the art of visual production by joining bloomimages Hamburg. In 2013, he moved back to Berlin to open the local branch, growing it into a thriving international team of 16 artists. By late 2022, Johannes joined narrativ. in London as a director. Charged with expanding the business beyond the UK and diversifying their client base, Johannes transitions between roles, from project management to hands-on production, adapting to the dynamic needs of the growing company.

talk Rhino and Chaos Software in film production at narrativ.

abstract The team of narrativ. create cinematic films and photoreal stills beyond mere photorealism. Most of our team members come from a background in architectural visualisation but their interests go way beyond that. Visual storytelling lies at the heart of our every creation. With a short insight into our workflow and with examples from real projects, Johannes will show how Rhino and Chaos products empower us as creators in our daily production routine, help us focus on the content rather than technological difficulties and lead to faster and better results.

Julia Reisinger

Julia Reisinger

company Assistant Professor @ TU Wien and Co-Founder @ factorymaker

about Dr. Julia Reisinger is a civil engineer and assistant professor at TU Wien, with a background in architecture, structural engineering, project management, and research. She founded "factorymaker," a startup focused on AI-based, sustainable industrial building design. Julia aims to integrate multidisciplinary design knowledge and processes while adhering to principles of efficiency and sustainability. She fosters interdisciplinary collaboration through the use of advanced computer-aided design tools and mixed-reality applications.

talk From Research to Reality: Transforming Industrial Building Design with BIMFlexi and factorymaker

abstract The presentation focuses on the research project BIMFlexi, which aimed to integrate production and building planning processes into one holistic generative design platform for early-stage optimization of factories. The presentation showcases the transition from an award-winning research project to the spin-off factorymaker. factorymaker, an innovative startup from TU Wien, develops generative AI solutions for sustainable and efficient industrial buildings and production processes. Factorymaker's solutions enable rapid, informed decisions through comprehensive variant studies, creating solutions that harmonize sustainability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency.

Krzysztof Wojslaw

Krzysztof Wojslaw

company learngrasshopper.com

about Krzysztof Wojslaw is a parametric design engineer and the founder of LearnGrasshopper.com. He holds a Master's degree in Civil Engineering with a focus on Bridge Design from Gdańsk University of Technology and has furthered his education in Virtual Design and Construction at Stanford University and NTNU in Trondheim. Krzysztof has over a decade of experience working on major infrastructure projects in Scandinavia, including the first and largest bridge structures approved and built solely based on 3D models. He is passionate about bridges, parametric design, and the development of new design methods. His innovative work has earned him numerous awards, such as the EFCA Future Leader of the Year 2021. He is also a co-founder of the popular blog BIM Corner, where he writes about BIM, VDC, and parametric design. Through his platform, LearnGrasshopper.com, Krzysztof shares practical examples and teaches others how to use Grasshopper efficiently, providing tips and tricks to save time and effort in parametric modeling.

talk How can generative design contribute to more sustainable solutions?

abstract Designers can perform only a limited number of design iterations during the design phase, whereas a computer can perform thousands of iterations in just a few minutes. This approach enables the selection of the most optimal solution from a multitude of alternatives based on factors such as cost or material consumption. The presentation will explain what optimization is and the main challenges faced by today's designers. Then, Krzysztof will demonstrate several examples of how to find the most optimal solution for structures with use of Grasshopper.

Lila Panahi

Lila Panahi

company ATP

about Lila Panahi is a leading figure in computational design and digital innovation at ATP architects engineers. With extensive experience in architecture and design technology, Lila has played a significant role in advancing digital design methodologies within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Lila's expertise includes parametric design, BIM (Building Information Modeling), and the integration of computational design tools to streamline and enhance architectural workflows. She has led numerous projects that emphasize the importance of digital transformation in architecture, enabling more efficient and innovative design processes. In addition to her professional work, Lila is actively involved in organizing and participating in events and hackathons that promote computational design and digital innovation. Her commitment to fostering a collaborative and forward-thinking environment makes her a key contributor to the field.

Mathias Fuchs

Mathias Fuchs

company McNeel

about Mathias Fuchs is a developer at Robert McNeel & Associates, where he specializes in numerical algorithms for Rhino and Grasshopper. He holds a PhD in Mathematics from Marseille and has extensive experience in applied fields. Before joining McNeel, Mathias was a Senior Researcher at Zaha Hadid Architects in the CODE group, where he contributed to various high-profile projects. At McNeel, Mathias focuses on developing plugins like TRmesh, a tetrahedral mesher, and Tweener, which are integral tools for computational design and structural analysis. His work involves creating innovative solutions to complex geometric and numerical problems, enhancing the capabilities of Rhino and Grasshopper. Mathias is also involved in teaching and sharing his knowledge through forums and webinars, making significant contributions to the computational design community.

talk

Mathias Sønderskov Schaltz

Mathias Sønderskov Schaltz

company LINK Arkitektur, Copenhagen Denmark

about Computational Design Lead. Mathias is trained a hybrid engineer/architect and has worked 10 years in the AEC field spanning from conceptual architectural design to sustainability concepts and detailed façade design. Most of this work has been enhanced with the use of Grasshopper and in 2019 he took the jump into the rabbits hole and started developing plugins for Rhino/GH such as LINK_Dashboards, MantaRay, ImageClipboard and DefaultPanel.

talk The Augmented Architect™ – How parametric workflows will provide early phase KPIs

abstract Let’s have a glimpse into the tech stack used in early phase (EP) at LINK Arkitektur. Get an introduction to our BIM inspired EP objects and see how they provide easy Rhino sketching with reliable results throughout the phases.

Nicola Haberbosch

Nicola Haberbosch

company Drees & Sommer

about Nicola Haberbosch is a prominent figure at Drees & Sommer, a leading European consulting, planning, and project management enterprise. With extensive experience in sustainable building and innovative construction methodologies, Nicola has been instrumental in driving forward-thinking projects that integrate both economic efficiency and ecological considerations. At Drees & Sommer, Nicola focuses on developing and implementing sustainable strategies that address the challenges of climate neutrality and energy efficiency.

talk

Paul Cowell

Paul Cowell

company Simply Rhino

about Paul Cowell is the Director of Simply Rhino Ltd, a company known for providing Rhino and Grasshopper training, support, and consultancy services. With extensive experience in the architectural and design industries, Paul has been instrumental in organizing and leading numerous events, including the Grasshopper UK User Group Meetings. He is actively involved in the Rhino community, offering expertise in Rhino3D, computational design, and digital fabrication techniques. Paul is dedicated to enhancing the skills and knowledge of designers and architects through his work at Simply Rhino.

talk Shape to Fabrication

abstract Paul Cowell from Simply Rhino UK will make an introduction to the Shape to Fabrication Conference and Workshops taking place in London in April 2025. Paul will outline the ethos of the Shape to Fabrication community and present the opportunities available at the main conference, workshops, and the preceding McNeel Rhino Development day.

Rostyslav Friedmann

Rostyslav Friedmann

company Keyshot

about Rostyslav Friedmann has 16 years of experience in B2B/BTC Sales in different positions with the focus on IT industry. Rostyslav is currently holding the position of a Territory Manger EMEA, starting from January 2024, previously worked as a Channel Manager EMEA by KeyShot. During his career he was able to collect a lot of experience in working for diverse multinational companies in the areas of Visualization SaaS , Virtualization and Backup. Successfully won and implemented big projects in different vertical markets in Eastern Europe. He was responsible for Product Portfolio , Market Positioning and Penetration

talk Reinventing the way products brought to the market

abstract We will take a look at KeyShot Products especially at new collaboration tool for product design and Strategic benefits of connecting the product design pipeline

Serjoscha Düring

Serjoscha Düring

company Rehub Forge

about Serjoscha Düring is currently a key team member at Rehub Forge, where he leverages his extensive background in computational design and urban planning. He has a PhD from the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Vienna, focusing on the application of spatial data analysis and simulation methods in performance-driven urban planning and design. His research interests lie at the intersection of top-down development and evolutionary city growth. Serjoscha also has significant experience in academia, having taught at institutions such as the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), the Bauhaus University in Weimar, and the University of Applied Arts Vienna. His work integrates advanced computational techniques with urban design to enhance sustainability and efficiency in urban environments.

talk Rhino to the Cloud and Back: Navigating Dynamic Rhino/Grasshopper Projects with Speckle, Python, Notion, and n8n

abstract This presentation reflects on our work as consultants in a fast-paced urban planning project, where we evaluated architectural designs through various disciplines, including walkability, space perception, and mobility simulations. The project's rapid evolution pushed us to constantly adapt our workflows, utilizing tools like Speckle, Python, Notion, and n8n to automate processes, maintain data consistency, and deliver timely, insightful reports.

Shibo Ren

Shibo Ren

company Buro Happold

about Shibo Ren is an Associate, and Europe Computational Design Lead at Buro Happold. He is a notable expert in computational design, and an engineer with his practices centered on the integration of challenging structure, complex geometry, and innovative material, employing computational design strategies and digital fabrication for thinking, analyzing and designing. Shibo received his Master degree with distinction on structural engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and received another Master degree on architecture from Architectural Association School of Architecture in London. Since 2010, he has been gaining extensive professional experience on leading complex high-profile projects across various scales from installation art to tower design. Shibo's work focuses on enhancing the efficiency and creativity of architectural and engineering projects through the freedom and opportunities offered by computational design. He plays an active role in pioneering projects and has contributed significantly to the development of digital workflows that streamline design processes and engineering optimizations.

talk Digital matters: Computational Design for Engineering.

abstract The transformative potentials of computational design and optimization strategies in engineering will be explored. A variety of projects will be discussed from design of building components to the digital workflow and rapid prototyping of complex large-scale projects.

Stefano Arrighi

Stefano Arrighi

company Studio Eliasson

about Stefano Arrighi is the Head of the Advanced Geometries Department at Studio Olafur Eliasson in Berlin. With a strong background in design and computational geometry, Stefano leads a team dedicated to pushing the boundaries of architectural and artistic projects through innovative geometric solutions. His work involves close collaboration with Olafur Eliasson and other specialists to develop and produce complex installations and artworks that integrate cutting-edge design and technology.

talk Model Room

Timo Harboe Zollner

Timo Harboe Zollner

company Timo Harboe ApS

about Timo Harboe Zollner is the founder of Timo Harboe ApS, where he specializes in computational design and engineering. With a background in structural engineering and extensive experience from working at Bjarke Ingels Group and Rambøll, Timo focuses on automating geometry, data, and analysis processes to improve the efficiency and quality of engineering projects. His expertise includes generative design, parametric modeling, and scripting. Timo is passionate about transforming inefficient design and engineering workflows by developing custom digital tools tailored to specific needs. He is dedicated to enabling engineers to unlock the full potential of their computers, thus enhancing creativity and productivity in their work.

talk Computational Design as a service or Applied computational design

abstract How can computational design be sold as a service? In this presentation, Timo will demonstrate his work with clients across various industries. He will showcase projects ranging from complex geometry automation within additive manufacturing - to augmented design tools for timber buildings - to the generation of structural models for bridge engineers.