Exercise: Operative Design

For this exercise you will be modifying volumes that you built in the preceding exercise. This page describes manipulations to forms based on Operative Design: A Catalogue of Spatial Verbs. Page numbers listed are references to the book. You will be completing all of the operations shown on pp. 16 & 17. The tutorial below provides suggestions for completing the various operations, but there are many alternative ways to produce the same or similar results, and you are encourage to explore your own methods.

Part 1 - Add Operatives

OD1.1. Make a copy of the Base Volumes file. Rename the new file with your name followed by Operations-Add. John Smith would name his file JohnSmith_Operations-Add.

OD1.2. Verify that the grid snaps to every foot instead of tenths of a foot.

OD1.3. Turn Ortho on. This will restrain movement to ninety degree directions. You may need to turn Ortho on and off throughout this this exercise.  

OD1.4a. Refer to pp. 20 & 21 which illustrate the Expand operative. Choose one of the volumes to modify. Make a copy of the volume by typing COPY at the command line. 

OD1.4b. The video below will walk you through the steps of expanding your volume using the MOVE EDGE command.

OD1.4c. When you have completed the form move it to the back.

OD1.5a. Refer to pp. 22 & 23 which illustrate the Extrude operative. 

OD1.5b. Make a copy of another volume and move it to the front.

OD1.5c. The video below will walk you through the steps of extruding part of your volume using the BOSS command.

OD1.5d. Move the object to the back but place it in sequence next to the previous one.

OD1.6a. Refer to pp. 24 & 25 which illustrate the Inflate operative.

OD1.6b. Make a copy of another volume and move it to the front.

The next step involves the use of control points. Click here for information on control points.

OD1.6c. The video below will walk you through the steps of inflating your volume. Commands that you will need include EXPLODE, INSERTCONTROLPOINT, POINTSON, and CREATESOLID. 

OD1.6d. Move the object to the back but place it in sequence next to the previous one. Continue placing the remaining objects in a row. 

OD1.7a. Refer to pp. 26 & 27 which illustrate the Branch operative.

OD1.7b. Make a copy of another volume and move it to the front.

OD1.7c. The video below will walk you through the steps of branching a volume into two. You will be introduced to the MIRROR command.

OD1.7d. Move the object to the back but place it in sequence next to the previous one.

OD1.8a. Refer to pp. 28 & 29 which illustrate the Merge operative.

OD1.8b. Make copies of two of the volumes. Arrange them so that they slightly overlap.

OD1.8c. Join the two volumes so they are one. Use the Boolean Union command for this. The Ghosted visual style has been used in the image below.

OD1.8d. Move the object to the back but place it in sequence next to the previous one.

OD1.9. You can skip the Nest operation that is illustrated on pp. 30-31.

OD1.10a. Refer to pp. 32 & 33 which illustrate the Offset operative. 

OD1.10b. Make a copy of one of the volumes, and move it to the front. 

OD1.10c. Input the SHELL command. You will be prompted to select one faces to remove from the closed polysurface. Pick at least one. 

OD1.10d. Before pressing Enter, type T to set the thickness and then press Enter. The default is 1 (one foot). Change the thickness or keep the default, and press Enter. The image below shows the form in Shaded visual style. Notice how the side that was selected is open. 

OD1.10d. Move the object to the back but place it in sequence next to the previous one. There should be a row of 6 volumes behind the base volumes. These are the operatives in the order they were completed: EXPAND, EXTRUDE, INFLATE, BRANCH, MERGE and OFFSET.

OD1.11. Save you file. Rhino doesn't allow you to close a file. You can exit the software or open a new file. Upload the file to your Google Drive folder. Upload it to the main folder. I will move it to another folder once I have reviewed it.

Part 2 - Displace Operatives

OD2.1. Make a copy of the Base Volumes file. Rename the new file with your name followed by Operations-Displace. Jane Smith would name her file JaneSmith_Operations-Displace.

OD2.2. Verify that the grid snaps to every foot instead of tenths of a foot. Turn Ortho on as necessary. Turn on your Object Snaps as necessary.

OD2.3a. Refer to pp. 36 & 37 which illustrate the Bend operative. 

OD2.3b. Make a copy of a volume and move it to the front.

OD2.3c. The video below will walk you through the steps of making a bent volume. Please note that the geometry is slightly different that the examples in the book. The new command covered is WIRECUT.

OD2.3d. Move the object to the back as you did with the Add operatives.

OD2.4a. Refer to pp. 38 & 39 which illustrate the Skew operative.

OD2.4b. Make a copy of one of the volumes, and move it to the front.

OD2.4c. The video below will walk you through the steps of skewing a volume using the SHEAR command.

OD2.4d. Move the object to the back. Place the object to the right of the object modified with the Bend operation. Continue putting new objects in sequence from left to right. 

OD2.5a. Refer to pp. 40 & 41 which illustrate the Split operative.

OD2.5b. Make a copy of one of the volumes, and move it to the front.

OD2.5c. The video below will walk you through the steps of splitting a volume using a number of operations including Boolean Difference, Extrude Surface and Fold Face.

OD2.5d. Move the object to the back.

OD2.6a. Refer to pp. 42 & 43 which illustrate the Twist operative.

OD2.6b. Make a copy of one of the volumes, and move it to the front.

OD2.6c. The video below will walk you through the steps of twisting a volume using the TWIST command.

OD2.6d. Move the object to the back.

OD2.7a. Refer to pp. 44 & 45 which illustrate the Interlock operative.

OD2.7b. Make two copies of  the L-shaped volumes, and move them to the front.

OD2.7c. Arrange them so that they interlock. They should touch but not overlap.

OD2.7d. Use the BOOLEAN UNION command to join them into one object. When you click on the object, the both L-shapes should have yellow highlight.

OD2.7d. Move the object to the back. 

OD2.8. Refer to pp. 46 & 47 which illustrate the Intersect operative. Make a copy of two of your volumes. Allow them to intersect so that the volumes pass through one another. Use the BOOLEAN UNION command to join them into one object. Move the object to the back.

OD2.9. Refer to pp. 48 & 49 which illustrate the Lift operative. Make a copy of two of your volumes. Lift one object so that it rests on top of the other. Use the BOOLEAN UNION command to join them into one object. Move the object to the back.

OD2.10. Refer to pp. 50 & 51 which illustrate the Lodge operative. Make a copy of three of your volumes. Lodge one object so that it held between the other two. Use the BOOLEAN UNION command to join them into one object. Move the object to the back.

OD2.11. Refer to pp. 52 & 53 which illustrate the Overlap operative. Make a copy of two of your volumes. Overlap the two objects. Their surfaces should overlap, but not their volumes. Use the BOOLEAN UNION command to join them into one object. Move the object to the back.

OD2.12a. Refer to pp. 54 & 55 which illustrate the Rotate operative.

OD2.12b. Make a copy of one of the volumes, and move it to the front.

OD2.12c. For the next operative you will start by cutting a volume in half.  Draw a line across the object.

OD2.12d. Type WIRECUT at the command line or select the icon.

OD2.12e. Select the curve (the line) and then select the object you want to cut in half. Then press Enter.

OD2.12f. You will be prompted to provide a cut depth, or press Enter to cut all the way through. In this case press Enter. If you click on one of the sides you should see that it highlights and that the object has been cut in half.

OD2.12g. Next you will be rotating one of the objects. Type ROTATE at the command line. Select one of the sides of your cut object.

OD2.12h. You will be asked for the Center of rotation. Go to the Top view and pick a point at the edge where the two objects meet.

OD2.12i. When prompted, input an angle for the rotation. 

OD2.12j. Use the BooleanUnion command to join the two halves. In this case the object will become an open polysurface even though both objects are individually closed polysurfaces.

OD2.12k. Move the object to the back.

OD2.13. Refer to pp. 56 & 57 which illustrate the Shift operative. Make two copies of one of your volumes and move them to the front. Place the objects directly next to each other, and then slide them as shown in the illustrations. Two surfaces should align. Use the BOOLEAN UNION command to join them into one object. Move the object to the back.

OD2.14. You should have 11 volumes in a line behind the 6 base volumes. These are the operatives in the order they were completed: BEND, SKEW, SPLIT, TWIST, INTERLOCK, INTERSECT, LIFT, LODGE, OVERLAP, ROTATE, and SHIFT.

OD2.15. Save you file. Upload the file to your Google Drive folder. Upload it to the main folder. I will move it to another folder once I have reviewed it.

Part 3 - Subtract Operatives

OD3.1. Make a copy of the Base Volumes file. Rename the new file with your name followed by Operations-Subtract. John Smith would name his file JohnSmith_Operations-Substract.

OD3.2. Verify that the grid snaps to every foot instead of tenths of a foot. Turn Ortho on as necessary. Turn on your Object Snaps as necessary.

OD3.3a. Refer to pp. 60 & 61 which illustrate the Carve operative. 

OD3.3b. Make a copy of two of your volumes and move them to the front.

OD3.3c. Place the smaller object inside the larger one, but align the face of one to the face of the other. Notice how the front edge of the small object aligns with the front edge of the larger object in the image below. 

OD3.3d. Use the BOOLEAN DIFFERENCE command to carve the smaller object from the larger object. You will be asked to select the polysurface that you want to subtract from so pick the larger object. Press Enter. Then pick the smaller object and press Enter. 

OD3.3e. Move the object to the back as you did with the Add and Displace operatives.

OD3.4a. Refer to pp. 62 & 63 which illustrate the Compress operative. 

OD3.4b. Make a copy of one of the rectangular volumes, and move it to the front.

OD3.4c. There are many ways to form the compression as illustrated in the book. The following is a 3-step method. The first is to flatten a box. The second is to taper the box. The third is to mirror the tapered elements. 

OD3.4d. One way to flatten a form is to use the gumball. Click on the Gumball on the status bar along the bottom of your screen. Click on the volume. The volume will appear in yellow highlight. The gumball will appear.

OD3.4e. Click on the blue box (shown in the image above). Input the value that you want to compress the volume. Then press Enter. A value of .25 will make the box a quarter of its height.

OD3.4f. Next use the Taper command to taper the volume. The video below will walk you through the steps of tapering a volume using the TAPER command. The video suggest an end distance for your taper as 6'. If the width of your volume is 12', use a number smaller than 6'. Try 4' or 5', for example. 

OD3.4g. Turn on Ortho. 

OD3.4h. Type MIRROR at the command line. 1.) Pick the item. 2.) Select a point on bottom. 3.) Select another point along the plane of the mirror axis.

OD3.4i. Use the BOOLEAN UNION command to join them into one object. 

OD3.4j. Move the object to the back. Place it to the right of the object modified with the Carve operative. Place the remaining objects in a row in sequence with the book.

OD3.5a. Refer to pp. 64 & 65 which illustrate the Fracture operative. 

OD3.5b. Make a copy of one of the volumes, and move it to the front.

OD3.5c. The video below will walk you through the steps of creating a fracture through a solid using the WIRECUT command.

OD3.5d. Separate the two halves so there is a space between them.

OD3.5e. Move the two objects to the back.

OD3.6a. Refer to pp. 66 & 67 which illustrate the Grade operative. 

OD3.6b. Make a copy of one of the volumes, and move it to the front.

OD3.6c. The video below will walk you through the steps of creating graded steps on the surface of a solid.

OD3.6d.  Move the object to the back.

OD3.7a. Refer to pp. 68 & 69 which illustrate the Notch operative. 

OD3.7b. Make a copy of one of the volumes, and move it to the front.

OD3.7c. The video below will walk you through the steps of creating a notch in the surface of a solid. Note: You might try the Move Edge tool instead of the Fold Face tool.

OD3.7d. Move the object to the back.

OD3.8a. Refer to pp. 70 & 71 which illustrate the Pinch operative. 

OD3.8b. Make a copy of one of the volumes, and move it to the front.

OD3.8c. This operative is the opposite of the Inflate operative. Refer to OD1.6c for the video. 

OD3.8d. Move the object to the back.

OD3.9a. Refer to pp. 72 & 73 which illustrate the Shear operative. 

OD3.9b. Make a copy of one of the volumes, and move it to the front.

OD3.9c. This operative could be completed using the WIRECUT command. The MOVE EDGE command could also be used.

OD3.9d. Move the object to the back.

OD3.10a. Refer to pp. 74 & 75 which illustrate the Taper operative.

OD3.10b.  Make a copy of one of the rectangular volumes, and move it to the front.

OD3.10c. Taper the volume using the TAPER command.

OC3.10d. Notice from the textbook that there is a flat part below the tapered form. Use the EXTRUDESRF command to create that flattened section. From the underside of the form select the bottom surface. Enter a distance as a negative number (for example, -6'). Make sure that the option for Solid=Yes.

OD3.10d. Move the object to the back. 

OD3.11a. Refer to pp. 76 & 77 which illustrate the Embed operative. Make a copy of two of your volumes. Let their volumes overlap.  Use the BOOLEAN UNION command to join them into one object. Move the object to the back.

OD3.12a. Refer to pp. 78 & 79 which illustrate the Extract operative. 

OD3.12b. Make a copy of two of the volumes, and move them to the front.

OD3.12c. The video below will walk you through the steps of extracting a space where two volumes overlap.

OD3.12d. Move the object to the back.

OD3.13a. Refer to pp. 80 & 81 which illustrate the Inscribe operative. Make a copy of two of your volumes. Let their volumes overlap.  Use the BOOLEAN DIFFERENCE command to subtract the smaller volume from the larger volume. Move the object to the back.

OD3.14a. Refer to pp. 82 & 83 which illustrate the Puncture operative. 

OD3.14b. Make a copy of two of the volumes, and move them to the front.

OD3.14c. Slope the top of the larger volume. The video below will walk you through the steps of sloping the face of a volume. 

OD3.14d. Place the smaller object on top of the larger one. Position it toward the low end as if it is pressing down on the larger one.

OD3.14e. Use the BOOLEAN UNION command to join the two volumes.

OD3.14f. Move the object to the back.

OD3.15. You should have 12 volumes in a line behind the 6 base volumes. These are the operatives in the order they were completed: CARVE, COMPRESS, FRACTURE, GRADE, NOTCH, PINCH, SHEAR, TAPER, EMBED, EXTRACT, INSCRIBE and PUNCTURE.

OD3.17. Save you file. Upload the file to your Google Drive folder. Upload it to the main folder. I will move it to another folder once I have reviewed it.

Part 4 - Combinations and Aggregations

OD4.1. Refer to pp. 86-95 or this link. Choose one of the operations to duplicate. Make a copy of the Base Volumes file and rename your new file following this format: "Your name" + "name of the operation" + "Combination1".  If Jane Smith chose the Intersect operative, she would name her file JaneSmith_Intersect_Combination1.  Choose one of the Base Volumes to work with and delete the others. Generate the form shown in the book. 

OD4.2. Refer to pp. 96-105 or this link. Choose one of the operative pairs to duplicate. Make a copy of the Base Volumes file and rename your new file following this format: "Your name" + "both operatives" + "Combination2". If Jane Smith chose the Embed and Taper operatives, she would name her file JaneSmith_Embed+Taper_Combination2. Choose one of the Base Volumes to work with and delete the others. Generate the form shown in the book. 

OD4.3. Refer to pp. 108-115 or this link. Choose one of the operative pairs to duplicate. Make a copy of the Base Volumes file and rename your new file following this format: "Your name" + "the operatives described on the page" + "Aggregate1". If Jane Smith chose to stack the form with pinch operative, she would name her file JaneSmith_Pinch+Stack_Aggregate. Choose one of the Base Volumes to work with and delete the others. Generate the form shown in the book.

OD4.4. Refer to pp. 116-125 or this link. Choose one of the sets of operatives to duplicate. Make a copy of the Base Volumes file and rename your new file following this format: "Your name" + "the operatives described on the page" = + "Aggregate2" .  Generate the form shown in the book.

OD4.5. Upload the five files to the main folder of your Google Drive folder for the course.

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