LATEST ADVANCED FORMS
From large-scale constructions to experimental systems, this section highlights ambitious projects led by experienced professionals across AEC and other industries. Whether developed by architects, engineers, designers, or interdisciplinary teams, these works show how creative insight, technical skill, and McNeel tools can come together to shape extraordinary solutions; wherever bold ideas take root.
When Performance Becomes Visible: Refining Running Trim with Orca3D
At Bayliss Boatworks, performance is evaluated not only through data, but through how a yacht looks and feels at speed. By leveraging Orca3D’s Marine CFD tools inside Rhino, the design team is refining running trim and stagnation lines, elevating both hydrodynamic behavior and visual clarity on the water.
Digikala Flagship Store: A Physical Prototype for the Future of Online Retail
Digikala’s first flagship store reimagines online retail as a physical and immersive spatial experience: a 400 m² prototype where portals, interactive environments, and a continuous spiral transforms passive browsing into active participation.
Silverback Grizzly 21 LE: Data-Driven Design for Law Enforcement on the Water
A high-performance patrol vessel designed with Petestep’s Spray Deflector Technology and refined through Rhino and Orca3D Marine CFD. The Silverback Grizzly 21 LE sets a new benchmark for speed, efficiency, and crew comfort in law enforcement marine craft.
The Peanut Bench: Free-Form Coopering on a CNC Robot
The Peanut Bench reimagines the traditional coopering technique through computational design. Using Rhino, Grasshopper, and CNC machining, Stephen Thrasher crafted a free-form wooden bench that bridges craftsmanship and digital fabrication.
The Brick Screen: A Parametric Reinterpretation of the Traditional Jali
The Brick Screen, designed by Muhammad Talha Muftee and Shaikh Abdul Basit for the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, reimagines the traditional jali through parametric design. Using Grasshopper, the architects combined local masonry craft and digital precision to create an environmentally responsive brick façade that has set a new precedent for computational design in Pakistan.
Navatu: Redefining the Waterslide Experience
From zero-gravity drops to underwater views, Navatu redefines the waterslide with a manta-inspired design shaped in Rhino and recognized with the IAAPA Brass Ring Award.
ALL ADVANCED FORMS
A Sculptural Table for ETT’s Sala Demo
Architect Valentina Serando designed a sculptural glass and resin table for ETT’s Sala Demo in Genoa, using Rhino SubD to translate fluid, organic forms into a precise, manufacturable object. The result is a centerpiece that fuses technology, craft, and design in a dynamic dialogue with space and light.
Shellscape Pavilion: Exploring Wood–Bioplastic Composites in Architecture
The Shellscape Pavilion explores the architectural potential of waste-derived composites through a fully computational and robotic workflow. Developed as part of a PhD research project, this prototype demonstrates how circular materials, structural optimization, and mixed-reality assembly can converge in a full-scale architectural design.
Monumento Pijao Ancestral: A Father–Son Fusion of Art, Technology, and Heritage
The Monumento Pijao Ancestral in Tolima, Colombia, is a 13.6-meter steel sculpture created by artist Edgar Varón Oviedo and his son, industrial designer Edgar Daniel Varón Villarreal. Blending ancestral geometric patterns with advanced 3D modeling in Rhino and Grasshopper, the monument honors the Pijao people through a fusion of art, cultural heritage, and precision engineering.
Astroid: A Parametric Ergonomic Mouse Built with Rhino
The Astroid 7000 is a parametric, ergonomic 3D mouse that revives the legacy of the original Spaceball using Rhino as a central tool for design, prototyping, and engineering. This case study highlights how digital modeling can transform legacy concepts into responsive tools for today’s designers.
3DCITYGH: A Parametric Workflow for Digital Urban Survey and City Information Modeling
3DCITYGH presents a modular parametric workflow for generating structured City Information Models from survey data and point clouds, enabling efficient urban-scale modeling for risk assessment, heritage documentation, and structural analysis. Developed within Grasshopper, the approach combines AI-assisted segmentation, custom semantic structuring, and BIM/FEM interoperability.
Digital Clay: A New Layer at the Natural History Museum
At the Natural History Museum’s new Fixing Our Broken Planet gallery, digital design meets sustainable craftsmanship through 3D printed ceramics. Using Rhino and Grasshopper, the team developed modular components that bring innovation to a heritage space without leaving a trace.
ShaperBay: A Browser-Based Platform for Custom Surfboard Design and Fabrication
ShaperBay is a browser-based platform that empowers users to design and export custom surfboards using parametric tools powered by Rhino and Grasshopper. Its standout Hollow Wood Structure (HWS) feature supports the fabrication of sustainable, high-performance wooden boards through laser-cut templates and intuitive digital workflows.
Pushing the Limits of Offshore Racing: IMOCA Partners with Orca3D
IMOCA has partnered with Orca3D to bring advanced stability analysis and streamlined design workflows to the world of offshore racing. By leveraging the modeling power of Rhino, this collaboration helps teams build faster, safer, and more consistent IMOCA 60 yachts for the world’s most demanding ocean races.
New Dawn: A Lamp That Lives, Breathes, and Decomposes
New Dawn by Aga Blonska is a 3D-printed lighting piece that transforms microbial biopolymers into an evocative sculptural form, entirely modeled and fabricated within the Rhino and Grasshopper environment. Showcased at Milan Design Week 2025, the project reimagines material decay as design potential, marking a milestone in sustainable large-scale additive manufacturing.
The Rooster Wears Code: Parametric Design in Recife’s Galo da Madrugada
For Recife’s 2025 Carnival, computational designer Pedro Vilarim developed a parametric system to map 10,000 recycled plastic bottles onto the chest of the 32-meter Galo da Madrugada sculpture. The design reimagines the vibrant cloak of the Caboclo de Lança using code, craftsmanship, and discarded materials.
La Pendenta: A Community-Led Suspension Bridge Project in the Swiss Alps
La Pendenta is a slender suspension bridge in the Swiss Alps that blends digital precision with ecological sensitivity. Designed using Rhino and Grasshopper, it showcases how thoughtful engineering and community collaboration can shape resilient, elegant infrastructure.
Pinko Takes Off: Parametric Retail Design at Rome Fiumicino Airport
At Rome Fiumicino Airport, Pinko’s new flagship store merges fashion and technology through a parametric design inspired by the brand’s signature patterns. Brought to life with robotic 3D printing using Rhino and Grasshopper, the space sets a new standard for sustainable, regulation-compliant retail architecture.
Cnidaria Pavilion: A Novel Approach to Load-Bearing Architectural Skins
The Cnidaria Pavilion, developed at the Université de Montréal’s School of Architecture, showcases an innovative approach to large-span, doubly curved structures using lightweight aluminum sheets. Combining computational design with manual folding and snap-fit assembly, the pavilion demonstrates a new structural system that balances efficiency, aesthetics, and rapid fabrication.
Behind the River Plate Facade: A Digital Approach
Dive into the innovative design and digital fabrication process behind the parametric facade of the River Plate Football Club parking structure. This story highlights the use of Rhino, Grasshopper, and various plugins to tackle complex challenges and achieve an efficient and visually dynamic result.
Mangrove: A Record-Breaking Glass Sculpture by Nikolas Weinstein
Suspended in the grand atrium of Solaire Resort North, Nikolas Weinstein’s record-breaking glass sculpture Mangrove redefines architectural art. Drawing inspiration from the intricate roots of native mangrove trees, the monumental 27-meter-tall installation combines 11 kilometers of borosilicate glass tubing with advanced digital tools like Grasshopper.
“Brilla la Tradición”: The 2024 Christmas Lighting Design in Envigado, Colombia
This year’s Christmas lighting project in Envigado, Colombia, titled Brilla la Tradición, transformed the city with over 4,500 hand-crafted figures, combining traditional holiday symbols with cutting-edge design and production techniques.
Exploring the TYR Car: SCAD’s Off-Road Electric Vehicle Innovation
The TYR car, designed by SCAD students, is an off-road electric vehicle that combines sustainability, cutting-edge tools like Rhino, and innovative manufacturing techniques to meet the eco-conscious and adventurous lifestyle of Gen Z.
Thrill Island: Designing Adventure on the Icon of the Seas
Thrill Island aboard Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas combines storm-ravaged tropical aesthetics with cutting-edge computational design, utilizing Rhino and Grasshopper to craft immersive attractions like waterparks and adventure courses, while overcoming production challenges for a first-of-its-kind cruise ship experience.
Pedorthic Information Modeling: Revolutionizing Orthopedic Footwear with 3D Printing and Computational Design
Developed by footwear engineer Daniel Petcu, Pedorthic Information Modeling (PIM) revolutionizes the design of orthopedic footwear by combining parametric design principles with 3D printing. This innovative approach allows for fully customizable, functional, and stylish medical footwear, overcoming the limitations of traditional hand-made methods.
The Katajanokan Laituri Façade: Computational Design Meets Nordic Timber
The Katajanokan Laituri in Helsinki showcases a groundbreaking fusion of timber construction and computational design, with Geometria Architecture crafting a complex, curved façade that ensures both structural integrity and aesthetic continuity while optimizing the fabrication process.
The Yamma Pedestrian Bridge: Enhancing Urban Infrastructure Through Rhino.Inside.Revit
Spearheaded by Robert Bird Group, the Yamma Pedestrian Bridge in Brisbane exemplifies cutting-edge engineering and urban connectivity driven by parametric design. This project sets a new standard for efficiency and collaboration in urban infrastructure, revolutionizing bridge design with dynamic, adaptable models and seamless data exchange through Rhino.Inside.Revit.
Flow: Parametric Techniques for a Meditative Retreat
Flow, an innovative geodesic dome project at Universidad del Sinú in Colombia, leverages parametric design to create a meditation space that harmonizes structure, light, and natural ventilation for a serene and uplifting experience.
The Aether Concept Car’s Revolution in Electric Vehicle Design
Aether, a full-scale electric concept car designed by SCAD students, combines intricate parametric design with advanced additive manufacturing to craft its interior and exterior components. Using tools like Rhino 8, Grasshopper, and Multi-Jet Fusion technology, the team created flexible, resilient structures and intricate lattice patterns.
Gerard Furbershaw: From Industrial Design to Art Furniture
Gerard Furbershaw's transition from industrial design to art furniture merges precision engineering with artistic expression. Using digital modeling and layered materials to craft unique sculptural pieces, his work redefines furniture as "art you can sit on."
Alejandra Alfaro’s CAD to Casting Journey at Milano Jewelry Week
Discover how Alejandra Alfaro’s innovative use of CAD and digital fabrication techniques led her to win the prestigious Artistar Jewels Network Award at Milano Jewelry Week 2024. Her striking silver rings, crafted without traditional molds, perfectly blend artistry and technology, pushing the boundaries of modern jewelry design.
Optimizing with Grasshopper and DefinitionLibrary: Arup’s Solar-Efficient Community
Arup's sustainability team utilized digital tools like Grasshopper and DefinitionLibrary to optimize house placements for a gated community, enhancing passive solar performance and creating a data-driven master plan that balances design preferences with energy efficiency.
Vintersol: Redefining the Relationship Between Architecture and Nature
Originally designed for the Hello Wood Argentina festival, this installation reimagines architecture’s interaction with its environment, blending computational design with a responsive, fluid aesthetic.
Parametric Paving: A New Layer of Design
The Parametric Paving project by LANDAU, in collaboration with Crowley Cottrell, uses parametric tools to create complex yet constructible paving designs within strict constraints.
Vortex Facade for ExpoCamacol Medellín 2024
The Vortex project by Doblamos for ExpoCamacol Medellín 2024 features a striking facade with circular waves. Using Grasshopper to manipulate metal sheet sections, its innovative design showcases the potential of computational tools in creating visually dynamic architectural surfaces.
Imagining Sustainable Design: The Longsheng Yoga Pavilion
The Longsheng Yoga Pavilion by Helena Riesenberger, a digital project conceived within the serene landscapes of the Longsheng Rice Terraces in China, exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to sustainable design.
Circular Economy in Action: The Wood Project
The Wood Project by MANUFACTURA and La Metropolitana uses Rhinoceros and Grasshopper to convert sawdust into 3D-printed architectural elements, demonstrating the potential of computational design in sustainable, circular economy practices.
Architectural Acoustics at their Best: The Blitz Club
The Blitz Club represents architectural innovation and acoustic precision, transforming a historic venue into a modern marvel by leveraging cutting-edge design tools and fostering close collaboration among designers, acousticians, and fabricators.
Voortdurend Bench: A Masterpiece in Houthavenpark Amsterdam
This installation enhances the park's visual appeal and serves as a functional piece of public art, demonstrating a seamless integration of artistry and engineering.
True North 39 Outboard Express: Catalina Yachts’ Modern Classic
Catalina Yachts has been building boats for 50 years, and the True North 39 provides mariners with unforgettable adventures -- it blends sturdy, traditional Downeast design with modern performance and comfort.
An Innovative Exhibition Stand at CES by Simon Vorhammer & Atelier Grande
An example of innovative thinking and temporary architecture, combining aesthetic appeal with functional brilliance to create an engaging and educational experience for visitors.
Future Landscape Trust: An Environmental Design Project in Sussex
The Future Trust project shows how technology and community collaboration can create resilient environments. Protecting Pett Level from floods sets an example for other coastal regions and highlights the impact of innovative landscape design on environmental management.
Matteo Bulla’s Thesis on Digital Shoe Design
A thesis project that shows how digital tools can revolutionize footwear design by combining creativity with technical precision to create innovative and sustainable products.
Innovation Over Time: KPF’s Legacy with Rhino.Compute In-House Developed Plugins
KPF's journey demonstrates the power of innovation, using expertise and technology to redefine architecture.
The Carapacks Pavilion: A Hexagonal Innovation
The Carapacks Pavilion features a versatile design suitable for wooden pavilions, roofs, and facades, showcasing architectural exploration and collaboration through innovative design and digital integration.
The Talavera Project, Bridging Heritage and Technology for a Sustainable Future
The Talavera Project aims to blend traditional handmade craftsmanship with digital fabrication, specifically robotic 3D printing. Inspired by Uriarte Talavera's historic techniques, the team used Rhino for 3D modeling and Grasshopper for slicing and optimizing printing.
Unlimited Space
This project explores the intricate movements of the human hand and how they translate into a captivating robotic performance.
Medio Design Collaborates to Illuminate El Corte Inglés
This light, translucent, yet strong luminaire was created with carefully chosen materials and influenced by Japanese aesthetics. The design is suitable for busy areas, in this case, a department store.
Kinetica’s Triumph at Expo Dubai
Kinetica's team crafted custom aluminum pods resembling airplane turbines. These pods house high-tech laser projectors, MEP, and 10 tons of air conditioning. The pods' aluminum structures showcased the firm's mastery of the hydroforming process.
The Barcelona Collection: a Fusion of Technology & Tradition in Spanish Jewelry
Chesco Díaz was inspired by Barcelona's architecture to create a unique jewelry line. Using his expertise in 3D modeling, he designed intricate pieces that capture the city's charm.
FibR’s Robotic Elegance in Architectural Design Through the Texoversum Project
Using carbon fibers for optimal load-bearing and glass fibers for shading, the Texoversum facade is an impressive example of digital lightweight construction.
Mike Annear’s 3D Scanning Odyssey
One name stands out in the ever-evolving landscape of 3D scanning and modeling technology: Mike Annear, the founder of Scan2Model. With a career spanning over two decades, Mike has been at the forefront of the 3D scanning revolution.
Colombia Majestuosa
The municipality of Envigado in Colombia introduced "Colombia Majestuosa," a new Christmas experience that uses a combination of technology and traditional craftsmanship to represent different regions' cultural and natural diversity.
ContraFuerte: a Groundbreaking Symphony of Artistry & Computational Ingenuity
In Philadelphia, Miguel Horn’s visionary fusion of artistry and advanced design techniques came to life through a combination of traditional sculpting methods and Chris Landau’s innovative digital expertise.
Origami, Shaping Colombia’s Architectural Frontier Through Parametric Design
Origami has redefined architectural possibilities through parametric and algorithmic design. Their strategic use of plugins and technological understanding allows them to produce efficient and aesthetically pleasing solutions in every project.
Revolutionizing Climbing Wall Design with Computational Workflows
Climbing walls have transcended their traditional role as recreational structures, emerging as fertile ground for architectural innovation driven by computational design.