Eight Years of Parametric Design: A Journey Inspired by Santiago Calatrava and the Masters of Geometry

Eight years ago, I took my first step into the world of parametric design, not knowing that it would become a defining element of my creative and professional identity. My journey didn’t begin with simple forms—it began with complexity. With structures that seemed impossible to dissect, let alone recreate. And at the heart of that challenge was one name that kept pushing me forward: Santiago Calatrava.

The Influence of Calatrava: A Dance Between Structure and Motion

From the first moment I encountered Calatrava’s work, I was captivated. His ability to merge engineering with fluidity—creating structures that feel like they are in motion, even when they stand still—became an obsession of mine. His bridges, train stations, and cultural centers don’t just serve a function; they breathe, expand, and interact with their surroundings in ways that seem almost organic.

Early in my career, I attempted to recreate some of his designs, not as a way to copy, but as a way to understand. I wanted to break them down, study the logic behind their curves, and uncover the parametric principles that made them possible. It was a humbling experience—every iteration revealed new layers of complexity, new structural challenges, and new insights into how geometry can be manipulated.

But more than that, it taught me patience. It taught me how to think beyond aesthetics and approach form as a dialogue between forces—between material constraints, environmental responses, and, ultimately, the human experience.

Nearly a Decade in Parametric Design: Defining My Own Language

As I deepened my understanding, my work evolved. Nearly eight years into this journey, I now see parametric design not just as a tool, but as a philosophy. It’s about creating systems rather than static objects, about designing relationships rather than just shapes. Every project is an exploration of rules, parameters, and controlled randomness—an ongoing conversation between structure and freedom.

During my postgraduate studies in parametric design, I found myself drawn to other pioneers who were shaping the field. Designers like Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher, and Marc Fornes had already begun to redefine the way we think about computational design. Their work, deeply rooted in coding and algorithmic thinking, forced me to expand my own approach.

I started integrating scripting into my process, using Grasshopper, Python, and Processing to develop forms that were not just visually striking, but also intelligent. It was a transformative period—one where I realized that true parametric design isn’t about complexity for the sake of complexity, but about control, efficiency, and meaning.

Bringing It All Together: The Canopy That Breathes Like a Butterfly

All of these experiences have culminated in my latest project—a dynamic canopy system inspired by biomimicry. Drawing from Calatrava’s kinetic structures and the organic movement of a butterfly’s wings, this design is an exploration of adaptability. It’s a structure that responds, that moves, that doesn’t just exist in space but actively participates in it.

This project, in many ways, is a reflection of my journey. A journey that started with awe and frustration, evolved through iteration and experimentation, and is now reaching a point where I can confidently say I’m defining my own architectural language.

The Road Ahead: Always Learning, Always Evolving

Looking back on these eight years, one thing remains clear: parametric design is not a destination—it’s an ongoing pursuit. The field is constantly evolving, and so am I. What once seemed impossible is now just another problem waiting to be solved.

To those who are just beginning their journey, I’d say this: embrace the struggle. Learn from the masters, dissect their work, and push yourself beyond what feels comfortable. Because somewhere along the way, you’ll find your own voice, your own language, and your own way of shaping the future of design.

Exploring Animation and Export Limitations in Parametric Design

The last iteration of this project was prepared and exported from Rhino using Grasshopper, leveraging its parametric capabilities to drive both animation and geometric changes. Grasshopper provided the flexibility to push dynamic transformations, but when it came to exporting animated sequences, the process became unexpectedly restrictive.

Bringing animated elements into a different context—particularly Blender—proved challenging. Through Python scripting, I attempted to export animations in various formats, including OBJ, FBX, and CSV, but found that Rhino and Grasshopper simply did not facilitate this workflow. The lack of direct export functionality for animations felt like an afterthought rather than an intentional limitation, making it clear that McNeel’s Rhino, even with the Bongo add-on, is not inherently built for animation-driven exports.

For now, I’ve settled on a happy medium—working within these constraints while still achieving the desired results. However, I can already see Maya on the horizon for more specific use cases where a more robust animation pipeline is necessary. The journey in parametric design is not just about creating complex geometries but also about navigating the technical barriers that come with pushing the limits of software.