# Parametric Pavilion Design: From Concept to Fabrication > This workshop provides insight into practical design-to-fabrication workflows in Rhino and Grasshopper for the development of small-scale architectural structures. The course is grounded in a bottom-up design approach, in which design emerges from the material system, fabricatio… ## At a glance - Format: On-demand course - Price: €85.00 (list €100.00) - Difficulty: Beginner - Duration: 8 Hours - Schedule: May 9-10, 2026 - Instructors: Igor Pantic - Categories: Architectural Design, Artificial Intelligence, 3D Modeling - Software: Rhinoceros 3D, Grasshopper 3D, ComfyUI, Flux - Students: 34 - Rating: 5.0 / 5 - Canonical: https://paacademy.com/course/parametric-pavilion-design-from-concept-to-fabrication - Enroll: https://paacademy.com/course/parametric-pavilion-design-from-concept-to-fabrication --- ## About this course Parametric Pavilion Design: From Concept to Fabrication is a 2-day course on PAACADEMY that teaches design-to-fabrication workflows in Grasshopper and Rhinoceros 3D for pavilion-scale structures. Using a bottom-up approach where form emerges from material systems and fabrication constraints, participants develop a complete pavilion proposal from initial concept through parametric modeling to fabrication-ready geometry and AI-assisted rendering with ComfyUI and Flux. Basic Rhino familiarity is recommended. ## What you'll learn - Understand bottom-up design where form emerges from materials and fabrication constraints - Develop small-scale structures using design-to-fabrication workflows in Rhino and Grasshopper - Explore form generation and structural organisation through pavilion studies - Use Rhino for 3D modelling and Grasshopper for parametric design - Prepare geometry for fabrication and assembly - Create rendered architectural images using ComfyUI and Flux AI models ## Methodology This workshop will be centred on pavilion-scale structures, as they offer enough complexity to address form, materiality, fabrication, and assembly within a manageable two-day format. Although the main examples are pavilions, the same methods can also be applied to canopies, installations, lightweight enclosures, and interior interventions. A series of studies will be used to demonstrate different approaches to developing a project through material systems and methods of making. Rather than following one fixed design path, these examples will show how the process can shift in response to material behaviour, production constraints, assembly logic, and the type of system being developed. This workshop will also address different ways of organising geometry, components, and part-to-whole relationships as the design evolves. By the end of the workshop, each participant will develop an individual pavilion-scale proposal, taking it from an initial design concept to a complete, fabrication-aware design supported by rendered images. The course will be taught as a step-by-step demonstration of a complete workflow. Participants will follow the development of a project from an initial design idea, through the definition of its overall geometry and design direction, to parametric control, technical refinement, and visual output. Sessions will combine live demonstrations, structured walkthroughs, and individual project development. The material will be taught as one continuous process, moving from early design studies and geometric development to fabrication preparation and rendering. Participants will first follow the demonstrated examples and workflows, then apply the methods introduced during the course to develop their own proposal. ### Program: Day 1 - Introductory lecture on the workshop framework, bottom-up design approach, and overall workflow - Pavilion-scale case studies demonstrating different design methods - Walkthrough and demonstration of Rhino and Grasshopper workflows - Discussion on how material systems and fabrication methods inform form and design direction Day 2 - Fabrication-oriented development of the demonstrated workflows - Preparation of geometry for fabrication and assembly - Discussion of part organisation, buildability, and assembly logic - AI-assisted rendering using ComfyUI and Flux AI models - Final visual output ## Requirements - Basic familiarity with Rhino is recommended. - Previous experience with Grasshopper is helpful, but not essential. - ComfyUI installation guidance will be provided before the workshop. - Instructions for downloading Flux models and placing them in the correct ComfyUI folders will also be provided in advance. ## Curriculum ### Session 1 - Introduction and PAACADEMY Updates (07:30) - Timber Fabrication (40:50) - Parametric Timber Strip Rationalization (59:56) - Material-Aware Structural Rationalization (54:22) - Advanced Component Logic Synthesis (59:32) ### Session 2 - Parametric Field Simulation Workshop (52:41) - Mesh Refinement & Marking (50:45) - Modular Node-Based AI Rendering (52:42) - Precision Control Architectural Synthesis (47:10) - Local Refinement AI Workflows (43:13) ## FAQ ### What is the 'bottom-up' design approach, and why is it better than a traditional workflow? In a traditional (top-down) workflow, you design a shape first and struggle to figure out how to build it later. A bottom-up approach means the design _emerges_ directly from material behavior and manufacturing limits. ### I am comfortable with Rhino, but I have very little experience with Grasshopper. Will I fall behind? Not at all. While basic familiarity with Rhino is recommended, prior Grasshopper experience is helpful but _not essential_. ### The focus is on pavilions, but can I apply these design-to-fabrication skills to larger architectural projects? Absolutely. We use pavilions because they offer the perfect amount of complexity—addressing form, materiality, and assembly—to complete within a two-day timeframe. However, the parametric logic, geometric organization, and part-to-whole relationships you learn can be directly scaled up and applied to complex facades, large canopies, and intricate interior interventions. ### How detailed does the 'fabrication-ready' geometry get? Will we cover how the pieces actually fit together? Yes. The curriculum moves far beyond just making a beautiful 3D surface. Day 2 is deeply focused on the realities of making. You will learn how to organize your geometry for production, analyze buildability, and develop the specific assembly logic required to turn your digital model into physical, manufacturable components. ### Why does the course use ComfyUI and Flux AI for rendering instead of traditional software like V-Ray or Lumion? Generative AI is transforming how we present architecture. ComfyUI is a free, node-based interface that feels very natural if you are already using Grasshopper. By integrating Flux AI models, you will learn a cutting-edge workflow to rapidly translate your complex parametric geometry into stunning, highly atmospheric architectural visualizations