Subdigital

Subdigital
digitallyenhanceddesign
1

Wedesignwithalgorithmsandadvanced
computationbutwecreatetangibleobjects.
Weblendourideaswithtextures,patterns
andnaturalbeautythattherealmaterials
bring.
Wecombinecomputationaldesignstrategies
withdigitalfabricationmethods.
Ourcontemporarycreativemethodsbringthe
aestheticsofthedigitalagetothespotlight.
3

Mission
&vision
Westrivetokeepourcreativeprocess
contemporaryandrelevant.Witheachproject
weredefineourapproachtomakesurewe
designforthechangingworldaroundus.
Webelievethatdigitaltoolsarenotonly
connectedwithhigherefficiency,optimization
andpreciseanalysisbutmoreimportantly,
bringcompletelynewperspectivesintoour
creativediscipline.
Weworkalongthelinesofcomputational
design,experimentalarchitectureanddigital
art.Forustheconcept,theveryideabehind
thedesignprocessisasimportantas
theresultingform.
Fascinatingandcomplexformsarewelcome
inourwork.Theyreflecttheintricate
relationshipsandcontextsofthe
contemporarysociety.
5

Yourvi

1/Presentation
objects
sionturnedintoatangibleshowcasecenterpiece.
7

Responsive
tower
interactivesculptureofaskyscraper

Responsivetowermodel
client:JTRE,2019
photography:PetraRjabinin
9

Inuse:
• First-stagemarketingaidforselling
350luxuryapartments
• Partoftheclient’sshowroomona
riverbankpromenade
• RemoteiPadcontrollerforbetter
customerexperience
• Premieredonamajortechnological
festivalIXPO2019,Bratislava
• Displayedonanoutdoorfestivalof
architectureanddesignDAAD
2019,Bratislava
• Exhibitedwithaspecialanimation
atNuitblanche2019,Bratislava
Responsivetowermodel
client:JTRE,2019
photography:PetraRjabinin

Subdigital/Presentationobjects/Responsivetower
11

Technicaldetails:
• 3mx2mx2m
• 46floors
• Simpleassembly
• Transportable
• Morethan3500parts
• Morethan5000LEDs
• iPadappcontroler
Responsivetowermodel
client:JTRE,2019
photography:PetraRjabinin

Weapproachedthisprojectas
ourtakeonarchitectural
showcasemodels.Applying
certainlevelofabstractionwe
preservedthemostsignificant
featuresofthetower–
characteristicelementsthat
definethearchitectureofthe
firstskyscraperofBratislava.
Weimaginedtheskyscraperas
aplainmonumentalstructure
madeofsteelandglass,leaving
theemphasisonverticalribsand
thegridstructureofitsfaçade,
whichisdesignedasaspatial
display,wrappingaroundthe
tower.Itispossibletochoose,
selectandhighlightcertain
informationorplayambient
lighteffectsonthedisplay
spanningoverthewholefaçade.
Thepresentationmodelismadeof
qualitymaterialsassteel,glassand
plexiglass.Itwasdesignedas
asculpturalpieceofart,withgreat
emphasisondetail.Withtheuseof
precisedigitalcraftmanshipwewere
abletocleanthemodelofany
redundantdetailsandassembleitas
alargetetris,withallthepieceshaving
theirprecisepositioninthepuzzle.
Insideofthemodelthereis ahidden
systemofLEDsforhighlighting
informationandanimatingeffectson
thefaçade.Showinginformationsuch
assoldapartments,apartmenttypes,
floors,sunmovement,sky,lightsand
more,theanimationisdrivenbytailor
madeSubdigitalenginesoftware.
Subdigital/Presentationobjects/Responsivetower
13

Transportabilitywasamongthemostimportant
requirementsforthismodel.Sincewehavedeliveredit,
ithasbeenmovedtoseveralfairs,eventsand
showrooms.Disasseembledmodelispackedintospecial
transportcasesprotectingtheelectronics,smalland
fragilepartsanddelicatematerialswithtreated
surfaces.
Thetowerisassembledlayerbylayerandeachpiece
belongstoitsdedicatedtransportcase.Duetothe
layeredstructurewecaneasilylocalizeanypotential
malfunctionandmendorevenreplacethefaultyparts.
Thecustomsoftwareallowsustotroubleshoot,update
andmaintaintheanimationofthemodelonsiteand
evenremotelyviaasecureconnection.
Responsivetowermodel
client:JTRE,2019
photography:PetraRjabinin

Subdigital/Presentationobjects/Responsivetower
15

Interactivecityscapemodel
client:HBReavis, 2017
photography:MatejHakár
Interact

ivecityscape
responsiveurbanmodel
17

Interactivecityscapemodel
client:HBReavis, 2017
photography:MatejHakár

Inuse:
• Themaineyecatcherattheclient’slobby
• Sellingaidforthecountry’slargestdevelopmenthousing70new
companieswith33000workplacesand14000newresidents
• DisplayedatMAPIC2017,2018and2019,Canneswithan
attendanceof8000visitors,2400retailers,2000property
developersand1000investors
• ExhibitedatthefestivalofarchitectureanddesignDAAD2018,
Bratislava
Subdigital/Presentationobjects/Interactivecityscape
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Technicaldetails:
• 2,8mx1,6mx0,9m
• 25milionsoffullyanimatedpixels
• 11953Dacrylicbuildings
• Urbanmodeldividedinto34
separateblocks
• Morethan14km²ofthecity
• Morethan2500cars
• Morethan200buses,tramsand
trainsfollowingtheirreallines
• Morethan5000pedestrians
• 175digitalanimationeffects
• Morethan15peopleworkingonthe
projectformorethanayear

Top-notchdesign,extraordinarydetailofthemodelandanimation,
responsivenessandcontrollability,premiummaterials,and
transportability.Thosearethefeaturesweembodiedintothisproject.
Themodelisusedbyourclientasamarketingaid,emphasizingthe
imageofthecompanyandpresentingitsfuturedevelopment.
ThemodelofalargefragmentofBratislavainascale1:2000isused
forclient’sinteractivepresentationsandshowcases.Acrylicbuildings
withintricatedetailsenrichedbyaninteractiveanimatedcontent
createanimmersiveimpressionofpulsatingcity.Itwasdesignedto
become
adominantcenterpieceofalobbywithexpressiveforms,yetfamiliar
materials.
Wecreatedthemodeltobecomearepresentingcenterpiece.
Tovisualizecomplexurbananalysisandinformation,wedeveloped
acustomsoftwareengine,thatiscapableofgeneratingrealtimeanimationina
smooth3x4Kresolution.Anyoftheacrylicbuildingscanbehighlighted,coloredor
animatedeitherindividuallyorinsyncwithotherpartsofthecityscape.Themodelis
operatedbyacustommadeiPadcontrollerapp.
Both,thephysicalbuildingsandtheanimationsoftwarecanbeupdated.Weare
addingnewlyconstructedbuildingsintothemodeleveryyear,simplybyreplacing
entirecityblocksandupdatingthesoftwareremotely.Thiswaytheclientcanshow
themostup-to-datestateofthecityattheirownlobbyaswellasatinternational
fairsandexhibitions.Everyyearwedisassemble,transport,assembleandmaintain
themodelatMAPICinCannes.
Subdigital/Presentationobjects/Interactivecityscape
21

Thecityscapelaysonacustommadeplinthofsteel,glassand
veneer.Weusedourparametrictoolstodesignthestand;eachleg
isdifferenttominimizethematerialuseandmaximizeoverall
stiffness.Thepureminimaltoplayerofacrylic,wood,glassandsteel
isconnectedwiththesteadygroundpiecethroughanairylayerof
inclinedlegs.Themodelcomeswithcustomtransportcases,regular
serviceandon-sitesupport.
Interactivecityscapemodel
client:HBReavis, 2017
photography:MatejHakár

Subdigital/Presentationobjects/Interactivecityscape
23

Urbanhologram
client:JTRE,2018
photography:PetraRjabinin
Ur

banhologram
animatedpublictransportationmap
25

Anideaofahologramisveryappealing.A3Dobjectmadeoflight
justfloatingintheairsothatitispossibletowalkarounditand
observeitfromallsidesisadreamofeverydesignerandnewmedia
artist.Though,tomakeitareality,oneneedsalittleworkaround.
Tocopewiththischallengeweengravedlargetransparentsheets
withanurbanmap,layeredthemandbroughtthemtolifewith
ahi-resanimationunderneath.Likeallofouradvancedarchitectural
andurbanmodels,theurbanhologramwasdeliveredwithtransport
casesandfullservice,troubleshootingandregularmaintenance.
Urbanhologram
client:JTRE,2018
photography:PetraRjabinin

Subdigital/Presentationobjects/Urbanhologram
27

Urbanhologram
client:JTRE,2018
photography:PetraRjabinin

Fromaconceptualsketchtothedesignofaplinth
Inuse:
• Showingtheupcomingdevelopmentofpublic
transportationinthecapitalcity
• Exhibitedatthefestivalofarchitectureand
designDAAD2019,Bratislava
Technicaldetails:
• Uniquetechnologyofholographic
representation
• Animatedbacklightofthemodel
• AnimationpresentingfutureofBratislava’s
publictransportationsystem
• Detailedsystemofdigitalfabrication
• Parametricdesignoftheplinthmadewith
customsoftwaredesigntools
• 84inchdisplay
• 15layersofengravedpolycarbonatepanels
• Easyassemblyandtransport
Subdigital/Presentationobjects/Urbanhologram
29

Wecreatecustomsoftwaretoolsthathelpus

2/Architecture&
productdesign
design,optimizeandmanufactureourproducts.
31

Human
byDesign
exhibitionarchitecture
HumanbyDesignexhibition
client:SlovakDesignCentre,2019
exhibition:SateliteGallery,Bratislava,2019
photography:PetraRjabinin

33

HumanbyDesignexhibition
client:SlovakDesignCentre
exhibition:MuseumofAppliedArts(MAK),Vienna,2020
photography:PetraRjabinin

Subdigital/Architecture&productdesign/HumanbyDesign 35

Inuse:
• ExhibitedattheSlovakDesignCenter,
Bratislavain2019
• ExhibitedattheMuseumofAppliedArts
(MAK),Viennain2020
Technicaldetails:
• Exhibitionsystemgeneratedas
acellularlandscape
• Eachofthecellsiscustommadeand
optimizedaccordingtoitspositionin
spaceandadjustedtotheexhibited
items
• Optimizedfabricationforminimum
materialwaste
• Reusability-theexhibitioncanbereassembledinvariousconfigurations

Weembracedtheideaof
modularity,reusabilityandnew
aestheticsnaturaltothe
computationaldesign.
Weapproachedtheexhibition
spaceasanundulatedlandscape
ofcells.Eachcellisassignedasize,
inclinationandheightbasedonits
positionandroleinthespace.
Usingacustom-madedesign
software,wegeneratedthetop
woodenpanelstogetherwiththeir
steelbases.Theshapeand
distributionofthelegsisoptimized
forminimummaterialusewhile
keepingmaximumstiffnessand
precision.
Wefirstmodeledtheexhibitionsystemin
ourparametricdesignsoftware.
Thenwefeditwithinformationaboutthe
galleryspace,exhibitedobjects,structural
requirementsandouraesthetic
expectations.Asaresult,thisprogram
generatedanoverallexhibitionlayoutand
54uniquestands,togetherwithacomplete
fabricationandassemblydocumentation.
Thearchitectureoftheexhibitionsimilarly
totheexhibitedprojectsworkswiththe
contemporarytopicsanddesign
approachesandsohasbecomeone
oftheexhibitedprojects.
Subdigital/Architecture&productdesign/HumanbyDesign
37

HumanbyDesignexhibition
client:SlovakDesignCentre,
exhibition:SateliteGallery,Bratislava,2019
photography:PetraRjabinin

Subdigital/Architecture&productdesign/HumanbyDesign
41

Eddypark
client:Eddypark,2019
photography:PetraRjabinin

Eddypark
sportsequipmentrack
43

Eddypark-materialprototype
client:eddypark, client:Eddypark, 2019
photography:PetraRjabinin

Inthedisciplineofproduct
design,theergonomicsisone
ofthemostimportant
requirements.Weapproached
thetasktodesignarackfor
fitnessequipmentasadesign
ofadynamicsystem.Inthe
processofform-finding,wecan
changeandmodifythenumber
andpositionoftheequipment
andshapethelayeredstructure
tofitautomatically.
Thefitnessofthecomputed
designisevaluatedbyits
ergonomy.
Wedeveloped,designedandproduced
aprototypeofaworkoutstationfor
premiumofficeinteriors.Togetherwith
uniqueexercisesforwell-being,the
designoftherackprovidesaninviting
workoutsetup.
Ourdesignofthefitnessrackissetting
avisualandmaterialidentityof
Eddypark-acompleteserviceofwellbeingexercisesforanofficespace.
Theclientswillrentanequipmentand
subscribeforexercisevideos,
acompanionappandaguidanceof
professionaltrainers.
Technicaldetails:
• Naturalandrecycledmaterials
• Parametricdesignprocess
• Intricatedetailsofthestructure
forhighergonomyofuse
Subdigital/Architecture&productdesign/Eddypark
45

Eddypark
client:Eddypark, 2019
photography:PetraRjabinin

Subdigital/Architecture&productdesign/Eddypark
47

Bloxels
modularurbanplayground
Conceptofamodularurbanfurniture
Subdigital,2019

49

Conceptofamodularurbanfurniture
Subdigital,2019

Bloxelsisaspin-offprojectofour
ongoingresearchofhowtoachieve
complexshapesusingsmallnumber
ofelementtypes.
WiththeBloxelsaggregate
structures,westrivedtooccupy
anurbanspacewithflexibleuse
elementsthatreflectthechanging
needsofthecontemporarysociety.
Fromcasualgatheringsofpeople,
throughoccasionalmarkets,public
events,tosocialdistancingsystem–
withasmartshapeoftheelement,
wecanfollowtheneedsoftheusers
notbychangingtheurbanfurniture
completelybutratherby
reassemblingthepiecesinto
differentspatialconfigurations.
Bloxelsisageometricalstudyofcomplex
structuresformingintricatepublicspace
withavariabilityofuse.Suchmodular
assembliesgeneraterichandvariable
spatialexperienceusingonlyasmallamount
ofelementtypes.
Multipletypesofelementssharecommon
geometricalcharacteristics,suchasangles
orlenghts.Thisallowsthedesignersandthe
userstoorganizeandre-organizethespace
forvarioususes,whilekeepinghigh
aestheticalcoherency.
Subdigital/Architecture&productdesign/Bloxels
51

Parametricwall
material:steel2mmthick
Subdigital,2019
Pa

rametricwall
scalestructure
53

Parametricwall
visualization:s.h.e.renders
materialcollaboration:CP!studio
Subdigital,2019

Subdigital/Architecture&productdesign/Parametricwall 55

Parametricwall
visualization:s.h.e.renders
materialcollaboration:CP!studio
Subdigital,2019

Architectsanddesignersoften
lookforaninspirationinthe
nature.Weareoftenoverwhelmed
bythebeautyofcomplexdetailed
shapesandformsthatwecanfind
aroundus.Wetrynottomimicor
replicatethem,butrathertendto
learn,hownaturalforcesworkin
aprocessofform-making
(morphogenesis).
Withcomputationaltools,wecan
designonalevelofanatural
system–wesetupforces,that
indirectlyleadtonature-like
shapesandforms.Thiswaywe
haveadirectcontrolover each
tinypartofanenormoussystem.
Withtheuseofcomputationaldesign
strategies,weareabletopreciselycontrol
hundredsofsmallpiecesofalarge
structure.
Weareabletogenerateuniquefabrication
dataforeachpanel,andthencutthem
precisely,thattheyfitthestructure.
Thevariabilityofanglesandorientationsin
thestructureisdrivenbymathematical
calculationsinourdesignsoftware.
Subdigital/Architecture&productdesign/Parametricwall
57

3DPuzzle
lasercutgift
PF20puzzle
material:steel,plexiglass
Subdigital,2019

59

PF20puzzle
material:steel,plexiglass
Subdigital,2019

Wemadethispieceasathank
youtoallourcolleagues,
partnersandfriends.We
designedasmallpuzzlemade
oftwomaterials,withnot
asinglepieceidentical.
Complexpatternsofthepieces
bringintricatevisualityand
demonstratethewaywework
withshapesandmaterials.
Wedevelopedadesignprocess
consistingofasetofrulesandinput
parametersgeneratingashape.
Theresultofsuchprocessisnotjust
oneform,butaseries,afamilyof
similarforms.Thisideawasnamed
anObjectileandwasthoroughly
discussedin1980’s.Using
computationaltechniquesweturned
theObjectileinto500uniquepiecesof
variousmaterialsthatcanbe
assembledinmilionsofcombinations.
„Objectileisaconceptcreatedby
BernardCacheandfurtherdeveloped
byGillesDeleuzeinTheFold(1988).Itis
anewdefinitionoftheobject,nolonger
thoughtofashavinganessentialor
definitiveform,butratheronethatis
amathematicalfunctionthattakesits
placewithina“continuumthrough
variation.”¹
¹BernardCache,PatrickBeaucé-Objectile
Subdigital/Architecture&productdesign/Puzzle
61

Weareexpertsongeometry,itsproce

3/Software
ssingandaesthetics.Wecreateandapplycustom
geometryprocessingsoftwaretools.
63

GenerativedesignwithGrasshopper
visualization:s.h.e.renders
Subdigital,2018

Parametric
designtools
Grasshopper,Rhinoceros,Rust,Processing&plug-ins
65

ParametricdesigntoolsdevelopedinGrasshopper
Subdigital,2020

Architectsanddesignershave
alwaysbeendeterminedbythetools
theyuseintheirdesignprocess.
InSubdigitalstudio,wedon’tliketo
belimitedbyuniversaltoolsthatare
preparedtosolveusualproblemsand
sodetermineourworkflowand
creativeprocess.Hence,wecreate
mostofoursoftwaretoolsourselves.
Thathelpusnotonlyanalyzeand
design,butalsopreparethe
blueprintsfordigitalfabricationand
assemblyprocess.
Scaleswithopeningsand
annotations
Thedesignprocesswithparametricsoftware
suchasRhinocerosandGrasshopperallows
ustodefineasetofcommandsthat
generateandmodifyforms.Itispossibleto
changeinputsthroughouttheentiredesign
processandcreatenumerousvariationsof
adesignconcept.TheuseofGrasshopper
requiresustofullyunderstandthegeometry
anditsfabricationlimits.Blueprintsfor
complexgeometryaregenerated
automatically,thereforeweareableto
produceamultitudeofvariations,while
meetingallthematerial,technological,
ecologicalandeconomicalconstraints.
Load-bearingrails
Technicaldetails:
Constructionrailswith
openingsandannotations
• BlueprintsreadyforCNCmachining
• Alignedandnestedforoptimalmaterialuseaccordingtofabricationspecifications
• Annotationsdrawndirectlyonpieces,engravedtothematerial
Subdigital/Software/Customdesigntools
67

H.U

meshmanipulationsoftware
.R.B.A.N.
selector
69

SoftwareH.U.R.B.A.N.Selector
client:SlovakDesignCentre,2020
Experimentalshapehybridizationtool

Asignificantpartofourworkas
computationaldesignersandarchitects
isprograming.Theexperiencefrom
softwareprototyping,parametric
modelsofgeometryandgenerative
visualsystemsgiveusasound
backgroundfordevelopingourown
designsoftware.Voxelizationand
hybridizationofformsisagreattopic
ofcontemporarycomputationaldesign.
IncollaborationwiththeSlovakDesign
Centre,wedevelopedastand-alone,
fastandreliablesoftwarethatisused
bydesignersforprototypingpurposes.
Thesoftwareimplementsinterpolation
techniquesofvoxelandmeshgeometries.
H.U.R.B.A.N.Selectorisbeingdevelopedwith
performanceandstabilityonmindinan
emergingprogramminglanguageRust.
Subdigital/Software/H.U.R.B.A.N.selector
71

JánPernecký
Founder
Architect,Digitalartist
Programmer
TomášTholt
Partner
Architect,Researcher
Team
Weareateamofarchitects,designersand
softwaredeveloperswhobelievethatdesign
shouldreflectcontemporaryculture,art,science
andtechnology.
Weengageinacademicresearch,collaboratewith
universitiesandteach.Thatgivesusnewperspectiveson
ourworkanddisciplinesofarchitectureanddesignin
general.

KristýnaUhrová
Juniordesigner
MichaelaKrpalová
Juniordesigner
JánTóth
Softwaredeveloper
Formerteammembers AnnaCséfalvay
AdamJuraszek
PatrikOlejňák
ĽubaOndrejkovičová
73

Subdigitals.r.o.
Grösslingová51,Bratislava
Slovakia
mail:info@sub.digital
tel:+421907514587
©2020