Grasshopper UK User Group Meeting | October 2025
Simply Rhino were at Sybarite, London, for the Grasshopper UK User Group Meeting on the 8th of October 2025.
Presentations from Sybarite, Eckersley O’Callaghan and McNeel (Rhino & Grasshopper Developers).
Sybarite Architects kindly hosted our autumn 2025 Grasshopper Meeting which took place in October at their studios in West London. Following a welcome from the Grasshopper UK Meeting organisers at Simply Rhino we enjoyed 4 presentations over the course of the evening commencing with a joint presentation on the SKP Chengdu Façade from our hosts at Sybarite alongside structural and facade engineers Eckersley O’Callaghan. Next we had an introduction to the Moët & Chandon Harrods Champagne bar design process from Sybarite and then a showcase of two of Eckersley O’Callaghan’s in-house sustainability tools. Closing the meeting we had Francesc Salla from Asuni who gave us an overview of VisualARQ and LandsDesign at short notice as unfortunately Andy Le Bihan from McNeel was unable to make the meeting.
- Meeting Date: Wednesday 8th October 2025
- Time: 18:00-20:30
- Location: Penthouse, The Aircraft Factory, 100 Cambridge Grove, London, W6 0LE
Presentation synopsis:
Meeting Introduction
Meeting welcome with Paul Cowell from the Grasshopper UK Meeting organisers, Simply Rhino.
Presentation 1 | SKP Chengdu Façade: Computational Design & Parametric Engineering
Enrico Falchetti, Prapatsorn (Sai) Lertluechachai – Sybarite and Minxi Bao, Alistair Frost – Eckersley O’Callaghan
SKP Chengdu builds on the success of previous department stores in Beijing and Xi’an. Conceived as an unparalleled landmark for fashion, technology, and art, it marks a new milestone for the city. The mixed-use masterplan reflects a holistic and collaborative vision, brought to life over three years.
SKP Chengdu represent an ingenious combination of urban park and underground buildings. Designed as a TOD (Transit Oriented Development), SKP Chengdu creates dense, walkable, and mixed-use spaces near transits that support vibrant, sustainable and equitable communities.
In this presentation, we will focus on the parametrisation of the SKP facade, positioned at the northern bookend. The GRG back wall of the entrance façade was developed using Grasshopper tools, enabling the geometry to be parametrised during the design studies. Through a rule-based approach, the script allows control over design constraints such as overall height, depth, and GRG module size, while providing flexibility to explore variables such as pattern and scale gradients through different parameter settings and design strategies. Design iterations were compared, tested, and refined, ultimately leading to the option that best reflects the design intent as the outcome of the façade design.
The final geometry is documented in Revit via the BEAM plug-in, seamlessly integrating Rhino’s complex geometry, Revit’s documentation capabilities, and AutoCAD’s detailing – bringing together the best features of each platform and thereby improving the overall efficiency of the design documentation.
EOC has collaborated with Sybarite over the past years on several SKP projects, undertaking parametric studies and structural optimisation to identify optimal structural forms. For the SKP Chengdu retail village canopies and circulation boxes, we rationalised the canopy frame geometry and curvature in Grasshopper, considering fabrication capabilities, transportation, and site assembly strategies. We also used Karamba at the early design stage to conduct parametric studies and determine the most efficient beam layout. For the SKP Chengdu Y-shape footbridge, we developed a structural optimisation tool integrated with our finite element software to reduce structural weight while meeting performance requirements. This enabled us to identify a balance where weight was minimised and the number of cross-sections remained reasonable, avoiding unnecessary fabrication complexities.
Enrico Falchetti – Italian Architect, Enrico earned his master’s degree with Distinction at the University of Florence. He has over 20 years professional experience and has extensive knowledge of the profession in both the European and Chinese market, having worked on large-scale developments in both retail and transport sectors in these regions. Prior to joining Sybarite, Enrico was based in Italy and China and worked on renowned projects, namely the Shenzhen International Airport Terminal 3 with Studio FUKSAS, and the Italian Pavilion of Expo 2015 with Nemesi Studio.
Since joining Sybarite in 2016, Enrico has been pivotal in delivering challenging projects for notable Chinese retail operator, SKP. He was the project leader on SKP Chengdu, the landmark masterplan which opened in 2022, and of its predecessor SKP Xi’an, which opened in 2018. As Associate Director, Enrico is client facing and oversees a team of Architects and Designers, delivering projects from concept to reality.
Prapatsorn (Sai) Lertluechachai – Prapatsorn is a Thai architect whose interests lie in architectural design, arts, and fabrication technology. Prapatsorn’s professional experiences prior to joining Sybarite span multiple architectural typologies, including aviation, commercial, and residential projects. During her time in the UK, she joined Zaha Hadid Architects, where she contributed to Hangzhou New Town – The Seamless City in China, further developing her expertise in coordinating large-scale commercial projects and cross-platform design workflows.
Joining Sybarite in 2023, Prapatsorn has brought along her expertise to assist the project team with establishing standards, design workflow, and software technicalities. As BIM Coordinator, she is proficient in Building Information Modelling (BIM) and computational design (Rhino–Grasshopper), with strong experience in Rhino–Revit–AutoCAD interoperability.
Minxi Bao – Minxi joined Eckersley O’Callaghan in 2014, where she specialises in the design engineering of complex facade and structural glass projects. These projects range from from Apple retail stores and luxury residential buildings to superyacht marine applications.
Minxi is highly skilled in structural design, geometry optimisation, and thermal analysis. In addition to her PhD, she has initiated a series of R&D projects to explore the use of novel materials in architectural design. Minxi’s technical drawing abilities have earned her recognition, including the Digital Design Award at the Engineering Club’s Sketch Competition.
Alistair Frost – Alistair has been part of Eckersley O’Callaghan’s advanced engineering group since 2020, when he joined as a Graduate Engineer. He is involved in the detailed design of various steel and glass structures on projects around the world, where he is responsible for the creation and running of Finite Element Analysis models and he forms part of our digital design group.
He is passionate about sustainability within the built environment and is a core member of our glass research and development team. As part of his role he has made advancements in developing our understanding of glass life cycle analysis and glass circularity.
Presentation 2 | Moët & Chandon Bar at Harrods: Translating the Champagne Pop using Circle Packing
Ashwini Ashok Kumar – Sybarite
This presentation aims to demonstrate how tools within Rhino and Grasshopper helped support and guide the iterative design process for Moët & Chandon Champagne bar at Harrods, London. The sculpted central chandelier, composed of thousands of degradé golden metallic discs, sweeps, shimmers and oscillated 21 meters overhead, magnetically drawing one in with an anticipation of celebration and effervescence. Below, the glowing organic-shaped bar channels the contours of the terroir and the topography of the Epernay wine region.
Parametric models helped provide feedback of ergonomic considerations for bar geometry and layout thus making it possible to explore numerous variations that maximise capacity & comfort. The central brass chandelier had its roots in studies of the geometries that emerge in the pop of a bottle of champagne. Circle packing with Kangaroo (plug-in by Daniel Piker) was used as a tool to explore variations in size and spacing of brass discs over the expanse of the ceiling surface. The central Moët & Chandon Nebuchadnezzar becomes an anchor, determining a gradient of discs in various finishes, spread across the chandelier to create a glimmering effect when viewed from different angles across the bar.
Ashwini Ashok Kumar – Born in India, Ashwini moved to the UK in 2014 to complete her Master’s in Emergent Technologies and Design from the Architectural Association School of Architecture.
Prior to joining Sybarite, Ashwini worked as an Architectural Designer for bioarchitectural and biophilic design studio, Mizzi Studio. Completed projects include The Serpentine Coffee House in Hyde Park where material differentiation of composite fibres were used to create an optimised manta ray inspired brass canopy; a Mud Hut village in Udaipur that is a celebration of vernacular building techniques and contemporary form building; a Children’s Restaurant in The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew where life size sculptures of fungi and plants create an immersive experience for children to learn about the journey of plant to plate.
In her role as a Designer at Sybarite, Ashwini has played a key role in projects for LVMH Maisons- Moët and Chandon and DFS Selective Retailing. She has also contributed to design and computational roles towards SKP Hangzhou and Feasibilities for the distinguished Chinese retail operators SKP.
Presentation 3 | Real-Time Sustainability and Thermal Performance Metrics for Structural and Façade Engineering using Rhino and Grasshopper
Francesca Codazzi, Jun Wen Loo, Miriam Dall’Igna – Eckersley O’Callaghan
As the construction industry faces the urgent challenge of reducing its carbon footprint, engineers are increasingly expected to integrate sustainability metrics directly into their design workflows. Eckersley O’Callaghan’s Digital Design team has been developing computational tools that extend the capabilities of Rhino/Grasshopper and BIM platforms, enabling designers to track embodied carbon in real time and make informed decisions from the earliest project stages. By embedding sustainability directly into the design process, these tools allow our clients and collaborators to clearly evaluate the environmental implications of their projects from the outset, fostering transparency and accountability.
In this presentation, we will showcase two of our in-house tools: Smart Massing Tool©, which supports structural engineers in monitoring and reducing the embodied carbon of building structures, and BayBuilder©, a facade optioneering tool that empowers designers to compare different systems and materials in terms of thermal performance, embodied carbon, and structural impact. Both tools leverage parametric modelling in Rhino and Grasshopper, seamless interoperability, and up-to-date tailored embodied carbon data to provide rapid, accurate feedback during design exploration. Together, they represent a significant step towards embedding sustainability into engineering practice, enabling the delivery of buildings that are not only technically and visually ambitious, but also environmentally responsible.
Francesca Codazzi – Francesca joined Eckersley O’Callaghan as a Graduate Facade Engineer after graduating from Politecnico di Milano. Francesca brings a robust foundation in engineering coupled with a keen focus on digital design methodologies. After joining she swiftly progressed to Project Engineer, demonstrating an aptitude for tackling complex challenges and impactful solutions. Francesca’s responsibilities encompass a wide array of tasks, from overseeing project progress to ensuring compliance with industry standards. She is particularly adept at leveraging her digital design skills, honed through both academic pursuits and practical experience, including proficiency in VBA and Python programming languages. Francesca is a member of the Digital Design Group and Building Physics working groups, where she contributes innovative ideas and solutions.
Jun Wen Loo – Jun is part of our structural engineering team, specialising in computational design. He works closely with clients, architects, and engineering consultants to develop structural solutions using digital design techniques across competition, concept, and detailed design stages. He excels in conveying structural ideas convincingly through 3D drawings, sketches, and advanced modelling, integrating Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to refine designs.
As a member of the Digital Design Champion, Jun contributes to embedding digital skills across the company’s work. He assists in digital design classes, helping colleagues enhance their proficiency in Rhino3D and Grasshopper.
Miriam Dall’Igna – Miriam is our London Digital Design Lead who specialises in complex geometry, algorithmic design, software development, environmentally adaptive systems, design methods innovation, and applied research. With over a decade of experience in integrating architectural, structural, and environmental design, she has led the technical design of landmark projects for a top global architectural firm. Her knowledge enhances our ability to drive design innovation, benefiting our practice, clients, and collaborators.
Miriam has been lecturing at the University of Westminster for over ten years, teaching digital and computational design methods at the School of Architecture and Cities.
Presentation 4 | “The McNeel Way” Why we do things the way we do them, and some stories from the last 20 years of Rhino and Grasshopper
Andrew Le Bihan – Co-lead Developer, Rhino – Robert McNeel & Associates
Join Andy for our closing presentation and get a unique insight into Rhino and Grasshopper development with some stories from along that journey, so far…
Andrew Le Bihan is a Software developer and Product Manager at Robert McNeel and Associates, living in Turku, Finland. Along with David Rutten, Andrew invented Grasshopper for Rhinoceros 3D. Andrew and his team are the second biggest Rhino and Grasshopper developer group, right after Seattle themselves, and Andrew’s team forms a quarter of the entire development team.
The Grasshopper UK User Group Meetings are Organised by Simply Rhino
Have you read our detailed report from June’s meeting at Arup, featuring Arup and Hawkins\Brown?
