Author: charlottekirsten

On the Spline: A Brief History of the Computational Curve

This reading was really interesting and informative. I was struck by how recent all of these developments of systematization are given how deeply rooted the curve is in design history. Reading about Casteljau’s realization – “rather than defining a curve by points along its length, [he figured out] that it could be accurately plotted and controlled by manipulating a few points around its vicinity – when these points of influence were moved, the curve would follow, similar to the intuitive response of moving the weights that anchored the boat builder’s spline”  – made me think about constructing a curve in rhino or a 3d form and making it dance – the number sliders in GH must be the equivalent to “these points around its vicinity.”