DO THE MUTATION - generative design lab

DO THE MUTATION is born on 2012, October 3rd, between Bologna and Modena, in Italia. It is meant to be the insight viewer on experiments in generative design, interaction and web integration led during the growth of the HOX project.

HOX develops applications for user-based product design. We write software that allows people to customize objects and manage their production. Virtual form can be radically transformed according to individual preferences and brought to physical, singular objects throught CNC fabrication techniques, such as additive manifacturing and CNC milling, provided by productive partners.

DO THE MUTATION wants to open, present and discuss our work in progress. We want to share our technical achievements together with our aesthetic sensibilities, hopefully generating opportunities to debate them.

DO THE MUTATION team is made up of Davide Baruzzi, Rocco Marino, Filippo Nassetti and Alessandro Zomparelli.

Link to 'DO THE MUTATION' website

PARA 3D 2.9 (beta)

Interesting generative design plug-in developed by Ali Torabi

PARA 3d is a scripted plug-in for 3DS MAX which enables users to create parametric digital models and animations using all excessive modeling features of 3DS MAX and additional controllers available in the plug-in.

Link to PARA 3D website

AVATAR - MSc Architectural Design

The MSc Architectural Design (AVATAR) is a one-year full-time and two-year part-time course that encourages students to develop a speculative and experimental approach to architectural design through the use of advanced digital tools and techniques.

The course is designed for students of architecture and related disciplines, who wish to continue their academic, intellectual and professional skills beyond the requirements of their professionally recognised qualification.

The course promotes an experimental and speculative approach to architecture and provides the skills for the production of theoretical, analytical and critical studies on and in advanced architectural design. It aims to address and redefine new trends and knowledge in the field of architecture and offers a postgraduate design framework strongly supported by theoretical components.

Students are embedded within one of the Diploma in Architecture Units run by members of the AVATAR research group. They are encouraged to develop a personal focus and an independent research position within the Unit framework.

AVATAR is an acronym for Advanced Virtual and Technological Architecture Research, the AVATAR research group was founded by Professor Neil Spiller in 2004.

The programme is not validated by a professional body and does not provide exemption from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Part 2 professional examination or from the Architects’ Registration Board (ARB) Part 2 prescriptions.

The aims of the programme are:
- To develop research concerning the impact of advanced technology on architectural design, and to contribute on a discussion on issues such as aesthetics, philosophy and cybernetics.
- To concern itself with the technologies of virtuality (exploring fully immersed, mixed and augmented environments); Time based digital media (film, video and animation), Nano and bio technology (micro landscapes and architecture, ethics, sustainability and ecology), reflexive environments and cybernetic systems.
- To posit new aesthetic systems and codes of representation for architecture, interior design, multi media design and graphic design.

Link to AVATAR webpage

[DAP]3

Some interesting resources are available on this website.

Link to [DAP]3 website
Link to 'TouchOSC Reader' post

Robots In Gastronomy

'Robots In Gastronomy is focused on publishing news on the integration of personal robots in gastronomy.'

Link to 'Robots In Gastronomy' blog

geometrydepth

'geometrydepth.com is an independent and collaborative initiative for research and education in current design strategies and computational tools. Our teaching methodology focuses on direct technology transfer. We currently approach and explore the possibilities of parametric formgiving, complex geometry, surface topology and custom-coded solutions for design.'

link to 'geometrydepth' website

EvoluteTools Primers

Evolute provides two Primer Manuals.

The EvoluteTools Primer, written by Kris Hammerberg, is intended to be the ultimate starting point for new users of EvoluteTools, as well as a reference for more experienced users, while the EvoluteTools Scripting Primer, written by Marko Tomicic, aims to introduce users to the new possibilities within the EvoluteTools scripting interface, and to showcase how to take advantage of them with the many example scripts included. 

Both Primers, along with all example files, are available for free in Evolute Learning Center.

Spider for Rhino

The Spider for Rhino is a plug-in created for the purpose of the specific and research oriented project. Originally it was used for the modelling of large web-like elastomer assemblies. It is conceived as a design tool and a tiny contribution to the fast growing field of architectural research aiming at better enacting of material behaviour within geometric modelling. The plug-in focuses on elasticity and allows for a simple simulation of approximate material properties. The idea is based on the simplified version of Hook’s law and relies on the particle-spring systems commonly used for creating physical simulations. Material properties, such as reversible deformation range and elastic modulus, are parametrically controlled to allow for iterative testing of different building materials. We hope this may open the door to other research related to optimization and form-finding. 

Spider for Rhino is developed by Djordje Stojanovic

Link to 'Spider for Rhino' plug-in on food4Rhino

Oliver David

Interesting blog held by Oliver David

Link to Oliver David blog
Link to 'Connecting Intelligence' post

Benjamin Dillenburger

Link to Benjamin Dillenburger website

Softkill Design - Protohouse

Softkill Design is a collaboration between Nicholette Chan, Gilles Retsin, Aaron Silver and Sophia Tang.  We are a London based team of architects and designers researching new methods of generative design for additive manufacturing.

Softkill Design developed the Protohouse project:

The Protohouse investigated the architectural potential of the latest Selective Laser Sintering technologies, testing the boundaries of large scale 3D printing by designing with computer algorithms that micro-organize the printed material itself.

Link to Softkill website
Link to 'Protohouse' project blog

BARTLETT NEXUS project

The Nexus Project is an initiative to bring together the creative talent of different disciplines to share techniques, solve problems and build networks of collaboration. The events will happen every other month inviting young designers, architects, engineers, programmers, game designers and visual artists. We will also have one guest connected online to keep the project open to international collaboration. You can also apply to present at the Nexus, making the Nexus an opportunity to showcase your work and connect with industry. This initiative is open to anyone in London that is looking for an informal place to network and learn about new methodologies and workflows.

Link to 'BARTLETT NEXUS project' website

dECOi Architects

 

dECOi is a small architectural/design practice that looks to opening the boundaries of conventional practice by a fresh and exploratory approach to design. We are flexible, efficient, and high-quality, and have a keen interest in developing new technological practices. We continually look to developing creative partnerships with people in other domains, and have a network of research affiliates (mathematicians, programmers, etc) whose skills we deploy according to the project. Our reputation is for sophisticated design work which we are committed to achieving consistently. We take every design project as a fresh challenge and work imaginatively within the given constraints to achieve something exceptional.

Link to 'dECOi Architects' website
Link to 'OneMain Street' webpage

AL_TU architecture design research computation

ALTU is an interdisciplinary international architectural research group [Alexandr Kalachev + Tudor Cosmatu + Olga Kovrikova]. With its deep roots in architectural design it is inclined towards new territories, experimental design and towards developing new design tools and design techniques. We are searching for patterns in both natural environments and human-related processes in order to inspire possible architectural events.

Congruent to our own design endeavors we enjoy spreading the knowledge through workshops and seminars with a high emphasis on cross platform design, interdisciplinary communication, digital fabrication and manufacturing methods.

We strongly believe that the symbiotic relationship between imagination and technology should not be used as prosthetics of the design process but more as a reinforcing exoskeleton.

Link to 'AL_TU' blog

radical reaction [ad]

The blog is inherent to the Paolo Alborghetti ongoing thesis research.

link to 'radical reaction [ad]' blog

ErrorByErrors

Interesting blog held by Yoo Jin KIM

Link to'ErrorByErrors' blog

Silkworm plugin for Grasshopper

Silkworm is a plugin that translates Grasshopper and Rhino geometry into GCode for 3d printing. Silkworm allows for the complete and intuitive manipulation of the printer GCode, enabling novel printed material properties to be specified by non-solid geometry and techniques of digital craft.

Project Silkworm is an open project to develop the concept of digital craft via the resources of open source 3d printing technology. The revolution of 3D printing is seeing a rise in novel methodologies of material design communication, from concept through to fabrication. Now additive processes can be manipulated through data driven logics programmed directly by the designer. Silkworm offers the designer a vocabulary to choreograph these processes and develop the way the printed object is conceived.

Link to Silkwork website

S.I BETA 0.1 - Swarm Intelligence in Grasshopper

'S.I is a free custom C# component for simulating Swarm Intelligence in Rhino Grasshopper. The base methods, separate, align, cohesion, and seek, are from Daniel Shiffman.'

S.I is developed by Shih-Yuan Wang

Link to S.I. plug-in webpage
Link to S.I grasshopper group
Link to Shih-Yuan Wang blog

RES - singular branching

'Res is a group of architects pursuing a Masters in Architecture and Urbanism at the Design Research Lab of the Architectural Association in London. Directed by Rob Stuart-Smith, Res researches the generative assembly of fibre-reinforced composite frames to create integrated architectural bodies through topological adaptation, folding techniques at various scales, and numerically-controlled fibre placement. These non-linear forms of organising material intend to minimise transportation space as well as construction tools while challenging component-based tectonics. We combine a highly precise prefabrication method with advanced digital simulations to prototype architecture that integrates spatial affects with performance.'

Link to 'RES' website

Mosquito - Grasshopper plugin

'Mosquito is a plugin suite developed for Rhino and Grasshopper. The plugin allows us to tap into social , financial and popular media. Extracting location, profiles, images and messages from Facebook,Twitter, Topsy etc….
As architects part of our responsibility is the consideration of the public realm. Today however , people tend to hang in the digital equivalent, namely, social media space. While this space becomes ever more permanent, the physical realm is fleeting, an evanescent space.
We are utilizing the tools in this component suite to bridge the gap between geometrics and information. Driving geometry with data and vice-versa. The ability to extract user Geo-coordinates, language, thoughts, profile and image enables architects to paint a picture. It is this  4-dimensional picture, which we refer to as “spatial condition”, that allows us to explore what happened yesterday, now and hypothesize about tomorrow. True 4-dimensional modeling.'

Mosquito plugin is developed by Carson Smuts

Link to Mosquito webpage

ROK

'ROK is a multidisciplinary planning firm working in the fields of architecture and engineering. It was established in 2010 by Matthias Rippman, Silvan Oesterle and Michael Knauß.
ROK supports the building sector in realizing complex, non-standard designs at all scales. We provide consultancy services to engineers, manufacturers and architects in the fields of geometry optimization, digital fabrication and process automation. Our expert knowledge of advanced computational techniques in the field of architecture facilitates the realization of your ideas in short time and with great precision while ensuring economic feasibility.'

Link to 'ROK' website
Link to 'ROK Academic' research webpage
Link to 'MSc2 Studio - 1:1 prototype'

Bio-computation video

One of the most interesting developments about computation I saw lately

Bio-Computation (2012) from David Benjamin on Vimeo.

RhinoPaint3D

'RhinoPaint3D is a free Rhino plugin allowing intuitive painting, as is performed with pixel images, but on multi-resolution mesh geometries. Painting can be done based on vertices or faces within a single mesh. Colorwheel, Eyedropper and Eraser functions are included in the plug-in.'


Link to 'RhinoPaint3D' post on UTO website
Link to 'RhinoPaint3D' on food4rhino website

Free DIGITAL PROJECT trainings - October - Paris

Gehry Technologies offers 5 free seats to attend the Digital Project Designer trainings in October. The training will take place in Paris.

For info and details check the image

GOAT 1.3 - Grasshopper optimization solver

'GOAT is an optimization solver component for Rhino's Grasshopper. Optimization affects shape, weight, cost and is a driving force of a modern design process. goat provides tools to solve design problems as optimization problems.

Optimization was introduced to the Grasshopper community with David Rutten's galapagos. Galapagos is an evolutionary optimization approach, and as such is based on a randomized core.

goat perfectly complements galapagos by pursuing a mathematical more rigorous approach. It relies on gradient-free optimization algorithms, delivering fast and deterministic results. At every run, goat will yield the same optimal result.

goat is a drop-in replacement for galapagos. It is based on David Rutten's galapagos GUI and interfaces NLopt, a collection of mathematical optimization libraries. goat was developed in joint work with Heinz Schmiedhofer and Martin Reis from feasible.'

Link to 'GOAT' website
Link to 'GOAT' grasshopper group

PhD opportunity - Perth AU - Curtin University

'Expressions of Interest are invited for one PhD scholars in Computational Design to be supported by the Curtin Strategic International Research Scholarships (CSIRS) and jointly based at the Built Environment Research Laboratory under the Australian Sustainable Development Institute (ASDI).

Candidates with a background in architecture, engineering, computer science or a combination thereof are sought in the overlapping areas of conceptual design, building performance and computational simulation. An expertise or interest in architectural geometry and programming methods for design exploration with procedural, generative, parametric methods will be highly regarded. Candidates will work on simulation and generation of built environment models based on data sets and methods at the scales of components, buildings and urban precincts. Both candidates will work on novel multi-scale representations combining geometry models, environmental models and performance models; new methods for model building, model variation and contribute to model construction, simulation, validation and interoperation.

The CSIRS are a prestigious merit-based scholarship aimed at attracting high calibre international applicants in computational design. These scholarships are to support scholars of high promise in their doctoral studies upto a duration of 3.5 years. The Scholarships will provide students with a tax-free living allowance of $25,000 AUD per annum, 100% tuition fee support through the CIPRS ($25,800 AUD per annum) scheme, and a thesis allowance. Additional annual top-up support from the Enrolling Areas are available for variable expenses such as field trips, and conference attendance based on progress and merit on an annual basis.'

For any info contact Shih-Yuan Wang at: yuan322002[AT]gmail.com

BlendScript

A new but promising blog about Blender & Python scripting tools.

Link to 'BlendScript' blog

RAMBOLL - Computational Design

"In recent years the tools used by engineers and architects to design buildings have changed. Influenced by developments in advanced 3D modelling, material science and automated fabrication designers are now harnessing the power of the computer to explore the world beyond the boundaries imposed by traditional design approaches."

Link to 'RAMBOLL' website

architecture research lab

Link to 'architecture research lab' website

DIGITAL SESSIONS - RPI

Some very interesting resources posted into this Digital Sessions Fall 2012 - RPI blog.
#Python/Mel/Rhino.VB #Processing #Rhino/Grasshopper #Maya/3dsMax

Link to 'Digital Sessions' blog

SCI-Arc's ESTm

SCI-Arc's ESTm [Emerging Systems, Technologies & Media] post-graduate program is a rigorous, experimental post-professional degree platform focused on data-based and physical investigations into the rapidly evolving fields of digital design, innovative fabrication methodologies and new building systems. 

Link to 'SCI-Arc's ESTm' blog

AssemblageWorkshop

"Assemblage Workshop is the collected works of Dino Rossi. The term “assemblage” was very intentionally chosen for its generality. This generality relates to both the wide range of materials worked with (all materials are open for use), and a world view in which everything can be perceived on some level as an assemblage of materials and relationships."

Link to 'AssemblageWorkshop' website

DATA ANIMAL

"The Grasshopper plug-in for Rhino has an amazing capability to link many disperse territories of design practice. This weblog is a collection of tutorials and annotated grasshopper definitions that explain the particular tools that are useful for linking grasshopper to data. These connections are often easy to accomplish.  It is only necessary to gain an awareness of a few simple tricks and tools.

Here you will find grasshopper definitions and tutorials for three data territories: importing tabular data from internet sources, connecting to live internet data feeds, and bringing data from simulations into grasshopper."

Link to ' data animal' blog

Rhino Grasshopper Controller - Android app

Interesting Android app developed by Sam Bernaerdt

'The Rhino Grasshopper Controller sends all the sensor information from your device directly to Grasshopper. From there you can do with it whatever you want and control your geometry with gravity, rotation, light or touch input...
It sends all that data via Wifi to your network and uses the gHowl plugin to read it back in.'

Link to 'Rhino Grasshopper Controller' Android app 

KiwiViewer app

'KiwiViewer is a free, open-source visualization app for exploring scientific and medical datasets that runs on Android and iOS mobile devices with multi-touch interaction. KiwiViewer supports a variety of file formats, including obj, stl, ply, and vtk. Datasets may be loaded into KiwiViewer from the SD card, email attachments, or DropBox, or downloaded from a URL.'

Link to KiwiViewer webpage

Starling - Grasshopper plug-in

Starling is a new and very interesting grasshopper plug-in developed by Mateusz Zwierzycki.

'Starling mesh tools. These components enable mesh parametrization, so it behaves like a surface - you can evaluate points at any place etc. Is it accurate ? - not at all, but give it just a minute and you'll probably fall in love. Mesh morphing, remeshing, smooth curves evaluation (see group image), 3d convex hull and last but not least - slFastMesh - which will enable you to stop thinking about meshing parameters and start playing.'

Link to Starling webpage on food4rhino
More info & examples at : http://www.grasshopper3d.com/group/starling

ATLV

'ATLV is a computational design firm based in Los Angeles. The firm explores the frontier of computational design technology through design practice and research in contemporary architecture and spatial design.'

Link to 'ATLV' website

NEWS 073

Robots in Architecture - KUKA|prc – New Release
Christopher Whitelaw - Asset Introduction (Animaris)
Christopher Whitelaw - Hypotrochoid Spirograph
ArchiMorph - The Malleable Manifesto
Archimorph - Climatically Responsive Clothing
Reza Ali - ciUI: A User Interface Block for Cinder
CEED studio - Sonic for Grasshopper
complexitys - Generative Systems : A Paradigm for Modelling Complex Adaptive Architecture
I Eat Bugs For Breakfast - On Icons
isgstudio - 120712_sunskin system
muehlseife - swarm simulation + correlations library
The Proving Ground - Now on YouTube! Vasari Talk 13: Scripting with Python
The Proving Ground - LunchBox v0.32 Available
object-e.net - Cellular Structures
S.Yuan Blog - 2012 experiment on Processing
urban future organization - we ♥ intersections
urban future organization - grasshopper3d + hoopsnake
Form Follows Performance - Open Source IFC Exporter for Revit 2013
designcoding - MusicXML to Grasshopper
designcoding - Metronome Continued…
designcoding - Hyperbolic Tessellations Continued
designcoding - Animate Sketching of a Parametric Truss
Design Reform - many posts
Computational Matter [Nigma] - many posts
DDA Repository - many posts
W:Blut - Fixation data fixation
Digital[Sub]stance - Parametric Wireframe Bracelet
ianCode - Data Bound Tree View for dynWatch
Architecture In Combination - Pressure Particles
Giulio Piacentino - Weaverbird 0.5.99 Compatibility
Digital Crafting - DigitalCrafting publication online
Geometry Gym - GH to Archicad (OpenBIM IFC)
Attitude Geometries - Bridge
dp stuff - Improved Randomizer 0.04 - Now as a Model-less Dialog Form
MORPHOGENESISM - Generative Algorithms _ New Edition
Project Hummingbird - Hummingbird Update + New Grid Component
4ofSeven - 1112M5 Inconsistencies v0.4
blurry paths - Wet threads experiments. GH & Kangaroo
Heumann Design/Tech - Tree Splitter – Auto-instantiating components on the GH Canvas

CORAL

Coral is an open-source visual programming environment to help artists and coders with rapid prototyping of CGI algorithms and workflows.

Technology Overview:
    c++ multi-threaded core library to handle hierarchical dependency graphs
    python bindings
    Py Qt user interface
    maya integration plugin
    c++ and python SDK
    compatible with windows, linux and mac 

Link to 'Coral-repo' website
Link to 'Coral' videos on Vimeo

You can download Coral at: http://proceduralinsight.com/downloads.html

New Firefly Website, Tools (1.003), Examples, and Primer

Link to new 'Firefly' website

SYNTH(e)TiC Morphologies

Very interesting blog held by Tommaso Casucci

link to 'SYNTH(e)TiC Morphologies' blog

hybrid materiality

Link to 'hybrid materiality' blog

blurry paths

'About architecture, coding, parametric design, photography ... by Ángel Linares.'

Link to 'blurry paths' blog

Fabrication Robotics Network

'The Fabrication Robotics Network is a platform for the sharing of knowlegde and techniques related to advanced fabrication, in particular that which takes advantage of industrial robotic equipment and algorithmic design techniques.'

Link to 'Fabrication Robotics Network' blog

SONIC - grasshopper plug-in

Developed by StudioNU "Sonic is a Grasshopper plugin that allows you to cast multiple rays, calculate these reflections and evaluate multiple surfaces at those points."

Link to "SONIC" webpage

Project Hummingbird - Grasshopper plug-in

Project Hummingbird is a set of Grasshopper components that facilitate the creation of Revit native geometry.

Link to "Project Hummingbird" blog

Obsession - monthly paper by disguincio&co

Obsessions is a collection of mini monthly paper curated by disguincio&co  and published on the City Vision magazine website

Various themes will be introduced, not necessarily built on the architectural discourse, but towards which they can interact, compare and talk together to open new doors of interpretation.
Since these are obsession, there will not be a specified order in the publications, but a flow of thoughts that go through different fields such as aesthetics, perception, biology, matter, robotics, flesh…
Obsessions è una raccolta mensile di mini paper curati da disguincio&co e pubblicato sul sito della rivista City Vision

Saranno presentati vari temi non necessariamente costruiti sul discorso architettonico, ma con il quale potranno interagire, confrontarsi e dialogare per aprire nuove porte interpretative.
Essendo ossessioni, non ci sarà un ordine specifico nelle pubblicazioni, ma più un flusso di riflessioni che attraverseranno diversi campi come l’estetica, la percezione, la biologia, la materia, la robotica, la carne…


Link to "City Vision - Obsession" webpage

NEWS 072

eat-a-bug - ZipStrip
N1 - Termite Swarming Structure
N1 - B.E.D. "Building Emotions Detector" 
Geometry Gym - Grasshopper to Vasari (via Revit for the time being)
Geometry Gym - Generative Adaptive Component
Far from Equilibrium - Algorithmic Sound Experiment 1
DP stuff - Randomizer and Vasari 2.5 Solar Radiation
Lift Architects - Printing Material Distributions
CEED studio - Reflection Angles Grasshopper3D
CEED studio - Divide_Curve by Proximity
DesignCoding - Solar Analysis including Occlusion
DesignCoding - Icosahedron Study
DesignCoding - packing objects with galapagos
DesignCoding - How Isovist Component Works
eSCRIPT-O - RHPY – Marching cubes algorithm
Angine - [DataViz] - Chart3D
Harri Lewis - Planar re-meshing
LMNts - TCPA - Feature Wall Panel Layout
LMNts - VRay Proxy Scattering with Grasshopper
spatial slur - MouldyNetworks
Geometry Gym - many posts
eat-a-bug - Digital Tools in Sculptural Practice
WooJae's Blog - Grasshopper VB workshop @ Harvard GSD Spring 2012
muehlseife - evolutions library
muehlseife - gui: ObjectMenu
The Proving Ground - many posts
NeoArchaic - spring
NeoArchaic - time^3
ParaPractice - DIY 5 Axis
blog binturong - Managing data in Grasshopper II - Trees
designcoding - drops
Kruysman - Proto - many posts
ModeLab - many posts
P&A LAB - Emotive Matter
HIROSHI JACOBS - New Version of Chameleon

CODA

"CODA (Computational Design Affairs) is a design consulting agency that focus in three inter-related fields: innovation, research and teaching.
We are a flexible team of architects, engineers & computer scientists, with a high technical background. We focus in making this world a better place through technological efficiency.
Our research fields are geometry, construction, structures, and computer science, and we focus in the optimization of processes: reduction of energy, material and time costs in design fields."

Link to "CODA" website

Playing God - BBC Documentary 2012

"life itself is became a programmable machine" ...

"Broadcast (2012) Adam Rutherford meets a new creature created by American scientists, the spider-goat. It is part goat, part spider, and its milk can be used to create artificial spider's web. It is part of a new field of research, synthetic biology, with a radical aim: to break down nature into spare parts so that we can rebuild it however we please. This technology is already being used to make bio-diesel to power cars. Other researchers are looking at how we might, one day, control human emotions by sending 'biological machines' into our brains."

One of the most amazing documentary I ever see. It's about programming life, Synthetic biology and our next (already here) future.

Link to "Playing God" youtube video

openshapefactory

"openshapefactory is a simple to use 3d scripting language based on OpenCascade.

OpenShapefactory is a Middle-Man between you, OpenCascade and QT, it serves as a Geometry Factory wrapping OpenCascade, and providing a single-point of entry to the creation of most geometrical operations.
In a Gecko - OpenShapeFactory allows you to:

• create Brep-Geometry: i.e ( sweeps, loft surface, revolvesurface, face,edge,etc);
• visualize the geometry into a 3d viewport.
• link QtWidget's created manually in the Qt-Designer to Update Functions that Create Geometry.
• Get direct access to the HSF library using QtScript( ECMA/Javascript) using the ScriptWidget.

The openshapefactory is divided literally between a 2d surface left and a 3d surface right. The 2d surface is a diagrammatic panel where widgets are loaded, in the case of the precompiled download, a QScintilla text-editor widget with programmatic access to the openshapefactory is automatically added as the only widget. To the right of the 2d panel you have the 3d view port, any change to the code that results from a visible shape will be immediately visible in the 3d view port."

Link to "openshapefactory" webpage