The envelope transform models a complex building form using offsets and angles.
The Envelope refers to the three-dimensional space within which a building can legally be constructed on a given piece of land
Generate your allowable envelope, or the extents of your buildable area, with this transform.
Category: Dendrogram
Kind: Operation
Description: Legacy dendrogram node for envelope
Inputs
Name | Abbreviation | Type | Access | Description |
Input | I | Feature | Item | The input data |
Transform | T | Object | Item | Transform controls (overridden by individual parameters) |
Outputs
Name | Abbreviation | Type | Access | Description |
Envelope | E | Object | List | The envelope output (3D) |
Setback | S | Object | List | the setback polygon output (flat) |
Usage Fills | U | Features | List | The usage fills as features |
How to:
Feed in a feature
The feature could be a rectangle or polygon
Typically, this comes from the read feature node, but it could also come from any other geometric output of prior nodes.
Add the envelope transform
Click “Edit Defaults” to set the starting values for the flow
Connect the outputs to write features nodes, or other nodes later in the flow.
Edit the settings in the Properties Palette
Envelope Settings:
The envelope settings UI is the same in both the properties palette or in the "edit defaults" mode.
Properties palette edits only affect the current selection.
Edit Defaults affects the base condition every time you apply the flow to a new geometry.
Max height - the height of the envelope before any angled setbacks are applied
Sides
the offsets and height restrictions may vary on different sides of your site
You can define different values for every side.
You can add as many unique sides as you need
Add new side (after you’ve given it a name in the text box)
Sides names - rename by double clicking the name
Edit side setbacks, step backs, and angles
Edit faces of the polygon which sides apply to
Delete a side
Enable Usage fills
Enable setback polygon output
Map edit mode
Clear parameters (reset to defaults)
Edit Mode toggle
Forward properties
Edit display name
Edit Heights and Setbacks
Many zoning codes have stepped setback requirements. The height and setback settings allow for any combination of stepped condition.
Maximum Height: Input the maximum height of the building allowable by code
Setback and Levels
Click the “setback and levels” button to open the editor.
Click and drag points to change their location, or select a point and input exact values
Side name (label)
Y axis - height above ground plane
Max height shown with a red dash
Heights of specific setback points shown on the axis
X axis - Inset from polygon edge
The amount the edge is set back from the polygon boundary
Insets of specific setback points shown on the axis
Selected Point
Add another point
The height of the selected point relative to the ground plane
The inset of the selected point relative to the polygon boundary
Delete the selected point
The combination of heights and setbacks results in an envelope shape:
Edit sides
Many zoning codes have different setbacks for different street frontages. Control different conditions and apply them to sides of your model.
By default, a front, rear, and side condition are included. Add a new side for more conditions.
Rename any side by double clicking the name.
There are 2 ways to apply a condition to the envelope geometry:
In the app UI:
Click the edge selection button
Click “select” on the applicable edges.
Click unselect to un-apply the condition.
On the Model:
Toggle “edit mode”
(or use the shortcut shift + a)
Click the red triangle at the center of an edge.
Select the condition to apply.
Envelope Output:
The default output of the envelope is a generic mass with no usage applied. The shape will reflect the setbacks, heights, and slopes applied.
Setback Polygon
Toggle on “setback polygon” to generate only the footprint of the setbacks as a flow output.
This will render the initial setback from the polygon boundary only. Additional step backs are shown only in the envelope output.
The setback polygon will appear so long as the setback output is connected to a write features node.
Usage Fills
With Usage fills toggled on, the envelope will generatively fill with Usages.
The Usages you add to the mix will each create a new output on the flow.
toggle on/off
Select another usage to add to the mix
Click add to add the selected Usage
Delete usage from the mix
Swap to another usage
Set the desired mix %
Set floor to floor height of usage
Set minimum sqft to add (override %)
Set maximum sqft to add (override %)
💡 The left-most usage in the Fills section will be the bottom-most usage in the stack
The Usages will render within the envelope. The floors will honor setbacks and slopes.
Usages rendered by the generative mix will count toward site coverage and areas:
Clear Parameters
Reset the polygon to defaults. Note, this clears all work you have done.
Once cleared, add the defaults back by clicking “add default parameters.”
