How can we design gridshells with customised and unconventional connectors?

Algorithms-Aided Design, a computational design methodology, has seen a seen an increased interest in the past decades. Especially for complex free-form geometries such as gridshells. The growing potential of controlling the design through algorithms allows for merging structural and architectural design methods by creating customised design tools according to the project requirements. In this paper, a plugin for Grasshopper based on the Finite Element Method is presented with a study case in which it was used and developed. We hope this plugin will help close the gap between the disciplines by quickly verifying boundary representation objects in real-time during conceptual design. A general discussion about gridshell connectors regarding their structural design and digital fabrication is provided.