Polyhedra Sculpture: Redefining Parametric Art in Architecture

The Polyhedra Sculpture by Lars Renklint, winner of the Best in Category award at the Beegraphy Design Awards, bridges art, computation, and fabrication. This innovative work showcases how parametric architecture and digital design tools can transform geometric logic into tactile forms that engage both the creator and the audience. By merging algorithmic modeling with physical craft, Renklint creates a dynamic dialogue between mathematics and aesthetics.

Lars Renklint preparing plaster molds for the polyhedra sculptures in his studio.

Plaster casts of the Stella Octangula polyhedron drying after molding.

Concept and Challenges

The project began with a simple yet complex idea: to use a polyhedron as a starting point and subdivide each of its faces into smaller surfaces, creating intricate layers of geometry. The goal was not just subdivision but transformation—to make each face morph and wrap around its adjacent surfaces, forming an organic yet mathematically precise sculpture.

Initially, the only available polyhedron in Beegraphy was a cube. To expand the geometric vocabulary, Renklint developed a custom plugin to generate a wider range of polyhedra, such as the dodecahedron. This marked the project’s first intersection of computational architecture and parametric design scripting.

The Parametric Process

Using Beegraphy’s cloud-based editor, Renklint quickly built a logic network that could subdivide, manipulate, and reassemble faces through parametric rules. Each iteration revealed new relationships between geometry and form, testing the limits of digital modeling. The process combined scripting precision with intuitive experimentation—a hallmark of computational design in architecture.

To make the sculpture more interactive, Renklint worked closely with the Beegraphy team to publish the plugin online. This allowed users to generate and modify their own models through an accessible interface. Collaboration with the Grasshopper community helped refine the logic further, ensuring that both platforms complemented each other.

Finished white plaster sculpture displayed at the exhibition, highlighting the folded geometry of the polyhedron.

A series of molds and casts showcasing the fabrication process from digital file to physical form.

From Digital to Physical

The sculpture's final form emerged from thousands of subdivisions and continuous refinements. Translating this digital geometry into physical reality was the next challenge. By using 3D printing and plaster casting, the digital polyhedra evolved into tangible sculptures, highlighting the synergy between digital fabrication and architectural craftsmanship.

The exhibition showcased these sculptures in pristine white plaster, where soft shadows contrasted sharply with crisp edges, accentuating the geometric depth. Visitors were invited to participate by designing their own versions in Beegraphy, blurring the line between designer and audience.

Interactive Exhibition

As part of the Beegraphy Design Awards exhibition, visitors could create and 3D-print their personalized polyhedra. The result was a growing collection of unique sculptures—each a reflection of both individual creativity and parametric logic. This participatory approach embodies the future of interactive architecture, where design becomes an open system of collaboration.

The Polyhedra Sculpture stands as an exploration of parametric art, algorithmic design, and architectural geometry. It exemplifies how digital platforms like Beegraphy empower designers to go beyond static form-making, enabling new modes of creation, interaction, and fabrication. In Renklint’s hands, the polyhedron becomes not just a mathematical object but a living, evolving form—a true intersection of computation, craft, and creativity.