Monoceros — discrete design tool for Grasshopper
Grasshopper plug-in for Rhino that assembles discrete modules into spatial configurations using Wave Function Collapse.
What is Monoceros?
Monoceros assembles discrete modules into valid spatial configurations using Wave Function Collapse. Given a set of parts with connection rules and a spatial envelope, the solver produces gap-free, rule-compliant arrangements. The output is deterministic - the same inputs and seed always produce the same result.
What is Monoceros used for?
- Spatial arrangements from discrete parts
- Pavilion and installation design
- Procedural content and level design
- Modular building systems
What is discrete assembly?
- Given parts, rules and an envelope, the solver fills every slot
- All adjacency constraints satisfied automatically
- Deterministic: same seed, same result
- Backtracking without failing
What is Wave Function Collapse?
- Algorithm that fills a grid with tiles following adjacency rules
- Inspired by quantum mechanics
- Slots collapse one by one, propagating constraints to neighbors
- Guarantees gap-free, rule-compliant results
Why Monoceros?
- The only architectural WFC for Grasshopper
- Results at interactive speed
- All data types work with standard Grasshopper types
- Full control over modules, rules and slots
Free
$0
For learning and small projects
- Full functionality
- Envelopes up to 256 Slots
- Windows & macOS
- Rhino 7+
Soon
Annual
$149 / year
For professional projects
- Educational $49/year
- Unlimited Slots
- Windows & macOS
- Rhino 7+
Soon
Lifetime
$399
One-time purchase
- License never expires
- Unlimited Slots
- Windows & macOS
- Rhino 7+
Soon
Enterprise
On demand
For teams and organizations
- Volume licensing
- Unlimited Slots
- Windows & macOS
- Rhino 7+
Documentation
Complete reference for all data types and Grasshopper components.
Examples
Workflow strategies and step-by-step example workflows.
FAQ & tips
Frequently asked questions, tips & tricks for common workflows and troubleshooting.
Where can I learn Monoceros for free?
- food4Rhino webinar - official introduction by Ján Pernecký
- Monoceros WFC tutorial - Junichiro Horikawa
- Growing Town • Pipe Connection - Studio TAMA
Where is the Monoceros community?
- GitHub - open-source Monoceros 1 (MIT)
- McNeel Forum - community support
- GrasshopperDocs - component reference
- Food4Rhino - 22,000+ downloads
“Ján Pernecký and Ján Tóth published a Grasshopper plugin that extends the tiled model.”
- Maxim Gumin, creator of the Wave Function Collapse algorithm
Where has Monoceros been featured?
- Food4Rhino - official McNeel directory
- Parametric Architecture
- MESH Research - interview with Ján Pernecký
- ArchDaily - Computational Design: NEXT
What academic papers cite Monoceros?
- Leite et al. (2025). Parametric approach using WFC for hybrid building design. SIGraDi
- Lu, Meng et al. (2024). Clicking is All You Need. CAADRIA
- ZamaniGoldeh et al. (2025). Discretisation strategies in architectural design. Architectural Science Review
- Using Monoceros in academic work? Let us know.
What has been built with Monoceros?
Hyperloop
Eva Kvaššayová & Miriam Loescher
Discrete Experience
Anton Klyshnia, TU Wien
Hydrogen island
Jiří Vítek, die Angewandte
Exodus: A Second Hand City
Niccolò Rimoldi, Academy of Architecture, Amsterdam University of Arts
Built by Ján Pernecký
Architect, computational designer, and educator with over 17 years of Grasshopper development, working with Wave Function Collapse since 2020.
The Monoceros Story
How a research project at Subdigital studio became the most widely used Wave Function Collapse plug-in for architecture.