Modeling a Context for Architecture Design

0. Download ArchiCAD

Here are the first steps to start connecting to this titanic project, learn how to download ArchiCAD and upgrade it to the latest version, also to get your server username and password to connect and receive the information you require. Learn the steps to send and receive from the server, the main task to save your work and work as a team. Finally open BIMx and discover a program that will help to visualize all the project and that can be really useful in the future to have your project in the palm of your hand, or your smartphone.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have never opened ArchiCAD or would like to get a foundational understanding of the Software, I invite you to follow this link to the Foundations Tutorial of ArchiCAD It will be a good hour spent either learning how to navigate it or furthering your knowledge.

Download the Full PDF Workflow !

1. Model Check

Learn the basic modeling requirements we have to fully develop a 3D printable model in 1:500 and also 1:200, and to have a base to create a full CAD set of drawings. We will see wall thickness, how to create openings, the gap distance to separate the pieces, roof construction. Also the Graphic Override its going to be of great help, to check that we have arrange the elements in the correct layer to correctly send to print the 1:500 and 1:200 Model.

This is the main commandments that are crucial to produce a complete 3D Model of your block.

3. 3D Print

Trace your 3D Printer plate over you fully modeled block and divide it into 3D Printable parts with Isolate or 3D Cutaway. Know in which measures you need to divide it by walls and roofs or 3D print the whole piece. Export your STL with the correct scale and layers settled, open and put your STL in the Prusa Slicer to finally made the settings to slice and be ready to 3D Print your Model.

Here you will end your 3D Print task, starting next your CADing workflow. Let’s do this!

4. Situation Plan

The floor plan is a good start for understanding documentation, since this is the field in ArchiCAD where creation and design happen. We are adding and changing the settings in our model while simultaneously experiencing the visual result. We are making this drawings fully 2D, taking information from the 3D Model. So let’s create a View, create a Worksheet, understand the View Settings and compile the information to have a clean and nice Situation Plan. Also learn the steps to create a Grain Plan, with the View Settings to develop it.

5. The Section

Now let’s explore the Section. This seems similar to the floor plan but you have to add another essential tool, The Section Tool. The tool gives us the idea of what is the relevance of a section, and where we should put it to better express the project. There is a difference in how you measure the Section: this plan gives you information on the constructive elements’ heights and it allows you to see the proportion of the space in its relation to the ground floor. Here too we are going to use 2D Drawings to create it, based on 3D Model, to create a clean and clear 2D Section adding 2D human scales and trees.

6. The Elevation

Here we are full based on the 3D Model, with a drawings based on the objects modeled. Lets explore how to create a Elevation Marker, and arrange it to configure which elements and in which distance are going to be shown. Lets configure the shadow, that is a crucial feature of this tool, and finally adding some 2D human scales and trees.

7. Axonometry

An axonometry is a schematic representation of the shape and objectives of a project. It  may not be needed for constructive reasons but it is crucial for explaining a project and an idea. We can find thousands of architecture offices that make axonometries to summarize and express their projects. Pezo Von Ellrichausen’s work and their use of axonometries is a good example of how to represent architectural  projects. In this unit we will create another Make2D in Rhino and a 3D View in ArchiCAD so be ready to learn to use another tool and to explore a different way to think about and develop a project.

8. Views and Layouts

With the Layout we have the conclusion of all the drawings we have developed. The Layout is a global tool, almost all the programs dedicated to architecture have it, and its has practical application in the field. Architects must also take into consideration decisions based on the dialogue between scale and paper size. Welcome to the final task involved with drawing. What comes next?: Printing and Exposing!