This blog is about using BIM on a day to day basis. I cover ArchiCAD tips and tricks, BIM and management thoughts, and occasionally how this all relates to the Minnesota ArchiCAD Usergroup (which I started in 2009). The specifics are about ArchiCAD—that’s the software I use and sell—but the overall themes are relevant regardless of your software. Programs are just tools. BIM is a mentality.
It’s time to demystify walls AND make your coworkers think you have magical ArchiCAD powers…
Do you hate when walls don’t join properly or when hatch patterns in elevation randomly don’t align? In this video I talk about the Modify Wall menu and how it demystifies those issues. I won’t promise that the Modify Wall menu will solve every one of those problems. BUT once you are familiar with its abilities, you will always understand WHY those problems are happening.
In all these videos I try hard not to do too much with key commands. I want everything I do to be clear. But I have to admit I use two key commands a lot in this video without mentioning what I’m doing. One is Intersection (for me CMD+I), which will extend or shorten two walls so that they connect. The other is Undo (and redo, probably). Sorry about not mentioning that. So when you see things happening on screen as if by magic, it’s probably one of those two commands. Hopefully it just highlights the importance of key commands!!!
Within 48 hrs of posting The Cobbler’s Workbench, I had a large list of additional sites to add to my ArchiCAD resources page. Thank you to everyone who shared their favorite sites with me. Below is a list of sites I’ve added to the original list. Included in this revision are three programs that extend the capabilities of ArchiCAD (from site documentation to collaboration to facilities management). I have to say, it’s impressive how much amazing ArchiCAD stuff is out there, if you know where to look! To know why I started this list, here’s an explanation. And if you think there’s a website I should include e-mail me.
Dimensions Design Group, Inc. makes Smart Parts. The various libraries include windows+doors, kitchen+bath, trim+stairs, various furniture and more. One of my coworkers still swears by his ArchiCAD 6.5 Smart Parts that he purchased over a decade ago.
Objects Online has one of the largest online collections of free and paid ArchiCAD-specific content. They are always looking to team with other object developers, big or small.
Rik Corporation has a really extensive landscaping and exteriors library. It looks like there are some pretty incredible features. The page I link to is in English, but the rest of the site is in Japanese. And unfortunately while my brother lives in Tokyo and is fluent in Japanese, I live in Minnesota and am essentially monolingual. However it looks like Rik Corporation might have some other ArchiCAD Add-ons and libraries.
Not only is M.A.D. the Graphisoft Reseller for Finland and the publisher of ArchiMag, they have also created some really cool Add-ONs like ArchiLogs, DoubleCheck, Zonematic, and Revisiomatic. Do yourself a favor and check out Zonematic.
Orthograph makes a survey program that allows you to input measurements onsite via an iPad and then export native ArchiCAD objects directly to ArchiCAD. I’ve mentioned Orthograph a few times on the blog.
From SyD’s website: “SyD™ cloud computing technology expands BIM collaboration environment to share and discuss designs between architects, engineers and clients. Share part of a floor plan, discuss a 3D view in a model or swap ideas on a specific object.”
I officially entered the building design realm through the Architecture and Environmental Design course at the University of Canberra. After constantly being told that my ideals were that of a dreamer I became unsure of myself and decided the safe option was to follow the notions of friends, family and university Lecturer’s on “what life is”. However I felt nothing when I reached the milestones they said would bring fulfilment; and in the space of two weeks all I was told to aim for crumbled, and I found myself in a deep dark hole. So I threw their notions to the wind, clawed my way out of the hole and began beating my own path. Lesson 1; follow your heart not your head, because others will fill it with rubbish that does not apply to you.
Within my first year in the industry I had taught myself ArchiCAD and was already much faster than the experienced ArchiCAD users around me. My deeper understanding of the program meant that I was relied upon for maintaining and developing ArchiCAD systems within every company I worked for.
While delving into the capabilities of ArchiCAD I began to explore the wonderful world of parametric objects. I then began teaching myself all the nuances of ArchiCAD’s GDL scripting language. GDL, at its peak, is a very well organized series of geometric equations with a maze of variables. I discovered that creating parametric GDL objects gave me a great deal of satisfaction.
There is something very fulfilling about seeing parametric 3D objects come to life through mathematical equations. Perhaps it’s that overwhelming urge to create and understand form that many of us from the non-child-bearing gender experience. Whatever it is, I knew I had found my calling.
When I moved to Brisbane the head and the heart battled again; I was running out of money and my head was telling me to take one of the many jobs I was offered, but my heart, for no apparent reason, was set on working for Cottee Parker Architects. A couple days before my funds ran dry the call from CPA finally came and I was hired before the job interview was over.
My heart new best; the 3 years I worked for CPA was the best opportunity I could have to develop my skills. I spent the first year in CPA’s Brisbane office assisting with the development of their impeccable ArchiCAD template. Working on large scale projects taught me more about exploiting ArchiCAD’s full potential. I was also relied on to develop a series of intelligent parametric GDL library parts.
Being a small town boy at heart, one year in the big smoke was all I could bear. Also, my ArchiCAD development work for CPA was still only, at best, 50% of my workload; my speed made me far too useful as a documenter. These two factors prompted me to move from Brisbane back to a small coastal town. However, when I discussed this with Robert Cottee he asked me to continue doing ArchiCAD development work for CPA from wherever I planned to move to. I jump at the opportunity and for the next two years I worked as a remote ArchiCAD manager, developer and trainer for CPA.
Two solid years of GDL scripting was a great opportunity to learn what is possible with ArchiCAD library parts. It helped me to isolate the best scripting methods to ensure the parts I create are of the highest standard. When my role with CPA was terminated in October 2008 due to the Global Financial Crisis, I began working on my advanced set of GDL Library Parts.
Swift Joinery
Swift Gutter Plus
In the last few years I have consulted to a large number of small, medium and large architectural firms, optimizing their ArchiCAD systems. I have discovered that the majority of people, and companies, do not use ArchiCAD very well.
My goal with ArchiCAD is the same as it was in the beginning; to automate as many processes as possible simply by modelling building elements. The only way to do this effectively is through GDL Library Parts. You are not working efficiently if you use a tool to model an element and then have to add in lines and text and other manual 2D information to complete the representation of that element in all views and schedules. Modelling will be tedious if you have to use a boring parameter list to configure each aspect of the modeled element. With moveable hotspots in 2D and 3D and polished user interfaces, my library parts bring joy and speed back into modelling.
The idea of BIM is information in a model, the idea of Swift library parts is enjoying modelling every building element and having ALL required information in the modeled element. I will continue to develop intelligent design tools through GDL and help everyone enjoy the BIM process as much as possible. Visit CADSwift to learn more.
So I had an idea a few weeks ago. I’d create a second website. It’d have a comprehensive list of websites that had ArchiCAD content on them –objects, add-ons, templates, tutorials, etc. It’d be great. Maybe eventually I could become a reseller for some of the products, create a one-stop shop for paid and free content, and turn the second website into an ArchiCAD mall. I had a great name for the site: The Cobbler’s Workbench. In my weird world of bizarre names it fits perfectly. Shoegnome is about improving process. The Cobbler’s Workbench would be about getting access to better tools. I love the expansion of my mis-remembered Brother’s Grimm Mythos.
But then I started doing research and compiling lists. There is a LOT of ArchiCAD content out there. Some is new and current, some is stagnant or a few years old. Much of it is in English, but a lot isn’t. All together it is WAY too much for me to organize and manage. And I’m not the first person to try something like this.
So instead I’m going to do something smaller. I’ve created a curated list of 20 or so websites that have objects, tutorials, templates, add-ons, etc. that I think have high value to the community. Most of it is stuff you have to pay for, but within each site is some free content. And there are at least two sites which are completely free.
Some Disclaimer Language
I’m not including blogs or ArchiCAD websites without downloadable content as a main feature. Graphisoft has a list of ArchiCAD blogs here. If I included your site, but you’d rather I describe what you offer in a different manner, or if you think there’s a site I should include, e-mail me. This list is a work in progress and my intent is not to fuss about perfection. It’s a labor of love, like the rest of this site. Perhaps a future version of the page will have pictures, reviews, lots of fancy stuff.
I don’t have any official connection to any of these sites, except as follows: like many ArchiCAD resellers, agents, and content providers, I’m an affiliate of Bobrow Consulting. This means if you click on one of my Bobrow links and then buy one of his products I get credit. It’s a nice little perk for me and doesn’t effect your cost. As of 02/19/12 I’m also an affiliate for Vaneshrie Sullivan’s book as well.
You’ll notice that I now have an Amazon Affiliate widget on the site. I’m trying this out for two reasons. First, I’d like to share books that influence and compliment what I’m writing about. Perhaps it’s a book on leadership that’s informing some blog posts about how to manage elements in an ArchiCAD file or maybe it’s a book on videogame critic that got me thinking about why some people succeed at ArchiCAD and others don’t. Additionally there are a handful (not enough in my opinion) of ArchiCAD books and resources that you can buy on Amazon. And much like the resource page, I want to help share them. So that’s the altruistic reason. Point Two is this: towards the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to monetize the blog in non-annoying ways. Having Amazon Affiliate links is one experiment. If you click on one of the Amazon links and then buy that book, or anything else on that visit to Amazon, I get a referral commission. That’s great for me and, like my links to Eric Bobrow’s products and Vaneshrie Sullivan’s book, has no material effect on you. Hopefully it’ll generate some income and free up some more time for me to add even more content to the blog.
Making these videos reminds me of how I first learned ArchiCAD. I spent a fair amount of time sitting behind one of my coworkers, just watching him work. It was very enlightening. And as I rewatch my videos, I notice a bunch of little techniques that I take for granted, but are probably as enlightening as the main focus of the video. The first video doesn’t discuss everything about complex profile creation, but it covers what I feel is one basic, one intermediate, and one advanced tip (the white dotted line trick). The second video takes some of those techniques and applies them to creating a complex profile stair. Both the videos ran a little longer than I was expecting, I think one is 7 minutes and the other is 9 minutes. Adding screencasting to my repertoire is definitely a process, so maybe in a few months I’ll find myself rerecording these original videos so they are more polished…
Either way, expect more videos and more talk about Complex Profiles. Watch all my videos and subscribe to Shoegnome’s new YouTube Channel.
ArchiCAD Tip #3: Complex Profile Creation techniques
A year ago I wrote about putting paintings and wall art in models. I recommended a trick using walls, niches, and aligning 3D textures. It’s a good technique, but I have to admit that I now rarely use it for hanging pictures. I finally got around to using the Picture 15 object. It’s great and fast. Put whatever image you want in your loaded library, choose custom picture and then type in the image’s name that you want to use. Very easy. If you want to avoid distortion of the image, you’ll need to know the proportions of the image so that you can size the object properly; the object won’t size itself automatically. It’ll just squish the image.
While hanging a picture in a model is easy, choosing what to hang is a lot harder. In my first endeavor, I hung a Klimt. It’s been a running joke with the clients, who are both art lovers and collectors. I’m tempted to frame a poster of the painting and give it to them as a housewarming gift. But their taste in art is so impeccable, a joke poster would get dusty in a closet. And while it’s been fun to see this priceless piece of art in the model, it doesn’t reinforce the design or the feeling of being in the space. So what else could be hung? For critical collections, I’d recommend photographing all the art a client has and hanging it virtually. Doing a museum? Include the art. That’s a no-brainer. This is where visualization and pretty models start reinforcing the ‘I’ in BIM.
Fake Art
But what do you do if you have no art collection and you don’t want to crib masterpieces? What about hanging images of the project as paintings? I did this for a recent project. It’s an office building and I had a lobby space that needed something on the walls. I took some abstract sketch renderings of the exterior and hung them as art. Now the lobby has more character and charm. And more importantly the client, as he explores the model within BIMx, ArchiCAD, or via still images, is seeing what he hired me to create. It’s also a great opportunity to highlight specific vignettes and moments that I love in the project. My clients with the virtual Klimt are looking at a Klimt in their soon to be real home. Why not have them look at images of the house? That’s what they are paying for. And there’s just something beautiful and surreal about images of the 3D model within the 3D model.
In this example I used the default blaureiter setting, but I think most of the Sketch Rendering options could produce great fake art. Photo realistic images would probably work just as well, but might be too distracting if done wrong. More on that in a moment.
TVs, Plotters, Computer Screens, and Self Promotion
Just like the Picture 15 object, the TVs, monitors, computers, and laptop objects can all have custom pictures on their screens. It’s the same process as the Picture 15 object. Why not set the computer screens to your company logo or perhaps your website? If it’s a professional client, put their logo up on all the screens. Many residential clients are also business owners–show those logos or iconic products. The model is a representation of the clients future building. Infuse it with images they love and care about. Though probably avoid framed photos of their kids and spouses, as that might go from cool to creepy, perhaps falling into the Uncanny valley.
The plotter in the image below uses the same premise as the screen-type objects, but instead of a custom picture, I created a new material with the Shoegnome logo and applied it to the paper. Why print white paper when you can actually PRINT something. Why not get super self-referential and have the plotter printing plans of the building? That wouldn’t be hard. And I bet your clients would flip out with excitement.
This is probably a good time to mention that in the actual model, the plotter was printing the client’s logo and all the TVs and most of the computer screens had the clients various products and logos on them.
Paintings to TVs… Art History Comes Full Circle
So remember the post about paintings and frames and how I no longer use that technique for paintings? Well I still use that trick. But now for TVs and other screens that don’t have objects that meet my needs. The TV in the image below (based on a 42″ VIZIO flat screen) is a complex profile wall that is the extrusion of the TV, with 2 complex profile beams for the built in speakers. I used beams because, with a higher priority number than the wall, they cut out the wall that is the body of TV without the need for Solid Element Operations. For the screen I used the niche object and followed my old painting steps.
I’ve got a lot more to say, but I’ll end with this…
When we photograph a completed building we take care to stage the images. We should do the same with our models. The techniques may be different, but the philosophies are the same: stage it to show off our design and make it attractive to our audience.
Wisdom from the Crowd