ArchiCAD design concepts

The following narrated movie clips introduce the core design concepts of Graphisoft ArchiCAD and will highlight the crucial differences between a Building Information Modeling (BIM) design and documentation solution and a regular “2D CAD” application.

Simply click on the clip format you wish to view. They average around 10-12 MB each. Remember to turn up the volume as there is a narrative as well!

Introduction

The building we will use as an example file was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to accentuate a specific New York island. The owner ran the plans by Thomas A. Heinz, an architect who is an expert on Frank Lloyd Wright. Heinz used ArchiCAD to create the construction documentation based exactly on the original drawings. Click on one of the player icons to start the movie.

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The ArchiCAD BIM

„BIM“ stands for Building Information Modeling. We at Graphisoft have been calling it “Virtual Building™”.
The design model consists of real building elements like walls, beams, slabs, windows and doors – all familiar to an architect, since ArchiCAD speaks your language! Click on one of the player icons to start the movie.

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3D within the BIM

Working with a “Building Information Modeling” means working directly on the design model in any project view – be it plans, sections or even element schedules. All you need to do is perform one change in the design model at one place at one time: all the integrated project views will be updated automatically. This is the true power of the Virtual Building! Click on one of the player icons to start the movie.

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2D within the BIM

At any stage of the design process, architects are constantly able to add conventional 2D elements such as poly-lines, splines, curved elements, hatches and annotation objects.
ArchiCAD’s smart and unique parametric building objects automatically adjust their representation to comply with the actual scale and to automatically fulfill the requirements of the practice. Click on one of the player icons to start the movie.

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Sections and elevations from the BIM

In ArchiCAD all plans - like floor plans, sections, details or elevations - are extracted directly from the three dimensional central design model. You can continue the design in any view – the changes will be carried out through the entire project model! Just imagine all the benefits! All the views are automatically coordinated by the central Virtual Building model. Click on one of the player icons to start the movie.

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Calculation and element schedules from the BIM

ArchiCAD helps your everyday work by creating element and zone lists and schedules as well as customized quantity take-off calculations! Interactive element schedules can be quickly generated. These always reflect the current state of the building model. Any changes in these schedules will be automatically reflected in the project model as well! Click on one of the player icons to start the movie.

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Visualization renderings out of the BIM

ArchiCAD provides various intuitive rendering engines - right out of the box. The Sketch rendering engines ensures a free-hand-like sketch look to your design. The industry-leading “LightWorks” engine enables you to create photo-realistic renderings and movies of your design - incorporating transparent and translucent surface properties, reflections and soft-shadows! Click on one of the player icons to start the movie.

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Construction documentation from the BIM

Intelligent ArchiCAD tools assists you in developing a layout set of your design and then provides various publishing options, including printing, plotting or uploading the construction documentation set to the Internet. The layouts can be saved in various file-formats, including PDF, DWF and DWG, and DGN formats. Click on one of the player icons to start the movie.

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