GRAPHISOFT Virtual Building Explorer for ArchiCAD

	VBE Downloads		VBE Trial and Educational Versions
	VBE for ArchiCAD 14		VBE Sample Project Files
			Shanghai historical monuments

Explore

Virtual Building Explorer for captivating presentations for clients

Using GRAPHISOFT Virtual Building Explorer and ArchiCAD architects and designers can explore their project designs with greater clarity than ever before. Real-time 3D navigation in an architectural design – enhanced with gravity, layer control, fly-mode, egress recognition and pre-saved walkthroughs for the ultimate design exploration. Element information – surface finishes, volumes, sizes and quantities – can also be displayed with a click of the mouse. Exact measurements can be taken during the real-time walkthrough to help design decisions and forecast cost related design issues.

Communicate

Virtual Building Explorer provides shaded, Open-GL or Global Illumination view styles combined with grayscale, hidden-line or edge-outlined presentation modes for the ultimate design understanding and communication. The Sun altitude and azimuth; the camera height and viewing cone as well as the image brightness and transparency can be altered for professional project presentation and design communication.

Virtual Building Explorer for better project communication

Users can choose from a wide range of model view styles:

Simple rendering styles such as "Goraud" and "Metal" allow fast and smooth navigation in very large models even with basic video cards. The built-in shaded Open-GL rendering engine ensures professional presentation quality with cast shadows and realistic surface textures. Edge outline can also be activated to provide greater contrast between elements. The "Global Illumination" mode - produced by the built-in radiosity rendering engine allows even more realistic visualization – incorporating soft shadows and diffuse inter-reflections.

Share

Virtual Building Explorer for interactive consultation with clients at remote locations

Share your design intent and the architectural project with virtually anyone without installing any application or learning any new software. Since Virtual Building Explorer stores the projects in an unprotected, self-running application file format, viewers don't need to hold a license of GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD or Virtual Building Explorer to navigate in the models. All stakeholders - clients, consultants, builders, etc. - can explore and fully understand the entire architectural project design at any stage of the design development process in a user friendly 3D navigation environment.

Virtual Building Explorer for ArchiCAD 14

The latest release allows direct model export from ArchiCAD 14 into Virtual Building Explorer. This is the first VBE version that is protected with ArchiCAD WIBU and CodeMeter keyplugs, allowing greater flexibility in license administration and management. Virtual Building Explorer for ArchiCAD 14 supports all the operating systems that are compatible with ArchiCAD 14.

Existing users should contact their ArchiCAD reseller for upgrade pricing and policy. The installers of VBE for ArchiCAD 14 are downloadable from the VBE download website.

Sample Project Files

Download the NHS Office Complex (architect: paa studio, US), the MK Electronics building (architect: Liljewall arkitekter ab, Sweeden) or the ING Building-Vörösmarty 1. (architects: György Fazakas, Jean-Paul Viguier, Hungary) VBE presentations and experience the power of GRAPHISOFT Virtual Building Explorer!

NHS Office Complex	MK Electronics building	ING Building-Vörösmarty 1.
10.9 MB	9.63 MB	11 MB
13 MB	11.5 MB	13.2 MB

Shanghai historical monuments

Tongji University, College of Architecture and Urban Planning; Pujing Information Technology; GRAPHISOFT R&D; and BMC have made it possible to 'visit' the Park Hotel, the Moore Memorial Church, and the D.V. Woo House, three of Hudec's most significant designs in Shanghai – by creating the virtual building models of the real buildings with ArchiCAD and making them accessible to the public through GRAPHISOFT's innovative Virtual Building Explorer technology in an interactive 3D virtual reality presentation.

Trained in Budapest as a classical architect, a visit to the USA in 1927 shifted Hudec's vision from an eclectic, neo-Classical style first to Art Deco and then to Modernism. Hudec's transition to Art Deco is evident in the design of many of his buildings and captured the excitement, promise, and glamour of Shanghai's golden age of prosperity. Hudec was one of the most interesting and culturally astute architects of the early 20th century, bridging the gap between European architecture and Chinese culture. His commercial, residential, and religious designs are especially noteworthy given that many of the buildings he designed are still in use today in their original function.

Park Hotel

Following a trip to the USA in 1927, Hudec's design of Shanghai's Park Hotel was inspired by New York's and Chicago's skyscrapers. Completed in 1934, it was the tallest building in the Far East for many decades, and Shanghai's tallest building through the 1980's. The Park Hotel is a masterpiece of modernism and Art Deco, and a symbol of Shanghai's rapid development in real estate and building technology in the 1930's. Virtual 'visitors' to the 22-story Park Hotel can marvel at the hotel's elegant, Art Deco lobby.

Download the VBE project file:
46 MB | 46 MB

Moore Memorial Church

Re-built by Hudec in 1931, the Church was originally built in 1887 to serve the Methodist community. Virtual 'visitors' to the Church will no doubt find the neo-Gothic structure, which includes Gothic vaulted ceilings, stone ribbing, and stained glass windows typical of the style interesting to view. The Bell Tower on the southwest corner of the Church, at 42.1 meters, was the highest tower in Shanghai at the time. Hudec designed churches for several religious organizations in Shanghai on a pro bono basis.

Download the VBE project file:
31 MB | 61 MB

D.V. Woo House

Completed in July 1938, the house was once known as one of the most spacious and luxurious residences in the Far East. Known also as the 'green house' due to the green glazed tiles that covered the surface, this residence integrated modern architecture with Art Deco. The residence was famous for the various rooms that served a variety of functions, including a banquet hall, ballroom, billiard room, bar, chess room, greenhouse, and sunroom. The residence was the first in Shanghai to boast an elevator, in addition to air conditioning. The Italian marble staircase, copper handrail, and copper radiators were all considered novelties at the time.

Download the VBE project file:
11 MB | 11 MB

Shanghai historical monuments

3D virtual tour of three of Shanghai's most historic buildings, which were designed by László Hudec in the 1930's.

Download the GRAPHISOFT Virtual Building Explorer PDF brochure

System requirements:
Please check the system requirements in the Virtual Building Explorer User Guide.

Support

Please check out the ArchicadWiki FAQ page and the ArchicadWiki Known Issues page for most common support questions. Please contact your local ArchiCAD reseller for more information.