Rhino – Grasshopper – Archicad Toolset

Rhinoceros and Grasshopper – developed by Robert McNeel & Associates – are considered market leaders in industrial design modeling and algorithmic design.
Now, designers have various options to connect Archicad’s professional BIM work environment with the modeling power of Rhino and Grasshopper.


Prerequisites

Before installing any connections, make sure that Archicad, Rhino and Grasshopper are installed on your computer.

Get the latest Archicad Get Rhino & Grasshopper

Grasshopper – Archicad Live Connection

Detailed Information and DownloadsWindowsmacOSMinimum Archicad
build supported
User GuideLast updated
Grasshopper-Archicad 27 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7 (Apple silicon version).
14.1 MB4001Oct 25, 2023
Grasshopper-Archicad 27 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.
17.5 MB 9.2 MB4001Oct 25, 2023
Grasshopper-Archicad 27 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7 (Apple silicon version).
14.1 MB3001Sept 27, 2023
Grasshopper-Archicad 27 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.
17.5 MB 9.2 MB3001Sept 27, 2023
Grasshopper-Archicad 26 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7 (Apple silicon version).
9.8 MB5003June 30, 2023
Grasshopper-Archicad 26 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.
18.1 MB 9.9 MB5002June 30, 2023
Grasshopper-Archicad 26 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7 (Apple silicon version).
9.8 MB4024Nov. 24, 2022
Grasshopper-Archicad 26 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.
18.1 MB 9.9 MB4007Oct. 28, 2022
Grasshopper-Archicad 26 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.
13.0 MB 9.4 MB3001Jul. 14, 2022

Note: Grasshopper – Archicad Live Connection is not compatible with Archicad Start Edition.


Previous Downloads

Download previous versions
Detailed Information and Downloads Windows macOS Minimum Archicad
build supported
User Guide Last updated
Grasshopper-Archicad 25 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.
13.6 MB 8.1 MB7000Jun. 28, 2023
Grasshopper-Archicad 25 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.
13.0 MB 7.8 MB4010Oct. 6, 2021
Grasshopper-Archicad 25 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 5 and Rhino 6.
13.8 MB 8.5 MB3003July, 2021
Grasshopper-Archicad 24 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.
12.9 MB 7.7 MB 6010 Aug. 30, 2021
Grasshopper-Archicad 24 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 5 and Rhino 6.
13.7 MB 8.4 MB 3008 Jul. 8, 2020
Grasshopper-Archicad 23 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 5 and Rhino 6
  20.8 MB
1.0 (23.0.4006)
 16 MB
1.0 (23.0.4006)
4006 May. 4, 2020
Grasshopper-Archicad 23 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 5 and Rhino 6.
21.3 MB 16.8 MB 3007 Oct. 3, 2019
Grasshopper-Archicad 22 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 5. Rhino 6 for Win only
  24 MB
2.2 (22.0.6026)
 19.3 MB
2.2 (22.0.6026)
6026 Sep. 5, 2019
Grasshopper-Archicad 21 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 5. Rhino 6 for Win only
  9.1 MB
2.0 (21.0.7005)
 12.5 MB
2.0 (21.0.7005)
7005 Dec 13, 2018
Grasshopper-Archicad 20 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 5
  8.6 MB
1.7 (20.0.6022)
 21.3 MB
1.7 (20.0.6022) Beta
6022 June 15, 2017

Rhinoceros Import/Export Add-ons

Note: Rhino 6 format or newer is supported in the built-in Rhinoceros Import/Export function from Archicad 25.

From Archicad 20 on these add-ons are part of the Archicad package. In Archicad 19 and 18 install these free Add-ons to enable Archicad to import and export models using Rhino’s native (.3dm) file format.

Import Rhino Model to Archicad

Rhino Importer Add-on enables Archicad users on both the Mac and Windows platforms to pass on the model or part of the model produced in Rhino to Archicad. This Add-on, available for Archicad 18 and 19, enables you to open or merge native Rhino (*.3dm) files directly in Archicad.

Download Version Windows macOS Last updated
Rhino Importer for Archicad 19 1.0     15.6 MB   5.75 MB Sep. 30, 2015
Rhino Importer for Archicad 18 1.0     15.9 MB   5.70 MB Sep. 30, 2015
Import Rhino Model to Archicad User Guid       Sep. 30, 2015
Export Archicad Model to Rhino

Rhino Exporter Add-on enables Archicad users on both the Mac and Windows platforms to pass on the model or part of the model produced in Archicad to Rhino. This Add-on, available for Archicad 18 and 19, enables you to save the Archicad 3D model as a Rhino file (*.3dm).

Download Version Windows macOS Last updated
Rhino Exporter for Archicad 19 1.0     2.52 MB   1.73 MB Sep. 30, 2015
Rhino Exporter for Archicad 18 1.0     2.84 MB   1.68 MB Sep. 30, 2015
Export Rhino Model to Archicad User Guide       Sep. 30, 2015

Rhinoceros – GDL Converter

Install these free plug-ins to convert Rhino models to native Archicad GDL elements – standalone objects (.gsm) or library containers (.lcf).

Please watch this video to find out more about how to install the necessary plug-ins, and how to import a model created in Rhinoceros into Archicad as native GSM objects. The video first presents the “Single Object Import” workflow using.gsm files and then the “Complex Structure Import” using .lcf files.

Steps to import Rhinoceros models to Archicad

Single Object Import to Archicad

Use this workflow to import small-sized single objects or groups of small objects saved in GSM format to Archicad.

1. Download and install plug-in for Rhino

Download and launch this “GSM-LCF exporter for Rhino 5” Rhino plug-in to be able to save/export Rhino models.

 GSM-LCF exporter for Rhino 5

2. Choose import method

Depending on the size of the Rhino model, choose one of these two import methods:

3. Save Rhino model as GSM file

In Rhino, select the model or its parts you want to export and save them as GSM Object File using the “GSM-LCF Exporter for Rhino 5” plug-in. Go to File/Save or File/Export Selected and in the upcoming dialog choose the “Archicad GDL Object” file type (extension .gsm).

4. Place the object in Archicad

In Archicad, add the object to the Embedded Library, then place it into the Archicad project as an Object.

Complex Structure Import into Archicad

Use this workflow for larger and complex Rhino models to convert them into a set of (smaller) GDL objects. This process enables the user to retain separate logical parts within the same model while providing a functionality to monitor and easily update the imported Rhino models in Archicad. The LCF option is also advised to enable Archicad’s performance optimization algorithm to work seamlessly on an imported large Rhino model.

1. Download and install plug-in for Rhino

Download and launch this “GSM-LCF exporter for Rhino 5” Rhino plug-in to be able to save/export Rhino models.

 GSM-LCF exporter for Rhino 5

2. Choose import method

Depending on the size of the Rhino model, choose one of these two import methods:

3. Save Rhino model as LCF file

In Rhino, select the object(s) you want to export as a reference model to Archicad. Go to File/Save or File/Export Selected and save them as LCF Container File using the “GSM-LCF Exporter for Rhino 5” plug-in. In the upcoming dialog choose the “Archicad GDL Object Library” file type (extension .lcf).

4. Download and install the “Rhino LCF Observer” Add-on for Archicad
Download Windows macOS Guide
Rhino LCF Observer 20
Rhino LCF Observer 19
Rhino LCF Observer 18
5. Place LCF model in Archicad

In Archicad, add the LCF file as a Linked Library in Library Manager, then place it into the Archicad project as an Object. Using the “Rhino LCF Observer” Add-on you can place all objects from the LCF files, and/or to update any placed instances as needed.