Fun with Slabs – AKA Archi-treeStump and Slab ramps. Yes. Slab ramps.

Did you know you can make a ramp using just a slab and nothing else?

Recently I’ve had opportunities to model quite a few schematic designs and imaginary buildings for the creation of renderings and walk-through movies. I love working on these types of models in ArchiCAD. A part of me would be happy to just get paid to design and model imaginary structures (take that as a hint). You don’t have to worry about how the building goes together. It’s just about surfaces, feelings and prettiness. Maybe that’s why I’m such a fan of Steven Holl’s phenomenological approach to architecture (and yes I know that’s an over simplification).

Because I’ve been focusing on the experience of viewing the models, I’ve learned a ton of cool new tricks in ArchiCAD. When working on presentation models one needs to create a lot of objects and elements that are typically ignored in a model built solely for construction documents. Many I’d never have found in my regular work. Take this post for instance. Or this one. Both are some of my favorite posts.

So here’s some cool stuff about slabs now that they can have custom edge conditions.

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20 thoughts on “Fun with Slabs – AKA Archi-treeStump and Slab ramps. Yes. Slab ramps.”

  1. Very cool video but some of the problems that i have with the slab in curb cut is that the representation in 2D is not real i better to use the mesh tool, but for objects looks really good.
    Thanks.

  2. interesting,
    you mentionned you ussed custom edge settings , but where can i retrieve this pallet.

    I use ac 15( dutch version)

    thank for the video

    regards

    1. Mathias,

      Custom edge settings appears in the pet pallet. To get it to show up in the pet pallete you need to click on an edge of the slab in plan or in 3D. If you are trying to select the edge in 3D, you need to click on the bottom edge of the slab face.

      Pet palettes can be a little tricky because depending on where and how you select an element you get a slightly different set up buttons in the palette.

  3. Giorgis Zacharakis

    Thanks! I would never had thought it my own. A simple workflow for complex shapes. Keep posting.

  4. Thank you for quick reply, but I am not able to insert slanted slab in AC14.Please guide on same.

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