ArchiCAD in India
When I started Shoegnome, there were two independent ArchiCAD websites I’d regularly use: Onland.info and archicadstuff.blogspot.com. Archicadstuff was a great website because Vistasp Mehta had created a search engine that looked at all the important ArchiCAD resources online. It was quite an honor to get my site listed up there. It was definitely a milestone for me: I had reached a point of larger value.
In addition to the search Engine, Vistasp periodically posts other valuable content. Most recently he shared a tile Object he created (it’s free). I’ve played around with it a bit and it’s really nice. You can’t change the pattern of the titles, as far as I know, but you can change the sizes and the colors, which is fantastic. I can imagine a lot of uses for this Object, especially once you step away from the concept of tiles and just think “here’s an Object that has great color control for a grid of rectangles.” It’s more than that…anyways check it out. Hopefully Vistasp will receive some encouragement/help to make the Object even better.
So right, I have a lot of respect for Vistasp. I’ve known for many, many years. Well we’ve known each other virtually; he’s one of my oldest ArchiCAD friends whom I’ve yet to meet (2014 was a great year for meeting ArchiCAD users I’ve known for years digitally, and 2015 looks like it’ll be just as good). What does this have to do with ArchiCAD in India, which is the title of this post?
Vistasp has been a longtime (and seemingly lone) champion of ArchiCAD in India. He has just posted an article on archicadstuff.blogspot.com about his thoughts on ArchiCAD in India. You need to read them. Vistasp knows more about ArchiCAD in India than Graphisoft does, I’m sure. And I think if we all want to see ArchiCAD flourish in India, then anything anyone (users or Graphisoft) can do to heed Vistasp’s advice is a good thing. Also I’m sure there are many other places in the world that are dealing with a similar, less visible tale of being under-supported. So hopefully what Vistasp writes will not only help Graphisoft and ArchiCAD users in India, but all the ArchiCAD users in locations outside of the core user base.
Take a few minutes and read Vistasp’s great article:
Some Thoughts on ArchiCAD in India
Subscribe to my blog to read more about the tricky world of being an Architect in the 21st century: Shoegnome on Facebook, Twitter, and RSS feed. And for a little inspiration check out Vistasp’s architecture website where he discusses the types of projects he won’t take as an architect. How great is that?
Djordje
* applause *
Vistasp Mehta
Thanks for the kind words Jared. I remember very well when we first made contact.
The search engine, which is nothing more than a custom google search, was born out of a need to quickly find solutions to problems we all face in our daily usage of ArchiCAD. These days, the Help Centre does a good job–and that’s the way it should be–but there still are times when I fall back to ye old search box. 🙂
I have no doubt that there are a number of ArchiCAD users in India who know way more than I do. It’s just that very few are evangelical about it. The thoughts put down in the post are from my personal experience and, if it helps GS and local distributors understand some of the frustration we users feel in under-represented markets, it will have served its purpose.
Thanks once again for publicising it and let us hope it reaches the target audience… before Giganotosaurus gets going.
Suryaveer Patnaik
ArchiCAD needs to be marketed better in India. I have been an Archicad User for 5 years now, and I am not comfortable with any other software. The concept of using ArchiCAD for construction drawings is so alien is India, most just use it as a 3D modelling tool.
We were “taught” Revit in college, I mean no disrespect, but it is a pretty dull piece of software. I wonder why people still don’t see the benefits of using archiCAD over Revit, or any other BIM platform. ArchiCAD keeps it simple.
Sandeep gupta
Agree with Patnaik.. Have used both Ravit and Archicad… Archicad is any day easier to learn and use, much better, only problem is in getting trained manpower.