Blog Posts

Modeling tips for Chimneys in ArchiCAD

When doing remodels, I often come across some weird chimneys. Likewise when doing new construction, certain architectural styles suggest less than plain chimneys. Here’s a video sharing some tips on how to make good looking chimneys in ArchiCAD. Of course these modeling tips and techniques could be used for other forms. Think of chimney modeling as a proxy for all sorts of non-standard shapes. And this is just the beginning.

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Digital over Paper Documents: This is Solvable

We need to move away from printed documents. Not to save the forests and not to save on money, though those are nice benefits. We need to evolve beyond what we’ve always done because paper documents are so dumb, so inflexible, so 20th Century. We can do better. Why do we cram as many sections or details as possible on a sheet? We do this to save paper, to go

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BIMcomponents.com Channels BIM Objects from BIMobject® – More ArchiCAD 17 News

BUDAPEST, May 8, 2013 — GRAPHISOFT, the developer of ArchiCAD, the Number One choice of architects for BIM solutions, will now channel BIM objects from the BIMobject® cloud and integrate them into the organic search results on BIMcomponents.com. BIMcomponents.com, GRAPHISOFT’s portal for parametric BIM objects, will automatically channel objects developed, maintained, and published by real manufacturers in the central cloud solution at BIMobject.com. The brand recognition of BIMobject® is well

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Minnesota ArchiCAD User Group Meeting: Number 20

Minnesota ArchiCAD User Group 20 That’s right. It’s time for our 20th Minnesota ArchiCAD User Group meeting since 2009. Who would have thought that almost four years after that warm September evening we’d still be at it. Here are the details: Date: Tuesday May 28th, 2013 | 6:30PM — As Long As You Want | Location: Nelson-Tremain Partnership 125 Southeast Main Street, Suite 245 Minneapolis, MN  55414 What’s Going to Happen:

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ArchiCAD 17 — “BIM Lives in the Details”

To see a graphic comparison of all the changes between ArchiCAD 10 and ArchiCAD 17, check out the ArchiCAD Upgrade Calculator created by Graphisoft Connect.   BUDAPEST, May 7, 2013 — GRAPHISOFT® announced today ArchiCAD 17, the latest version of its award-winning building information modeling (BIM) software. The new release delivers capabilities that greatly simplify the modeling and documentation of buildings even when the model contains a high level of

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Starting an Architecture Firm? Let’s Discuss Software and Hardware Costs

Priorities in the 21st Century Architecture Office When starting an architecture firm, you are confronted with a lot of expenses. How do you prioritize or justify where to spend your money? For the 21st Century Architecture Office, IT costs come before physical space costs. If you can’t afford the software you need to be successful, you shouldn’t be paying someone else for space. If you baulk at paying five, ten,

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AEC (UK) BIM Protocols – ArchiCAD

Thanks to Rob Jackson of Bond Bryan Architects for sharing this with me. “The UK has developed a protocol document designed for use with BIM projects, known as the AEC (UK) BIM Protocols. The set of documents builds on the guidelines and frameworks defined by the UK standards documents, including BS1192:2007 and PAS1192-2:2013 alongside proven best practice procedures, providing a clear, concise path to implementation for BIM authoring software. The documents

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The Basics of making a Movie from ArchiCAD

I’d been meaning to record a video on the basics of making a movie from ArchiCAD for a long time. Yesterday a former colleague and friend was asking where she could find such a video to teach her how to make a quick fly-through movie in ArchiCAD… 24 hours later… here’s the video on Cameras and Camera Paths in ArchiCAD. As always, I’m sure I didn’t cover everything. If you

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ArchiCAD Template Basics: View Map and Layout Book

Templates are a big deal. Your template can determine whether you make or lose money with BIM. A strong template can make you efficient. A poor template can win you a gold medal for Wheel Reinvention. I’m not being hyperbolic. To succeed at BIM, you need a strong template. Without that, all the other time, money, and effort you throw at BIM will be severely handicapped. I get a lot

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