Archive

Category Archives for "ArchiCAD"
4

New Tutorial: ARCHICAD Spiral Stair with Custom Treads, Balusters, Newel Posts and 2D Symbol

I couldn’t resist Colorado architect Steve Nickel’s challenge: build his custom-designed spiral stair with the new ARCHICAD 21 tools.

It seemed straightforward, but as with so many things, led me down uncharted pathways to figure out how to make everything work.

In this new 65 minute ARCHICAD tutorial video, I distilled dozens of hours of exploration, testing and optimization into a tightly scripted, step by step training that goes over methods applicable to a wide variety of stairs.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED, GAME ON!

The challenges started with the fact that while ARCHICAD can easily make a spiral stair, it refuses to go past 360 degrees. This stair has 13 treads at 30 degrees, a total of 390. I settled pretty quickly on creating two separate elements that aligned to look like one continuous spiral.

Then came the question of attaching the railing: could it be one railing that spanned both stair elements? After some experimentation, I found this could be done surprisingly easily, as long as you set up the stairs in the correct way. (Hint: Set both stairs to start with a riser, and end with a riser, to make the railing continue in a smooth curve.)

Creating custom treads, balusters and newel posts each had a learning curve, as I tested different options until I mastered the key controls. Making the 2D symbols read cleanly was an interesting process, as I found literally dozens of different settings that allowed finessing the graphic appearance.

Now almost everything seems straightforward to me, as the tools that Graphisoft programmed usually work elegantly and give fine control of the model and symbol. However this 65 minute video moves along briskly, with few wasted motions or superfluous explanations, which may be evidence that these tools require extensive study to learn and master.

ARCHICAD MEANS AND METHODS

Topics and methods covered in this tutorial include:

  • Defining the precise geometry of the stair
  • Choosing a basic structure and finish for the schematic model
  • Aligning two spiral stairs to go beyond 360 degrees
  • Adding an associated railing to both stairs in one step
  • Calculating the pattern dimension and baluster spacing
  • Reworking the floor plan symbol; tread numbering, break line, description
  • Creating a custom tread; understanding coordinate references
  • Defining a custom baluster using an outline in the profile editor
  • Changing base and top heights of balusters and posts
  • Creating a custom newel post using a set of modeled elements
  • Defining a similar, more versatile newel using the profile editor
  • Swapping the new stair and railing into place using the Renovation filter

Please add your comments or questions below or send an email to support (at) bobrow.com.

As always, I wish you the best on your journey towards ARCHICAD mastery, and am always happy to help!

HOW TO SHORTEN YOUR ARCHICAD LEARNING CURVE

TIP: If you’d like to shorten your learning curve, and be able to design, model and document stairs and railings with fluidity and efficiency, I invite you to check out my new ARCHICAD Stairs & Railings Course.

For more info and to sign up, please visit bobrow.com/stairs.

Architects Rave About This ARCHICAD Training: “fantastic… inspiring… thoroughly recommended… opened my eyes”


These aren’t my words to describe this year’s most innovative ARCHICAD training course – although I couldn’t have said it better myself…

These comments come from a survey I sent out to 94 architects and building design professionals who are currently enrolled in the MASTERS of ARCHICAD 2017 course.

In fact, if you want to boil it down to a numeric rating, the reviews are incredible – on a scale of 0 to 10, over 85% of the respondents rated the course at 8 or better:

It’s not too late to join us… if you want to “have what they’re having”… and see what you’ve been missing. *

In fact, I have a VERY special offer for you for a limited time, saving you over $594.

Read on for all the details, as well as a fun little “pop culture” treat at the end…

WHY THIS COURSE IS DIFFERENT – AND HOW YOU’LL BENEFIT

The course is divided into three sections paralleling the project lifecycle. We’ve just finished the Conceptual Design and Project Setup section, and are moving into the Design Development and Collaboration lessons.

Live online webinar sessions are presented every other week, with recordings posted for convenient reference in the private member website. Each of the three main sections has 6 or 7 two hour classes, and the whole course runs through next March.

It sounds like a lot, and it is!

It is our aim to cover Best Practices methods for ARCHICAD for the ENTIRE project lifecycle. The materials are ideal for intermediate and advanced users who want to take their skills to the next level; we also do our best to make sure that less experienced users can still follow along and benefit.

In the course, we do two things in parallel: develop a complex project adapted from an actual real-world design by Austrian architect Andreas Lettner, and explain and delve into the principles, means and methods to optimize the workflow and leverage the amazing power of ARCHICAD.

Taught by 3 veteran ARCHICAD Masters, including two practicing architects (Lettner and pioneering UK architect Tim Ball) who push the limits every day in their own office and projects, it’s not your typical “here’s how to use this tool” sort of thing.

This is how to use ARCHICAD to run your projects in the real world, making your firm more productive, efficient and competitive…

And as Tim Ball put’s it bluntly – this is how to make more profit from each project, by doing a better job with even less effort and time.

Here are some quotes from the survey that tell a bit more about what people appreciate about the MASTERS of ARCHICAD 2017 course:

  • “Thoroughly recommended to transition to the next professional level.”
  • “…my productivity has increased by about 30%. Largely due to investing time into good quality training…”
  • “These courses are fantastic for me to learn the basics as well as significantly advanced techniques to manipulate the vast software potential of ArchiCAD… from not knowing anything at all, I can now deliver sophisticated projects regularly already with the knowledge that it is 100% accurate which is extremely important for me as a chartered architect.”
  • “Thoroughly enjoying the course.”
  • “It’s a great course! Most [courses]… only teach you how to use the tools, here we learn a real work methodology and how to really take advantage of the program and get it to work for us…”
  • “The course inspires me to incorporate more features into my daily practice using ArchiCAD.”
  • “Very glad I signed up!”

SPECIAL OFFER THRU OCTOBER 31

The MASTERS of ARCHICAD 2017 course normally sells for $697. This is a total bargain considering both the amount of materials included (20 two hour lessons delivered over 9 months) and the transformation and improved efficiency that you may achieve when you incorporate these strategies and methods into your own work.

However, from now through October 31, when you enroll for only $497  I’ll throw in some REALLY super-valuable bonuses to make your total savings $594:

  • My new ARCHICAD Stairs & Railings Course – an in-depth exploration of the new tools introduced into ARCHICAD 21 – four lessons teaching general principles and methods PLUS building step by step many different real designs – includes sample files and Favorites – a $297 value
  • MASTERS of ARCHICAD Summit 2018 – A day-long online conference in March 2018 with presentations recapping the highlights and lessons learned from the extended 2017 course – a $97 value
  • Access to our Facebook discussion group, in which course members share their insights and questions

You’ll be able to catch up on the Concept Modeling section of the MofA2017 course at your convenience, as the sessions are all posted for permanent reference in the member area of the website.

In fact, this is a great way to learn as you can watch at your own pace. I often use a free Chrome browser plugin to speed up videos, then slow them down or pause while I write down some notes or try something out on my own.

I encourage you to join us live for some or all of the upcoming sessions. These classes, run once every two weeks, can be a really great break in your day:

  • “I’m enjoying it and look forward to each fortnight. I run a modest sized practice and so look forward to both comparing and learning from what you guys are presenting.”

Ask us questions and send us challenges – we love to take input from architects around the world. We’ll explain or demonstrate how to approach things in ways that will make the most sense for your firm and your designs.

CLICK HERE TO ENROLL TODAY FOR ONLY $497

On a budget? Need more time to pay?
Click here for the extended payment option – jump on board for only $97 per month

Questions? Comments? Feedback?
Reply to this email and I’ll help you out.

Eric

P.S. In the next class we’re going to tackle one of the most interesting and intricate attributes of your ARCHICAD file that makes your building models generate accurate and clean section drawings with little to no 2D cleanup.

Yes, I’m talking about Building Materials, and how they work in Composites and Complex Profiles. A confusing yet ultimately rewarding subject of study.

Tim Ball will show his latest methods that also allow him to easily create 2D and 3D Details directly from his models, and in fact, avoid doing any 2D drafting for most details!

After several years developing this approach, he’s really got it honed down and will teach it in a way that makes it straightforward for you to implement in your own projects. He’ll even show a few very specific changes he makes in the Graphisoft standard set of Building Materials to get this to work in an optimum fashion.

P.P.S. * Perhaps you noticed my reference to the classic 1989 movie “When Harry Met Sally” in which actress Meg Ryan as Sally tries to embarrass Billy Crystal as Harry. She loudly pretends to have an orgasm while eating dinner with him at a restaurant.

An envious bystander (played by director Rob Reiner’s mother) then tells the waitress “I’ll have what she’s having.”

Click here or on the image above to watch a 3 minute film excerpt featuring this unforgettable scene.

To share this inspiring MASTERS of ARCHICAD 2017 experience with other architects from around the world, click this link to have what they’re having…

ARCHICAD 21 Upgrade Training Launches Thursday July 6

We’re about to get underway, and you can still get on board at special launch pricing.

If you’ve got ARCHICAD 21, or will be getting this fantastic new version this year, there is a bit of a learning curve.

You can get a jump on this, and hit the ground running with my ARCHICAD 21 Upgrade Training.

Over the next couple of months, in 4 live webinar sessions spaced every other week, I’ll teach you exactly what you need to know.

This goes beyond the “what does this button do” types of short little training videos that Graphisoft provides, and will help you integrate the new tools and methods into your workflow with a minimum of downtime or confusion.

We’ll also go over upgrade and migration strategies for both ongoing projects and templates, so you’ll know exactly what to do.

The sessions will be recorded and available for convenient online access any time, however it’s always more fun to attend LIVE (and you’ll be able to ask questions too).

Maximize your investment in ARCHICAD 21 with my upgrade training, with a small outlay of time and cash:

MASTER ARCHICAD 21

The upgrade training is one of three parts of my MASTER ARCHICAD 21 project.

The other two include:

  • the expanded, revamped version of MasterTemplate 21, which incorporates all of the enhancements I’ve learned from studying other template systems and brainstorming with my colleagues
  • and the groundbreaking MASTERS of ARCHICAD 2017 online training, which runs over the next 8 months, exploring Best Practices methods for running a complex project from concept through working drawings and beyond

For more details (and special launch pricing through July 14) please visit bobrow.com/ac21

Questions? Feedback?
Post a comment here – I’m all ears!

Eric

P.S. One last reminder, while you can still get the discounted launch pricing:

6

MASTER ARCHICAD 21: New Training and MasterTemplate

ARCHICAD Master: Eric Bobrow

SPECIAL SALE!

ARCHICAD 21 is here.

Everything is now set up to help you MASTER ARCHICAD 21, including a revamped and expanded version of MasterTemplate, a complete upgrade training course, and an ambitious MASTERS of ARCHICAD 2017 program.

Click here or scroll down for special MASTER ARCHICAD 21 sale pricing, available for a limited time.

MasterTemplate 21

MasterTemplate, the Office Standard for ArchiCAD, has been in continuous development since 2007, with new versions prepared each year to take advantage of the latest features and technology provided by Graphisoft.

This is our tenth anniversary, and this year I’ve incorporated innovative options compiled from extensive field research for last year’s ArchiCAD Templates and Office Standards course. I’m also integrating systematic optimizations based on discussions with Tim Ball and Andreas Lettner from the MASTERS of ARCHICAD 2017 online course.

Graphisoft’s new ARCHICAD 21 is a fantastic leap forward in many ways. MasterTemplate has been retooled to give the most elegant, integrated solution available for ARCHICAD users anywhere in the world.

ARCHICAD 21 Upgrade Training

As I’ve done for over 20 years, I have created a special upgrade training course to cover the new features of ARCHICAD 21.

This series of four 90-minute online training webinars shows you how to migrate your projects and templates forward into the new software, and goes into depth on all of the new tools and reworked methods.

Classes were presented in July and August 2017, and the recordings are now posted for permanent reference.

MASTERS of ARCHICAD 2017

UK Architect Tim Ball and Eric Bobrow at Graphisoft BIM Conference, March 2017

Tim Ball and I were talking about how to describe MASTERS of ARCHICAD 2017.

I said: “It’s an online training series that shows a real-life complex project being developed from concept through working drawings and beyond, pushing the technology and demonstrating best practices for workflow and collaboration.”

Tim said: “It’s actually much simpler than that. We’re going to show how to efficiently and effectively use ARCHICAD on real projects in a way that makes your firm money.”

The MASTERS of ARCHICAD 2017 training program is for you if you:

  • Want to learn, grow and use ArchiCAD’s cool technology to the max
  • Want your firm to be highly profitable in delivering your projects to clients

We’ll take a complex, real-world project (60 room hotel on a hillside) and develop it from concept through working drawings while also producing cost estimates, collaborating with consultants and creating marketing renderings.

The workflow will systematically develop the building model and data using the LOD system, a widely used BIM terminology defining the “Level of Detail” appropriate for each phase of a project. When done properly, virtually all of the individual and team effort and decision-making during design and production are fully leveraged throughout the project lifecycle.

The BIM model will flow smoothly from LOD 100 (conceptual design) through LOD 200 and LOD 300 while teaching current Best Practices methods for ARCHICAD 21.

The program launched July 12 and runs on alternate Wednesdays at 1 pm US Pacific time. We’ve planned out 18 live webinar sessions running until March 2018, with each session recorded and posted for permanent reference.

Following the conclusion of the course, there will be a special one day online Summit conference in March 2018, with presentations by Masters of ARCHICAD faculty chronicling the development of the project, along with lessons learned and tips and tricks.

Sign up during our MASTER ARCHICAD 21 Sale!

During our MASTER ARCHICAD 21 sale, you may purchase any or all of these resources at a substantial discount.

NEW – EXPANDED MASTERS BUNDLE – Get It All:

NOTE: Existing users of MasterTemplate may request a special discount code to purchase at upgrade pricing ($97 for MasterTemplate 21, or $100 discount off any bundle).

Questions? Add a comment here or email support (at) bobrow.com.

1 2 3 4 5 … 19
→←