The architects of HCF and Associates decided to implement BIM technologies in the process of working on a project for a private residential building. The use of BIM has influenced the entire design process, from concept to implementation. This has significantly reduced the time and resources required, and has also positively changed the way architects think and work.
Introduction
House 15 is located in an exclusive gated community of private buildings in Singapore. The 700-square-meter (7,553-square-foot) development site is located amongst other landlocked plots with access to the sea.
Despite its high cost, the site is relatively small, and its proximity to other sites caused the building to be limited in height.
The concept of House 15 is based on geometric calculations and includes three separate blocks, placed around a central atrium. These blocks create a sense of home comfort while retaining ample space for spatial elements such as spiral staircases, an atrium and an elevator.
The plan of the house is organized in such a way that all public premises are concentrated on the first floor, while the basement and the second floor are reserved for private areas.
Pilot project
The choice of House 15 as a pilot project for the full-scale implementation of BIM technologies was due to several factors:
- The size of the project made it possible to study in detail all the design features using BIM solutions.
- The time allotted for the design made it possible to identify and eliminate possible errors that could arise during the new organization of work.
- The BIM model was gradually supplemented with more and more nodes, details and data throughout the design.
- The team of designers responsible for the project coped with the search and development of the best solution in accordance with the given time frame and terms of reference.
2D / 3D design or BIM design
HCF and Associates views traditional 2D / 3D design as a set of steps and tasks that have little or no relationship to each other. These tasks include the development of the structural scheme and engineering systems, as well as the implementation of the interior design. Such an organization of work leads to the release of large volumes of documentation, but minimizes the mutual coordination of adjacent sections of the design.
Designing with the use of BIM solutions allows you to comprehensively solve all emerging issues and operate with significantly large amounts of data that form a single information system.
“Any mistake made in BIM design can be critical. Therefore, our employees must be very careful about their work and take into account the possibilities of BIM technologies. That is why we must be sure that they have received the necessary training and are ready to implement advanced solutions.. - Eric Bartholresponsible for BIM implementation.
BIM Thinking
The advantage of BIM technologies lies in the ability to integrate and organize information in the model. However, if the user enters incorrect information, this will be reflected in all inextricably linked and automatically exchanging information sections of the project.
HCF and Associates are convinced that such errors can only be avoided by monitoring the correctness and accuracy of data entry into the BIM model. In other words, the user is the only source of information and the guarantor of the reliability of the BIM model. This requires a certain BIM mindset from designers, implying attention to detail and a responsible approach to their work.
BIM implementation
The design process of this object included interrelated stages of decision-making, their elaboration and verification.
From Concept to Project Stage
The chief architect of the project hand-made planning schemes and sketches. The architect's task was to transform the resulting sketches into a 3D BIM model. The model thus generated was used to extract additional information such as areas, volumes, and cardinal orientation.
This additional information was passed on to the chief architect of the project, who clarified the layout, dimensions of the premises, the location of openings and vertical connections of the building. All changes were instantly reproduced in the BIM model for later verification. The BIM platform has also made it easier to share data with related professionals and contractors.
From Project to Working Documentation
The architect gradually added information to the BIM model in order to be able to quickly make the necessary changes and corrections made by the chief architect of the project.
Basic principles of BIM modeling
HCF and Associates have created the most flexible BIM model to simplify the process of obtaining images and information. This was facilitated by careful tuning of layers and their combinations, pen sets, model view parameters and graphic replacement rules.
Another important aspect of the development of the House 15 project was the creation of a virtual BIM model that exactly corresponded to a real building. This made it possible to identify and eliminate many potential problems and shortcomings at the project stage, and not at the construction stage.
Project documentation
The BIM model of House 15 was used to release all sets of documentation at all stages of the design.
Customer: Preliminary volumetric model of the house, conceptual diagrams, plans, facades and sections at all stages of design, visualization of the exteriors and interiors of the house, presentation of the project in the BIMx application.
Approval bodies: All drawings for approval, explanatory diagrams and albums.
Contractors: Drawings for the tender, working documentation, assemblies, statements and diagrams.
Suppliers: Sketch drawings and diagrams, detailing and explanatory materials.
Teamwork and OPEN BIM
HCF and Associates sees open communication as a key technology advantage that will gradually revolutionize the design process in architecture. Therefore, it is imperative to seize this opportunity and encourage all related professionals to participate in the collaborative design.
Like any other innovative approach, BIM interactions are faced with the problem of uneven diffusion of knowledge and technology. Despite the fact that this method of working has become almost the standard for most architectural firms, engineers and contractors still rarely take advantage of BIM solutions.
HCF and Associates advocates for the transition to BIM design and supports firms in the early stages of BIM adoption. In May 2016, HCF and Associates began recommending that all partner firms use the OPEN BIMTM approach in their projects.
As a result of this interaction, the volume of files in both IFC and CAD formats increased, resulting in improved integration, accuracy and efficiency of the design process.
"There are no projects that are too small to use BIM. On the contrary, the smaller the project, the more opportunities arise to thoroughly understand the benefits of BIM, Teamwork and OPEN BIM." - Eric Bartholresponsible for BIM implementation.
What's next?
BIM, Teamwork and OPEN BIM open up interesting possibilities that have not yet been fully explored at this time. However, it is only a matter of time before BIM becomes the standard for architecture and design engineering. To achieve this goal, BIM technologies must begin to be used not only by architects, but also by builders, engineers and government agencies.
In addition, it is important to perceive BIM not as software, but as the main platform that combines all the necessary tools and processes for the development of complex virtual projects of all types, sizes and levels of complexity.
HCF and Associates welcomes and actively supports this fundamental technological breakthrough by partnering with GRAPHISOFT to further develop and improve software products.
About HCF and Associates
Based in Singapore, HCF and Associates is a dedicated architecture and consulting firm with a highly efficient dedicated team of architects, designers and technologists.
Conceptual and general design
The fulfillment of numerous large orders from the government made it possible to acquire rich experience in the field of conceptual and general planning of territories from 10 hectares of residential, industrial and administrative purposes with various relief and topographic conditions.
Architectural design
Active participation and victories in architectural competitions, as well as an integrated approach to design, have developed an excellent aesthetic taste and architectural skill. The fulfillment of orders for projects of bungalows and commercial interiors manifested itself in a sophisticated approach to design, combined with experiments with new materials. In order to convey protoarchitectural ideas, various architectural installations are created.
Compliance with regulations
The head of the company has years of practice behind him and a good knowledge of the regulatory framework. These factors give him the opportunity to successfully manage projects, taking into account local rules and requirements for construction projects.
Implementation of project coordination and management
Many years of practical experience, ranging from turnkey interior projects to multi-million dollar orders, also honed the leader's ability to form the composition of working groups that include all sections of the design.
About GRAPHISOFT
GRAPHISOFT® revolutionized the BIM in 1984 with ARCHICAD®, the industry's first CAD BIM solution for architects. GRAPHISOFT continues to lead the architectural software market with innovative products such as BIMcloud ™, the world's first real-time collaborative BIM design solution, EcoDesigner ™, the world's first fully integrated energy modeling and energy efficiency assessments of buildings, and BIMx® is the leading mobile application for the demonstration and presentation of BIM models. Since 2007, GRAPHISOFT has been part of the Nemetschek Group.
