Nadezhda Koveshnikova, leading architect in the development and implementation of premium residential and public interiors.
Work experience - 11 years. The portfolio includes more than 50 projects of various sizes (from 70 to 5000 m2) implemented in ARCHICAD.
This article continues the ARCHICAD: Rediscovering series of articles, which aims to help users unleash the full potential of ARCHICAD®. We asked the architects to share their personal experience of using the program using non-standard approaches, little-studied functions and new features that many users may not even be aware of. As a manufacturer of the ARCHICAD application, we are confident that only a deep knowledge of the product will help to reveal its full value and decisively influence the results, speed and quality of the designer's work.
The article covers the following issues:
- general principle of the structure of the entire working file of the project in ARCHICAD;
- organization and relationship of folders and subfolders in the Layout Book (ARCHICAD) and folders in the local project folder space (computer)
- organization and interconnection of folders in the View Map (ARCHICAD) and folders in the local space of the project folders (computer);
- organization of Layers and Combinations of Layers in the working file, the relationship of the names of Combinations of Layers and names of folders in the View Map;
- working with Combinations of Layers customized by Pens of the working project file in ARCHICAD.
BIM in interiors
ARCHICAD is one of the main tools I use when designing residential and public interiors. It is a powerful software package for architects based on BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology and is intended for all stages of the design of architectural and building structures of any scale - up to landscape elements, furniture, etc.
During the study of ARCHICAD and the application of the knowledge gained in practice, considerable experience has been accumulated. In this article I will share some of my best practices. I hope they will be useful to my fellow designers.
General principle of the structure of the entire working file of the project in ARCHICAD
The principle on the basis of which I build my work in ARCHICAD is the organization of a single workspace for the internal system of the program and the external system of local folders on the computer.
To begin with, I set a clear structure, with the help of which I group all the accumulated and necessary information: feathers, pies of multilayer structures, building materials, coatings, profiles, graphic and model views, auto-texts (Project Information), external design of drawings (Layout Book). An example of the systematization of pies of multilayer structures - see Fig. 2.
Such a structure allows you to create your own corporate identity, including for templates and project design, and use it both in the format of personal work and in the office structure (see Fig. 3, 4).
I supplement the grouped information with sets of feathers, pies of walls, floors, different structures, types of profiles and other important positions that pass from project to project. Thus, a single file is formed containing structured and necessary information in the work.
I want to note that the created and organized template files can be modified and supplemented with new parameters and components of structural elements. As a rule, this happens after the completion of the next project. As a result, a regularly updated project template file in ARCHICAD becomes both a workspace and a library of positions, settings, structural elements, symbols, texts and other components.
Such work requires organization, attention, but as a result you get a convenient tool for working with all architectural projects.
I use two template files for single-story (Figure 5) and multi-story (Figure 6) projects. They are customized for sections and drawings of the architectural design for the interior, but with minor changes they can be applied in any other architectural project.
Both template files have the same settings and a single database for building materials, sandwich structures, profiles and pen sets. But there are differences in the names and organization of folders, both in the ARCHICAD file space and in local folders on the computer. Next, we will consider these differences.
Organization and relationship of folders in the View Map (ARCHICAD) and folders in the local space of the project folders (computer)
One of the important points in organizing the workspace in the ARCHICAD file is the structuring of folders in the View Map. In my example, the folder system in the View Map is linked to the folder system in the Layout Book (see fig. 7, 8).
In turn, the folder system in the Layout Book is interconnected with the local folder system on the computer (see Fig. 9).
Where to start organizing folder data and why do you need such systematization and relationships?
At the beginning of work on creating a template file, it is necessary to determine the list of architectural sections in the project, i.e. highlight and group the main positions. The amount of work at this stage depends on the complexity of the study and the number of necessary drawings for the architectural project.
As a leading architect, I design interiors for premium properties. My working books contain drawings of a high degree of detail: they include detailed nodes of parts, 3D sections by nodes in all sections and other positions. And therefore, to properly organize the workspace, I need a clear folder system. First of all, it concerns the Map of Views in ARCHICAD space.
Quite often in my practice, I meet architects and designers who work with the Project Map (the first tab on the project navigation panel) and ignore the View Map (the second tab on the project navigation panel), putting all the information drawn at once on the sheet of the created layout - in the Layout Book (third tab on the project navigation bar).
As a result, in the process of working on a project, all posted information simply lies with duplicate names in the View Map, and at the same time the same views are laid out on different layout sheets. Combinations of layers with which these views are automatically saved in the View Map are also ignored.
In a situation where the designer works for himself, with projects with a total area of up to 70-80 sq.m and an insignificant number of drawings (up to 7-10), this approach can be justified. In this case, as a rule, the architect or designer copies the previous drawing with partitions and places it next to the new plan. And yet, in my opinion, this is a very irrational and illiterate use of the main features of the ARCHICAD workspace.
When working on complex objects with an area of 90 square meters and more, for which a complex and full-fledged project is required, such design in ARCHICAD works to slow down and complicate the workflow, where almost every drawing is done manually, and plans, sweeps, nodes are not connected between yourself. This approach goes against the basic principles of BIM design.
Any project is corrected many times during the development process. Changing some positions and elements entails changing other positions and elements, etc. If you use an unorganized file, then the time spent on work increases significantly.
This problem can and should be addressed by organizing a folder system. The time spent on its creation will be compensated in future projects due to the competent and well-coordinated work of the designer or a group of designers.
I suggest the following two main steps to create a system:
- Organize sections and types of drawings that are regularly used in projects. This systematization is necessary in the View Map, in a combination of layers and other View parameters. Organize the sections (Books or Volumes) in the Layout Book. This systematization is necessary for grouping sheets when releasing the Sketchbook by project.
- Create folders in the View Map. Unnecessary folders can be safely deleted, because by deleting something from the View Map, you only delete the view saved with certain view parameters, while the drawing itself is saved.
The principle of creating a folder system in the View Map
In the examples below, there are folders in the View Map for a single-story project (Fig. 11) and folders in the View Map for a multi-storey project (Fig. 12).
Some features of folder organization:
- The folder names include a numeric designation: “01. Measurement plans, Dismantling”.
- Each section / group of drawings is divided into subparagraphs: "02" - section of Masonry plans (plans for the installation of building blocks / bricks, gypsum boards, General sections), subparagraphs - "02-2", "02-3", "02-4".
- The main difference between template files for single-story and multi-story projects is in the number of folders in the View Map. Obviously, in the project of a multi-storey project, it is necessary to save a larger number of drawings and views for them, which means that it is especially important to organize them correctly in order to quickly find and display them on the layout sheet with the necessary design and the necessary information in the process.
The folder names are associated with the names of the layer combinations (see Figure 13).
The folders store not only plans with combinations, but also the project lists required in this section, detail units, and flat patterns. This way you organize everything in one place (see Figure 14)
In my template files, explications often used in drawings are located in a separate folder in the View Map and are located at the very beginning. This helps me or other project participants quickly find the information I need and not create duplicate views of drawings, bills, details, flat patterns and other positions in ARCHICAD space
In the Layout Book, I also create a grouped system of folders in which I save drawings. Thus, I immediately create sheets in advance that will be included in my project.
The relationship of the folder system View Map, Layout Book and local folders on the computer
For a one-story project (apartment, office, apartment, etc.) I have developed a simplified local folder system that completely duplicates the folder system in the Layout Map. What is it for?
In the process of working on a project, we often save certain drawings for working moments (prepare for a meeting, send to the chief designer / architect, send for a preliminary calculation, etc.). With the help of such an organization of folders, each project participant can quickly find the drawing he needs (see Fig. 15, 16).
A more detailed system of local folders on a computer - see fig. 17.
As a variant of instructions for working with project folders, I will give the following slide (Fig. 18):
Organization of layers and layer combinations in the working file. Relationship between the names of combinations of layers and the names of folders in the View Map in ARCHICAD.
As it was written above, combinations of layers are associated with the names of folders in the View Map and local folders on the computer. Layer combinations are also divided into groups / sections, which correspond to the groups / sections in the project drawing set.
I use the following systematization of the main sections:
01. Measurement plans. Dismantling
02. Masonry plans. Finishing schemes
03. Floor plan, plans with the arrangement of furniture and plumbing
04. Floor plans, plans with underfloor heating (TP)
05. Electrical plans
06. Ceiling plans
07. Plans with engineering systems
08. Development of premises
09. Terms of Reference (TK) + Interior Designs (IC)
10.3D views (Perspectives of premises)
eleven. Drawings for individual products
Each section includes subsections. For example, section “02. Masonry plans. Finishing schemes consists of several different drawings, united by a single type:
02-1. - general sections of the entire room;
02-2. - plans for the installation of foam block / brick partitions;
02-3. - plans for the installation of GKL-structures partitions;
02-4. - sections for gypsum board structures;
02-5. - plans for doors and doorways. List of doorways.
Thus, I created the main groups and divided these groups into subgroups, which I also grouped (see Fig. 19, 20).
Folders, layer combinations are arranged in alphabetical order, which helps in the process of work to identify "garbage" or incorrectly named files / elements.
As a result, folders and layer combinations with the same name are created in my project. Keeping the view with the bundle of the layer, I define it in the desired folder. I also group the layers themselves, using for this a certain number and a phrase at the beginning of the layer name (see Fig. 21). They coincide with the names of the groups, which I divided into:
- structural elements;
- elements for designation on assembly / dismantling plans (dimensions, signatures, sections, etc.);
- objects of furniture and sanitary ware (elements, signatures, markings, axes of symmetry, etc.);
- finishing elements (floors, rough and fine finishing, panels, etc.);
- ceilings;
- electrician;
- engineering systems;
- other layers.
Such a system helps to determine if I have entered all the parameters of the view correctly. Why is it important?
In the process of working on a project, a drawing view may appear with an incomprehensible combination of layers - "Special combination". This means that you have saved the view with a layer combination that is not in your layer options. To this situation, as a rule, one more is added - the wrong name of the species themselves.
For example, in the folder “03. Plans with the arrangement of furniture and plumbing ", a view with the name" 1. Plan (new view 01) ". There can be many such saved species, and they can be in different folders in the Species Map.
Adding the above examples of incorrect work with a combination of layers, with folders and views in the View Map, we get a messy organization of files, which slows down the work of specialists and causes design errors.
As I wrote above, all this can be avoided. It takes a little patience, the habit of organizing and structuring information on projects.
And of course, it should be noted that a bureau (especially when working with large objects) needs a responsible architect / designer (now he is increasingly called a BIM manager), whose duties will include control over the order in the project's working files in ARCHICAD.
Customized workspace Feather sets in a project file in ARCHICAD
For professional work in the ARCHICAD space, it is also necessary to be able to work with the Feather parameters (Feather combinations must be specified when saving a view in the View Map). For my file, I have created several sets of Feathers (Fig. 22, 23).
Mostly I use Pens with the name "01 ARCHITECTURAL". But for plans for electrical, ceilings, custom products, utility systems, I use other Feather combinations with corresponding names.
In these Feather combinations, the colors and thickness are color swapped. This helps me create the right graphics for the drawing. For example, in electrical plans, all furniture and plumbing, door leaves become lighter both along the contour and in the shading. So the designations look clearer, brighter and better read according to the degree of importance (relative to furniture, etc.).
Also for the electrical section, I created several combinations of Feathers - "03 Electrical (BRIEF PLAN)". Since on the Master plan I make a division into lighting groups, it is the brightest and most multicolored one (see fig. 24).
On a plan with sockets and switches and on a plan with lighting tied to the ceiling / walls, if it is necessary to turn on the lighting, all lamps will have a red or blue color. I can also divide the color of the lamps on these plans: technical lamps, for example, will be marked in red, decorative ones - in blue. In addition, you can control the display of drawings using the Graphic Override function.
Conclusion
The system I proposed in this article allows, firstly, to organize the project workspace in the ARCHICAD space and a system of local folders on the computer, and secondly, to systematize the working information on the project, create a structure for storing project information and, as a result, optimize time of work on the project.
But for this you need to spend 1-3 days, create your own template file and then adhere to the given structure. I would advise architectural bureaus to make a short presentation with the basic rules for working in template files. According to experience, 3-7 days are enough for a specialist to start working freely in this system (provided that he has basic knowledge of working in the ARCHICAD space).
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. Material provided by Graphisoft
