Author Archive
EcoDesigner STAR – Thermal Bridging Simulation Part 4
In case you’re just joining us on the Thermal Bridging Simulation Adventure, here’s post 0, post 1, post 2, and post 3. We’re hitting the Start Simulation Button! Finally. Doing so gives us two results which we can subsequently place as images on our detail. Here’s what my simulation generates after I place the two potential...
EcoDesigner STAR – Thermal Bridging Simulation Part 3
If you’ve been following along (post 0, post 1, post 2), we’ve got a detail that is ready to analyze. Almost. We’ve designated what’s air and what’s earth in the Thermal Bridging Simulation Window. We’ve also made sure our building is located in the right spot on the earth and set the elevation above sea...
A Man, a Plan, an ArchiCAD 16 Box
One of the guys at Graphisoft North America had some time on his hands recently while being snowed in by Super Storm Nemo. This is the result: While the images speak for themselves, here’s the back story Everyone in the GRAPHISOFT North America office wanted to be able to listen to some good music while...
EcoDesigner STAR – Thermal Bridging Simulation Part 2
Now that the geometry is ready (discussed here), we can actually launch the Thermal Bridging Simulation. Go to the Design/Energy Evaluation Menu and then select Thermal Bridge Simulation. If your active window is a detail, that window will be the one selected. If you’re in another view, you’ll be prompted to select which detail you...
EcoDesigner STAR – Thermal Bridging Simulation Part 1
Now we really begin our EcoDesigner STAR adventure. I see three things that we need to tackle with Thermal Bridging Simulation to feel comfortable using it on a real project and adding it to our bag of design and analysis tricks. How to use this function with our existing details. How to create new details...
EcoDesigner STAR – Day One
My brain hurts. And I am reminded of the graphs I drew over at Shoegnome on why people fail at BIM. Take a quick moment and read it. Then come back here. Read it? Good. Because we’re about to embark on a many month adventure into BEM (Building Energy Modeling). I’m scared and nervous and...
ABCs of ArchiCAD (Obscure Version)
Stealing some inspiration from this great video on the ABCs of Architecture, I decided to do a quick list** of the ABCs of ArchiCAD. But instead of going with the obvious (B is for Beam, D is for Door, and W is for Wall), I searched out some obscure aspects of ArchiCAD. Hopefully a few...
Challenge Accepted: Ionic Column
In my post about the Doric Order being modeled in ArchiCAD, I ended with a challenge to the behind the scenes guru who makes all the awesome ArchiCAD Classics videos. Well I have a feeling he was already planning the sequel video because here it is: My favorite part of this video is how our...
Filed Under: ArchiCAD 16 / MORPH
DO Try this at Home… the TIE Fighter in ArchiCAD
Have you watched the TIE Fighter modeled in ArchiCAD video yet? If you’re like me you’ve probably watched it a few times, with increasing envy. Ready to take the next step? Step 1: Download the ArchiCAD .pln drawing-aid : http://tinyurl.com/b6blqjl Step 2: Rewatch the extended cut of the video Step 3: Pause and rewind ALOT....
ArchiCAD meets Roman Doric Column, falls in love
“…they measured a man’s foot, and finding its length the sixth part of his height, they gave the column a similar proportion, that is, they made its height, including the capital, six times the thickness of the shaft, measured at the base. Thus the Doric order obtained its proportion, its strength, and its beauty, from...
Filed Under: ArchiCAD 16 / MORPH
Surprising Benefits of the Morph Tool
Here’s a quote from my last post on Element IDs and the Element ID Manager: “All 3D elements (including grids and zones) as well as fills have an Element ID. Lines, Polylines, Dimensions, Text, and other annotation elements do not” But what happens if you NEED a line to have an ID. I don’t know...
Filed Under: MORPH / Tips and Tricks
Element IDs and the Element ID Manager
In my last post, I talked about an ArchiCAD Champion who was completely unfamiliar with the Element ID Manager—a function of ArchiCAD that would subsequently make his life much better. The story was perfect for the post, but going in depth into what the Element ID Manager provides was beyond the scope of that post...
Filed Under: Tips and Tricks
What People are Saying