Today, architects are challenged to meet compressed project schedules with tight budgets. Depending on your perspective, they are either fortunate or a bit cursed by the number of software products available to them as they face these challenges. With continual advances in technology, it can be intimidating to keep up with the latest developments and navigate what’s best for you and your team. How can architects adopt new workflows and meet those challenges — all without sacrificing their creative processes?
One of the most straightforward ways to improve your design process change is to incorporate 3D modeling. 3D modeling facilitates a streamlined design process while allowing designers to express their creative visions, rather than solely producing documentation. Because 3D workflows utilize intelligent, parametric objects, as well as expressive free-form modeling, they can be used for design exploration, as well as documentation.
Make the Most of 3D Modeling
Most of the 3D architectural models will consist of either solids, NURBS surfaces, NURBS curves, meshes, subdivision surfaces, and more. Not only is it important to support these different types of 3D, but its equally as important to have the ability to create one form of 3D model from another. This supports the design process and helps architects explore one form against the other to study different design schemes.
Unfortunately, many design and modeling software don’t offer all the different types of 3D objects that are required to efficiently represent an architectural project. To get the biggest return from your design software investment, it’s best to look for a program, like Vectorworks Architect, that provides a comprehensive solution by allowing all of these types in one single platform.
What can be accomplished with 3D modeling.
In Vectorworks, solids are accurately represented by the B-rep or boundary representation. Modifications on solids can be performed to create shells, edge fillets/chamfers, sections, additions, subtractions, and intersections, among others.
