topic Re: Architects: Revit or Archicad? in Modeling

Architects: Revit or Archicad?

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:02:16 GMT

HII
Just gauging the popularity and usage of both Revit and ArchiCad in the industry. The school I'm in teaches and forces us to ArchiCad it in some of our works, which is odd considering that a majority of studios in our country uses solely Revit.

Is there something that ArchiCad that Revit does not offer? And the other way around?

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

Erwin Edel — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:14:29 GMT

No experience with Revit, but it is a tried and tested and proven bit of software. Same as ARCHICAD.

Some things will work better in one or the other.

In my time (end of last century ) we were forced to use Allplan, but everyone used AutoCAD to draw their projects. A bit later everyone used MAYA to model 3D and AutoCAD to make the technical drawings. Students are odd.

Without meaning disrespect, don't fool yourself into thinking you will be an experienced user from using the software at school. Working at an architect firm will teach you so much more about technical drawing and unless you are somehow very much Team ARCHICAD or Team REVIT for life, you will apply for a job at some firm and they will be using one or the other or maybe something completely different. If they are smart, they will send you off on a course to learn to use the program and then teach you their method of working with it.

Try both, assuming REVIT offers a free student version too. If you are working in a team, stick to what the team knows best.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

DGSketcher — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 09:51:46 GMT

Personally I crossed swords with Autodesk a few years back and now see them as nothing more than a mega corporation seeking world dominance e.g. too big to care & profit first agenda. Yes, they can create the tools, but I feel Graphisoft are a bit more passionate and innovative about what they do.

Don't be surprised if you get biased responses from this Archicad forum

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 16:46:54 GMT

I would say… whatever you know better.

I have tried Revit and Allplan and both lack of good and intuitive interface which was very well developed in AC over last year. And to be honest is one of the main things in Architectural work.

Revit and Allplan, however, have more open database access and the possibility to write simple scripts. In terms of AC, you need to build your own Addons to make some advance stuff. I'm not sure how collaboration in Revit works in real life - not only youtube video - but the concept itself is powerful.

Back to the real life... there is also pricing... Autodesk started to have a ridiculous policy... because of their marketing position fees stated to be very big.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 06:50:43 GMT

As Erwin says I came for the last century when we use auto cad to develop a technical 3d project, the get main lines for a section extracting sections from a 3d model, and then using 3d max (worse interface program together adobe suite products, can't say which one is worst) to render final presentations. But that was very annoying because any changes means that you have to redraw the 3d model in autocad and so on...

Archicad ( now this is the best interface of all programs I was working with) is very useful bcz changes are immediate but the big problem is rendering options, the engine is not very powerful and it is very limitated with few tutorials in the net. I think that Revit have a conection to v ray, so in my little experience and bearing n mind that modelling is the easy part of a 3d program and assuming that revit and archicad has the same capabilities in 3d modelling I will choose revit bcz it has mas exterior resource, tutorials and it is possible to use better render engines like v ray.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 19:07:26 GMT

Heh… Those were Times.... and later you needed to export stuff via 3ds format... and it usually model was crappy because of weird triangulation and unweld meshes…

Anyway, I have to disagree with the engine.. it is quite powerful. Comparing to the previous engine - Lightworks - is way better.
That's true… custom materials are mostly horrible and they don't use all the possibilities of the engine. It takes a while to understand what is were. But any way you can do some decent renders for day to day stuff in AC no time wasted for import/export. Offcourse professional super pretty rendering is probably not possible to do but...
Professional render is 80% detailed model and assets anyway so it's still out of the scope of architect work it's more CG.

By the way, there is a possibility to write engines to for AC but it seems that ChaosGroup doesn't have much interest in it.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

ryejuan — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 07:48:26 GMT

Hi,

It usually depends on the individual using the software. I have learned both ArchiCAD and Revit, in real life it all matters what software the company is using you need to learn it and use their company standards as well (alot of requirements).

Integration of both is the main challenge... (sometimes it's political. 😉) I'm also trying to implement a workflow in our company for ArchiCAD and Revit. Both software has its strengths and it all comes down to the users.

FYI: Revit can't save higher versions of Revit into lower versions of Revit so you're opted to upgrade to the latest version of it.
I still prefer ArchiCAD over the other.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 10:58:16 GMT

Both ArchiCAD and Revit is BIM, but they work very differently and my suggestion would be to try both and decide after which one to use as your main tool.

In your professional life, you will see the need to know most used softwares at least at the basic level and your time spent on learning two or three different programs will not be lost. especially when you are still at school.

I did try Revit but did not find the reason to move from Archicad, for a simple reason - everything I am doing in AC has to be done in a more complicated way in Revit - it just did not offer simplification - and I am always in search to make my workflow as simple as possible to have more time on the creative part of the project.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

Ahmed_K — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 09:53:14 GMT

i can tell you that ArchiCAd is much better for Architects, the design tools he offers are unbeatable, the workflow flexibility and control margin are huge, you can do anything you want,
working on the same file with engineers, like revit users says always, wasn't and never be an advantage, Revit has huge problems on IFC importing and exporting, so they prefer to work on a same file,
try to draw a curtain wall on ArchiCAD , then try to make it on revit, Stairs, (revit nightmare), walls, railings..
i learned vray just to know what this software is , and to know how to communicate with engeneers, cos they often use it here,
Architects use revit, some use archicad, but revit users are not convainced, some continue and some switch to archicad

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

qbic-ft — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 21:04:42 GMT

Revit 2021 is out and the only improvement is Slanted Walls you can adjust the angle of the wall and everything else is still terrible. Maybe in 10 years from now will be like ArchiCAD 22

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

Laszlo Nagy — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 13:44:39 GMT

Yes, I checked out the new Revit 2021 features, and on one hand, it is nice that they can now create Slanted Walls, on the other hand, the feature is pretty half-baked, they have a whole list of things that work with Vertical Walls, but do not work with Slanted Walls.
For example, when you place a Door or Window into a Slanted Wall, it is always placed vertically, no way to change the default Orientation, as far as I could tell. Then you have to select those Doors and Windows and change their Orientation to Slanted to align them with the Slanted Wall.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

qbic-ft — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 20:55:20 GMT

I'm always disappointed with Autodesk and the new versions. after a year the improvements are minimum...They used to name those upgrades( before subscriptions) "service packs". Now they wait for the next version to "justify" the subscription model.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 09:48:47 GMT

The million dollar question, that invokes passion and anger .
My answer to the question, having used both softwares: Archicad. That being said, Revit has some options that are quite nice that Archicad does not have, like being able to quickly change the elevation form of a wall. But overall, for architects, I feel that Archicad is more flexible. This also mean that Revit is more "square"...

Anyway, out of passion: Archicad.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

qbic-ft — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 07:35:03 GMT

I only thing I like in Revit is the temporary dimensions and constraints... Easier to modify rooms or lock them.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

Brett Brown — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 09:08:27 GMT

The title should be Vectorworks or Revit or Archicad.
Vectorworks beats them both in usabilty, feature tools and just about everything.
It has constraints and dimensions which move walls like Revits temporary ones. Look at its Landscape tools compared with the woefull mesh tool in Archicad.
Look at the simple wall tool in Vectorworks compared to Archicads. In VW you can make any shape you like in 3D or elevation and you don't need a roof or SEO's everywhere to achieve something close.
Then there is the Resource Manager where you store everything, anything new you make is then available to all projects compared to Archicad's export, import continually.
Not to mention It's included MEP tools, detailing tools, and its 3D modeling capabilities.
Slam dunk in my opinion.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

jl_lt — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 20:54:01 GMT

It is worth noting that Revit finally has a more flexible perspective view. I dont know how much you can do in it, but if its the same as in its traditional orthographic view which seems to be the case, then its another one of the strong points Archicad had over Revit but not anymore.

About Vectorworks, over the last 2 years i have been kind of following their development and they have evolved and added a LOT of new features, at a much faster rate Archicad ever did. Their terrain handling is way beyond what Archicad or Revit can do. On the other hand, I have read that the software is not very stable and the models seems heavy to handle, judging by the videos, but those kind of things tend to get better. Somebody here with experience with both Archicad and Vectorworks that could illustrate us more on the diferences?

Things like this can get to our nerves. What is happening? Either Archicad is preparing for some MAJOR breakthroughs (i think they already have a lot of pieces set in place for that) or they are just letting the competition pass by. My bet is still on the first situation, but who knows? Hope Archicad 24 premiere shows us a glympse into the future.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

Ahmed_K — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 21:18:05 GMT

Revit sucess is for one simple reason : an autodesk product, i learned it, and really it's nothing compared to ArchiCAD,
working on the same file with engeneers has never been an advantage like revit fan's say always.
1- interface : no visual commands, no clear icons, no clear commands, and a lot of hidden functionalities here and there,
2 - design tools, a mid range design tools, walls, slabs, columns etc, ArchiCAD wall as it is now is much superior to Revit walls, especially when we talk about complex parametric profiles,
terrains in revit have some good functionnalities but not that too much developped,
ArchiCAD design tools can be used for several modelling purposes, and they adapt for various situations,
3 - usability : revit selection is a nightmare, after selecting an object, there is a really few commands to perform in 3D, Revit workflow is based on plan view and sections, it's really hard to design directly in Revit
another point , the attach command is VERY OFTEN used in revit, to eliminate lines between same coplanar surfaces, enable material intersections ( no material priorities there, just skin priorities, limited to 5 skins )
and this is the Strghth of ArchiCAD, intersection priorities and Building material intersection priorities,
4 - 2D design tools are very limited, for initial sketching, drawing , presenting ideas.
5 - display : it's not that smooth and interactive, just add a terrain and the graphic card fans will be at top speed hhhhh
6 - families : i heared a lot here about the strength of Revit's families, but it looks like GDL is much superior, the Default ArchiCAd library is almost rnough, it needs a BIIIIIG update, certainly, but it's fully parametric and optimal for a BIM workflow not rendering purposes, ArchiCAD models are for quantities takeoffs and presentation, not for rendering,
7 - dimension tool, i discovered that revit diemsnions are not that smart, no automatic adjustments for small dimensions, and some other minor problems,
GRAPHISOFT, you have a well developped product, with very nice futures, keep on developping and listen to the users, i believe ArchiCAD is in the right way to be n°1 very soon,

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

DGSketcher — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 08:33:26 GMT

bouhmidage wrote:
1- interface : no visual commands, no clear icons, no clear commands, and a lot of hidden functionalities here and there,
...
GRAPHISOFT, you have a well developped product, with very nice futures, keep on developping and listen to the users, i believe ArchiCAD is in the right way to be n°1 very soon,

Not sure if 1- was aimed at Graphisoft? Archicad is a very versatile piece of software, I am in no hurry to change and as you say it is a well developed product. The core software and programming skills are amazing in my opinion BUT the whole user interface feels like a mashed up mess of ideas with limited workflow focus and they are still carrying decades old settings that have had their time. The newcomer softwares have the advantage of a relatively fresh start without the burden of legacy projects but Graphisoft could, if they wanted, easily compete by investing in making Archicad much more user friendly, having consistent layouts to the tools & their settings and a more logical workflow. I would also reinforce the view that Graphisoft need to start listening to their users and start delivering that very long wish list.

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

Ahmed_K — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 11:47:58 GMT

I'm talking about revit interface here, Archicad interface is a mess too but the advantage is that you can make your own menues, your own display set,
I created a display for my self according to my workflow, and update it after every release just by going to work envirenement and filter command menues by "show new commands only" and i add them where they should be

Re: Architects: Revit or ArchiCad?

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 15:02:04 GMT

Just some random thoughts about all three programs (I used Revit for about 5 years, have used Archicad for about 5 years and this is my go to program at the moment, and am currently taking a serious look at Vectorworks -

I personally like the interface of Revit. The one thing about Revit for me was that it made sense to me. I could find commands and the program logic matched with my expectations. Archicad is kind of a mess to me. While I can find most things now, the organization was initially confusing. Vectorworks is kind of in between for me.

Shortcuts - Revit has a different system - two keys for everything. While I initially found this odd, this has turned out to be my favourite method. The possible combinations are large (certainly larger than my brain can remember) and you NEVER have to take your hand off the mouse. Only a programmer would think up a system with ctrl, alt, and shift.

Dimensions - Revit is the winner for me. You can use the dimension to move objects which is immensely useful. Revit will also dimension wall thicknesses as part of a dimension string. Archicad will also do the wall thicknesses but you can't move an object by altering the dimension value. Vectorworks will move things but doesn't give you the wall thicknesses automatically.

Why did I leave Revit - I was looking for more aesthetic elements and certain things about Revit really bugged me. Revit attaches things which you may not want to happen and if you are not being very careful, objects move around without you knowing. Revit doesn't have a polyline. At the time I was using it Revit couldn't import a pdf. Basically, there were a number of small things which made working in Revit frustrating.

Why am I considering moving to Vectorworks from Archicad - Everything in Archicad (for me) involves a small lag. Revit was instant. Archicad is always updating its views in front of me. In Revit, when you go to a view, it is already updated. Picking points in Revit is instant, In Archicad, you need to wait a moment to make sure you have the right point (and yes, I have already set all the delay settings in preferences to zero). In general, Archicad is quite good but there are a number of small things which I think could be better. Is Vectorworks the holy grail here? Definitely not. It does have some good things such as much better report formatting and.a built in spreadsheet function.

Bottom line is that all three programs are very powerful. All three have their strong points and all three have their own particular deficiencies. The question for me is which one has the deficiencies which bug me least. It's looking like Vectorworks is the best choice for me.