topic Re: Curtain wall in Modeling

Curtain wall

Anonymous — Wed, 24 May 2023 10:57:02 GMT

I'm sorry if this has been covered elsewhere - I've had a search and haven't come across a solution (yet)

I've been asked to produce a model of the building in the photograph. Most of the building is complete but I'm struggling to model the glazing shown in the photo (below the pharmacy sign). I've tried using standard windows, but as the unit comprises curtain framing sections and design I can't achieve the same appearance with multiple 'ganged' windows. I've therefore been trying the curtain walling tool, however that's thrown up two problems:

I can't achieve a corner piece of the type shown in the photos (it's always angled 45 degrees) - I have tried drawing the two sides independently and joining them but have yet to successfully achieve a single unit this way

Hiding the frame section where the door will be results in an awkward gap either side of the door

I'm using ArchiCAD because of past experience and it's reputation for producing good IFC files - the model is for a University project for which IFC files are required. Unfortunately, my past ArchiCAD experience was almost entirely creating 'visually correct' models for student project submission, not 'technically correct' models! I therefore know how to model something that looks like this glazing unit, out of slabs, but for the purposes of this project this would be inadequate as the IFC file will have the correct geometry but nothing to say that the collection of slabs is actually a window. For the same reason I don't wish to make a glass-cornered curtain glazed unit with a column (or slab) to form the corner section - it'll look correct but the IFC information will be confusing.

Thanks for any help available!

Re: Curtain wall

Karl Ottenstein — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:32:49 GMT

If you're using a current version and not a START edition, then use the Curtainwall tool to create the curtainwall - that's a perfect example of what it is for. 😉

All of the other windows look pretty standard.

For IFC export, you can tag anything with the desired IFC element type in the settings dialog for the element.

Cheers,
Karl

Re: Curtain wall

Barry Kelly — Tue, 08 May 2012 01:37:45 GMT

If you are not having any luck using the curtain wall then make the window unit out of slabs (laying flat on the ground) and save it as a window object - then IFC will recognise it as a window.
You could even include the corner column with the window as you make it out of slabs.
Barry.

Re: Curtain wall

Anonymous — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:34:36 GMT

Thanks for the replies

I am using the full version, not Start. I think the problem is that I'm not that familiar with the Curtain Wall tool. Having drawn a two-sided curtain wall (on the building the glazing goes around the corner) I've found no way to align the mullion on the corner with the rest of the glazing - it's turned through 45 degrees whereas what it needs to be is a square (rather than rectangular) section mullion with glazing running into adjacent sides rather than opposite sides.

I'll have a go at Barry's suggestion - sounds like a good combination of working method that I'm used to and useful IFC output!

Re: Curtain wall

David Maudlin — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:11:18 GMT

Chris wrote:
Having drawn a two-sided curtain wall (on the building the glazing goes around the corner) I've found no way to align the mullion on the corner with the rest of the glazing - it's turned through 45 degrees whereas what it needs to be is a square (rather than rectangular) section mullion with glazing running into adjacent sides rather than opposite sides.

I have also run into this issue. My solution was to place two curtain walls that meet at the corner, then edit the end boundary frames of each CW to get the correct result. The tool should be better in these common situations. If someone has a better solution, please post.

David

Re: Curtain wall

Barry Kelly — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:23:06 GMT

I can't run Archicad at the moment and I don't use the curtain wall tool much but I seem to remember there is an option for joining two curtain walls and merging the end frame.

Just had a quick look in the manual.
Have a look for this in the curtain wall section.

Create Common Frame for Adjacent Curtain Walls
If two adjacent Curtain Walls’ Frames coincide and overlap, use this command to clean up the
join. (One of the two overlapping Frames will be transformed into a corner-like Frame, and the
other will be transformed into an Invisible Frame.)
Virtual Building
1202 ArchiCAD 15 Help
Select both Curtain Walls and use Design > Modify Curtain Wall > Create Common Frames.

Barry.

Re: Curtain wall

Ralph Wessel — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:55:59 GMT

Chris wrote:
I've been asked to produce a model of the building in the photograph. Most of the building is complete but I'm struggling to model the glazing shown in the photo (below the pharmacy sign). I've tried using standard windows, but as the unit comprises curtain framing sections and design I can't achieve the same appearance with multiple 'ganged' windows.
Thanks for any help available!

This would be straightforward using the Modular Joinery object. It can quite readily adapt to any arrangement of doors/windows/panels - I've used it to create something like the image you posted (see attached image).

Re: Curtain wall

David Maudlin — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:28:19 GMT

Barry wrote:
I can't run Archicad at the moment and I don't use the curtain wall tool much but I seem to remember there is an option for joining two curtain walls and merging the end frame.

Just had a quick look in the manual.
Have a look for this in the curtain wall section.

Create Common Frame for Adjacent Curtain Walls
If two adjacent Curtain Walls’ Frames coincide and overlap, use this command to clean up the
join. (One of the two overlapping Frames will be transformed into a corner-like Frame, and the
other will be transformed into an Invisible Frame.)
Virtual Building
1202 ArchiCAD 15 Help
Select both Curtain Walls and use Design > Modify Curtain Wall > Create Common Frames.

Barry.

This will help some, but still requires additional editing to get the two Curtain Wall parts to join correctly.

David

Re: Curtain wall

Erika Epstein — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:30:56 GMT

Another option is to use the corner window feature which has an option for a column in the corner whose size you can set. I combined it with a storefront door in the screenshot.

Re: Curtain wall

Ralph Wessel — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:37:46 GMT

Chris wrote:
I've found no way to align the mullion on the corner with the rest of the glazing - it's turned through 45 degrees whereas what it needs to be is a square (rather than rectangular) section mullion with glazing running into adjacent sides rather than opposite sides.

If you need a specific corner detail, the Modular Joinery gives you 3 types to choose from (see attached).

Re: Curtain wall

Erika Epstein — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:40:57 GMT

Ralph's modular joinery tool is excellent, I use it myself.

Re: Curtain wall

Anonymous — Sat, 12 May 2012 13:54:06 GMT

Ralph wrote:
This would be straightforward using the Modular Joinery object. It can quite readily adapt to any arrangement of doors/windows/panels - I've used it to create something like the image you posted (see attached image).

That's brilliant! It looks spot on - I'll get myself the plugin and have a go. Thanks for the suggestion and everyone for your help!