ArchiCAD and Residential?

[Anonymous]

Hi guys, Newbie here. I'm currently looking to move on from 2D AutoCAD to producing 3D models that I'll use to create construction documents and renderings. The only 3D experience I have is with ADT, but that was awhile ago and I really didn't care for it (especially for residential). Anyway, here's my questions are this... I'm looking for an unbiased opinion because we all know one program is better than another at certain things but lack where the other excels. I guess what I'm saying is there is no "perfect" product that suits everyone. Ok, so we are an architecture firm and the work we do is residential (custom homes). First of all, which is better at residential, Revit or ArchiCAD? Again, I’m looking for an unbiased opinion (hopefully from someone that’s used both). I'm fine with someone saying "ArchiCAD is so much better at everything else, but if you're into residential only, Revit might be better for you". My second question is, would you say ArchiCAD and Revit are "overkill" for residential only firms and you'd be better off with a residential product such as Softplan or Chief Architect? I greatly appreciate anyone’s feedback on this.

BTW, I’ve searched and have seen a few responses, but I’m more curious to hear your opinions now that version 9 is out.

[Richard Morrison]

I have only glanced at Revit, but have used Chief Architect extensively, and I do exclusively residential work.

The answer to your question is not easy to answer without knowing what level of documentation and modeling you hope to provide, as well as the types of design you do. (Relatively mainstream vs. highly custom/fluid designs)

Off the top of my head, ArchiCAD has (I believe) these advantages over Chief Architect:
1) Better CAD tools,
2) better text control
3) better looking construction documents produced (some might argue, but I believe to be true)
4) can handle very large residential projects easily,
5) capable of having multiple users working on the project at the same time (this could be a biggie for some firms)
6) Can do non-rectilinear designs (canted walls and the like) more easily,
7) Can import/export more file types. (TIF or WMF, for example, are not importable in Chief) .

I don't know much about Revit, but I haven't seen anything near the libraries of 3D objects available as for AC. If you're going to be modeling a custom interior for a high-end project, you will likely not find the extent of furniture and accessories available for Revit that is available for AC.

Chief does have SOME advantages over AC for certain types of residential work, but since you can get free demos for all programs, why not try them out and see which fits your firm?

[Djordje]

TexasTechGrad wrote:
Hi guys, Newbie here. I'm currently looking to move on from 2D AutoCAD to producing 3D models that I'll use to create construction documents and renderings.

Hope this is unbiased:

None of them is more suited to anything than any other. The point is, do YOU know how to use any of them to their full potential.

So, in switching to any of the full 3D solutions, the real points are:

- local training and support
- local implementation help
- local pricing and payment options

Conceptually, Revit follows the path ArchiCAD blazed for the last two decades plus. The followers of each are dedicated users - but the most advanced ones are also objective and recognize the merits of each other.

Bottom line? It depends on you.

[Anonymous]

Richard wrote:
since you can get free demos for all programs, why not try them out and see which fits your firm?

Thanks for the replies!
a) There is no demo for Softplan which sucks because after all the research I've done, I found out Softplan is a lot better than CA for my needs. b) As you know, there is a certain amount of time that it takes to learn these programs. Unfortunately, AC has one of the higher learning curves which makes sense because it does the most. My goal is to research the hell out of these products, ask questions on all the boards from "real users" and find out what program would waste my time, what program is the best but maybe not for my needs, and what programs suits me the best. If I try them all, it might be half a year before I've made up my mind. I'd rather get it right the first time.

To answer another part of your question, we're more "Design" than "Build". We work with the builders and give them enough information to build if you know what I mean. Our sheets include a site plan, foundation plan (designed by the engineer), floor plans, elevations, electrical plans, interior elevations and a section (only if it's 2-stories).

[Aaron Bourgoin]

Online Forums provide a good place to ask questions about software applications, but if you know little about the application yourself, there is no substitute for see the goods in action. In effect you might find yourself asking the wrong questions.

I would encourage you to have a very close look at SoftPlan in use rather than reading about it on forums. Find someone who is using it and ask to see how it works. Pay very close attention to a) roofs and roof construction and b) how drawings are put together and updated.

Then, do the same at an ArchiCAD site and a Chief Architect site.

The flaw as I have seen it is the ease with which the different drawings it produces become inconsistent with one another. I have migrated three clients from SP to AC. They seemed to have gotten to a point where their house templates (these were homebuilders) gave inaccurate or misleading info - in effect they felt they could no longer trust the drawings to convey the required information for estimating or construction.

What I saw were SP files that had inaccurate or un-coordinated roofs - plan and elevation were different. I concede this may be due to user error or judgement, but some aspect of the software caused someone to either foul up or take a shortcut that rendered the "building model" useless.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, from what I've learned, I guarantee you they forgot to update their files after a change was made late in the project. That's one of the downsides of SP... it's not parametric. However, they say it's so easy to regenerate the elevations and sections if a change is made, it doesn't matter. If you're good at remember to update the sheets after a change, then maybe it doesn't matter to that individual.

I know Revit is 100% parametric. I haven't got a clear answer on AC.

I guess another qeustion I have is... if I decide to go with ArchiCAD, how would ya'll recommend me learning it? Getting the demo and diving right into it? (I think I did that with AutoCAD.) Learning from video files? Taking a class? Other methods?

Thanks again. This has been very helpful.

[Djordje]

TexasTechGrad wrote:
However, they say it's so easy to regenerate the elevations and sections if a change is made, it doesn't matter. If you're good at remember to update the sheets after a change, then maybe it doesn't matter to that individual.

There is no easier way than to do it automatically. As ArchiCAD does.

TexasTechGrad wrote:
I know Revit is 100% parametric. I haven't got a clear answer on AC.

As was discussed before, define "parametric" If you mean that all the elements of the building are in certain relationship, and they stay that way, until you remove or redefine the relationship, then yes, Revit is 100% parametric. If you mean that you have adjustable elements and that you decide what goes where and how, and that you can set every parameter of every part of the building, then ArchiCAD is also 100% parametric. It is implemented in a different way - ArchiCAD lets you decide more from the start.

Any true Virtual Building software has to be 100% parametric by nature.

TexasTechGrad wrote:
I guess another qeustion I have is... if I decide to go with ArchiCAD, how would ya'll recommend me learning it? Getting the demo and diving right into it? (I think I did that with AutoCAD.) Learning from video files? Taking a class? Other methods?

Find a learning center/distributor/experienced user near by. Your local ArchiCAD provider can probably help out. Learning from books/videos/online is more time consuming.

[Stress Co_]

I guess another qeustion I have is... if I decide to go with ArchiCAD, how would ya'll recommend me learning it? Getting the demo and diving right into it? (I think I did that with AutoCAD.) Learning from video files? Taking a class? Other methods?

Do the ARCHIcad demos, read the manuaL, dive Into a small/simple project..... and theN pay for a weeK or two of onsite training and template setup. Simply put ... good training is worth the cost.

Marc

[Scott Davis]

TexasTechGrad:

I invite you to the Revit forums at AUGI to get an opinion from Revit users. Go to www.augi.com/forums and post your question there. I would answer here, but I feel its appropriate for ArchiCAD users to respond here, and Revit users at AUGI, otherwise the responses seem to get confrontational.

As far as a general comment about updating views:

However, they say it's so easy to regenerate the elevations and sections if a change is made, it doesn't matter.

It does matter, because no matter how good, users will forget/miss an elevation update.

[Rakela Raul]

can you please put down the prices for all softwares mentioned here??
to have a clear idea of prices difference...thanks

regarding demos, they just dont work....unless fully functional and enough time to design a real project from beginning to end.