Help on a very complex roof

[Anonymous]

Hey i trying to design a roof based on the Transparent Roof created in Eric Owen Moss's project, the "Umbrella"
Here's a link to some photos of the roof i am talking about.
http://www.ericowenmoss.com/projindex.html
Just chose Umbrella as the project.
I was wondering if anyone knew how to create rooves like these on archicadd. And how do you add support structures, like the steel supporting structures shown in the photo, on archicad.
I am a student architect and none of my archicad tutors (who are student tutors) were able to help me. What i mainly want to know is how to creat the cascading glass and how to add the steel supports.
Thank you. I would be very appreciative of any help.

[Djordje]

squidgy_wiji wrote:
I was wondering if anyone knew how to create rooves like these on archicadd. And how do you add support structures, like the steel supporting structures shown in the photo, on archicad.

Try ArchiForma. Look for GDL Toolbox. Look for ZoomGDL. Learn GDL and script a COONS surface. In order of complexity, least to most time spent learning.

The support structures are nothing special, TrussMaker would suffice for most, except maybe the tubing that is quite articstically wrapped around. There again, any of the AddOns would do, if linear even "lowly" Profiler.

This is not very easy to model in any software. The hardest part of it is to understand the geometry correctly. Do you understand the geometry? That is something no software will do for you.

I wish you to do something like this in your professional life. Not many do.

I am really sorry Graphisoft discontinued the GS Prize, worldwide design competition. Some quite crazy stuff was being shown there, all done in ArchiCAD of course! To remember: http://www.gsprize.com

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for your help. Yes i understand the geometry well. I am really interested in things like the helix curve and mobius strip so i hope to be show my interest in these geometries in my designs. Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

I think you could make the roof with the mesh tool, using the
surface only construction method and with individual elevation points
(no ridge lines). You would have to SEO the curved bottom edge
with another mesh.
The tubing could be made with the orbit solutions add-on called
orbit 3d profiler. http://www.orbitsolutions.com.au/
Otherwise Djordje is right, you need GDL.
If you are interested in geometry I would highly recommend
learning GDL. It's fun!
Peter Devlin

[Steve Jepson]

I didn't see anything you couldn't model with ArchiCAD tools. The Mesh Tool, Profiler, and Solid Element Operations should be enough to do the job. Other tools would be great if you have them. You can do a lot by saving a part that you have tweaked with the solid elements editor and adding other parts to it. I don't think the roofs will be hard at all. Use the spline tool to make the profile and the Profile tool to extrude it. Then shape it with the Solid Element Operations tool.
You are lucky to have the opportunity to model a building like this.

[Steve Jepson]

I think this is the kind of roof you would like to make.

QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART
Queens, New York
RECOLLECTING FORWARD

The design strategy for the Queens Museum of Art uncovers the organizational strengths of the original building and simultaneously suggests new prospects for public participation, exhibition and performance.

AWARDS:
International Design Competition Winner, 2001

[Anonymous]

I am interesting to make those curve ceiling, too. I try mesh tool, but somehow it still look flat after I made it. I try Archiforma, but after I put into the add-ons folder it still not appear in ArchiCAD extra. I got stuck with working the similer ceiling. I even try to make S shape curve ceiling, and try to rotate the angle in 3D, but it only rotate horantial not vertical. Any suggestion to make this project done?

I also interest to make the structure floow the curve ceiling.

[Steve Jepson]

I also interest to make the structure floow the curve ceiling.

There are several ways to make the curved ceiling. The Profiler does a good job.
The one in this example is made by making the curve of the ceiling with the spline tool. Then select a wall and give it the thickness you want for the ceiling. Use the magic wand to convert the spline into walls, explode the walls so you have parallel curves(hard to draw otherwise), delete the fills, set the slab thickness to the width of the room, use the magic wand to create a slab between the parallel curves, select the side view in 3d and save as .gsm. Place the new object on your plan, view in 3d, use the solid obects editor to trim it up. When you have it how you like it, save it again as a new object if you want. You could just make curved walls of the right thickness and make the ceiling from that except it will not be as smooth as making it from a slab. To make ceiling tiles just make a grid of thin walls and use the solid objects editor to create the individual tiles. (don't delete the object you use to trim with, just put them on an invisible layer)You can use the 3D text tool to carve your name in the ceiling if you want to.

The solid objects editor is my favorite tool. Draw it up in plan view, view it in 3D side view (or top) and make it into a new object. Trim it up with the solid objects editor and save it. You can keep adding and trimming the same object to make anything you want.

[Steve Jepson]

kind of fun

[Anonymous]

But the one you make all curve in one way. Do you know how to make curve in different direction just like the picture model-front.jpg you post earlier?