Modeling
About Archicad's design tools, element connections, modeling concepts, etc.

Imposible wall.

Anonymous
Not applicable
Hi to everyone!

I have a problem trying to generate a special wall. I'm surprised with the new stretch and angle modification of walls in archicad 10, but I need to create a wall with some special shape and with some empty opening shapes. I try to make the wall in sketchup or autocad, like a 3d object, but is very frustrating comparing to archicad walls.

So, the question is: Why is possible to make those interesting shapes and empty openings in a slab but is so difficult to make the same shape in elevation on a wall??? (Considering the stretch and angle modifications)

And the final question: Is there a way of making the wall i'm trying to make without using roof trims, external objects, maxon form?

And the final final question: using any tool, internal or external; which is the easiest way of modeling this wall?

Two images posted of the autocad section and my experiments with walls and slabs in archicad.

Graphic1.jpg
24 REPLIES 24
Link
Graphisoft Partner
Graphisoft Partner
That's a question only GS can answer.

I'm sure they'll be here to reply you......... tomorrow!

Cheers,
Link.
Ralph Wessel
Mentor
Einstein wrote:
I have some problems making the interior "empty windows" or perforations in my superwall. It is possible to rotate a window or a empty window in this case? This is important because I want to align the windows to the external shell. [...] Any proposition will be received!!!!
You might consider OBJECTiVE as a solution. The attached image was modelled in about the time it tool me to draw the polygon shape.
If you wanted to use ArchiCAD walls, OBJECTiVE can also help by quickly making custom extrusions which you can rotate and cut in 3D to use for SEO operators at the openings. Take a look at http://www.encina.co.uk/objective.html
Wall.jpg
Ralph Wessel BArch
Active Thread Ltd
Anonymous
Not applicable
The reason "it" can't be done -to have a wall behave like this, has to do with how GS originally wrote the code. They didn't plan on such complexities, and while we USERS see the graphical images and work with such end results, to change the CODE and reclassify something like the code for a wall, means going back 10 years and remaking the whole program.

While it might be time for that at some point, these small requests, vs. the work arounds we've become used to, for such specific and not common uses of the program, make for some cost-prohibitive complete renovations that probably NO one on board at GS not only could convince an investment board to do, but wants to go back to square one to tackle it all over to begin with.

We sometimes want 3d modeling solutions in AC, but remember- maybe more than 99% of the buildings in the WHOLE WORLD never need anything special like this (well, except if we're modeling very crude 3rd world structures- but again that's not a majority, as they don't use architects very often there, let alone computers for remodeling and renovations!)....The wall tools in AC, as they are, are PERFECTLY reasonable for what the software was intended for. Those of us who want more, well, we really are in a select minority, and in the end, if you do a vote and a poll, you've got like maybe 50 users on here to protest or plead for something, a change that goes through someone who reads these things (admins) and then on to management at GS and then winds up on the desk of maybe 2-4 people who would be involved with this, and when asked if it can be done, and they say- give us 6-10 months full pay and long weekends to re-write all the ways the walls work, and yes, we can do it.... and then they factor in how many people will benefit from this new flexibility, and how much it will cost to implement in code... well it's a loosing battle! The people who need these functions, even architects, we only need it once in a blue MOON- those who need it regular use 3dsM or something for MODELING. Why have GS try and be 3DS?

As we get into more complex 3d modeling, changing providers to something more 3d, might be a better route. You CAN make all this stuff even in ancient versions of 3d max and such -even the old free ware 3d modeling apps!

The work arounds in AC require a bit more familiarity with the software, but that's what the forums are for, yeah? Because sometimes we NEED weird walls, to create something artistic and not a square box.

AC isn't a modeling app though- modeling app code would be an absolute nightmare to begin to implement without bugs all OVER the place with the current scripts as they are. Even a box to check for changing the functions in how and when a window or door operation effects something else... it is a lot of seriously complex stuff for the programmers.

Djordje
Virtuoso
You can do the slope roof wall today ...

... with custom profile of course.

Only:

- the ref line will be perpendicular to the wall instead of parallel
- your doors and windows will not be placeable

Using objects or meshes, you will also have to resort to workarounds for the openings, mostly SEOs, that will increase the polycount and maybe bog the computer down - not to mention the wrong 2D representation.

So ... until the day that we have those walls, the time proven techniques are:

- cutting off the top with an appropriate roof (wireframed, layer off in all the documentation layers)
- creating the sloped top as a separate editable entity and controlling the changes in 3D
- using a freeform empty opening to punch out the portions of the wall you don't need (for example, crenellations are nicely modeled with empty window)

You will notice that I do not mention SEOs. I am old fashioned enough to always think about the computer load and always use the techniques that burden the machine the least, because the moment that the machine does not respond almost instantly, I am starting to lose billable time. Doing my first ever 3D model on a ZX Spectrum probably also has something to do with it ...
Djordje



ArchiCAD since 4.55 ... 1995
HP Omen
Brett Brown
Advocate
Ralph wrote:
Einstein wrote:
I have some problems making the interior "empty windows" or perforations in my superwall. It is possible to rotate a window or a empty window in this case? This is important because I want to align the windows to the external shell. [...] Any proposition will be received!!!!

You might consider OBJECTiVE as a solution. The attached image was modelled in about the time it tool me to draw the polygon shape.


Ralph, Question, Can Objective do walls with a sloping top, texture horizontal, have a hot spot on the lower end to adjust height up and down in 3D. This would be for a Block Masonry retaining wall to follow the slope of the site. Way to time consuming with roofs as SEO's everywhere. Had a look on your site and could see no movie that showed how you did that example wall. If you wouldn't mind could you do one of your step by steps example. Thanks
Imac, Big Sur AC 20 NZ, AC 25 Solo UKI,
Ralph Wessel
Mentor
Brett wrote:
Ralph, Question, Can Objective do walls with a sloping top, texture horizontal, have a hot spot on the lower end to adjust height up and down in 3D.
Yes, OBJECTiVE will do this. As with most tools, there is more than one way to address the problem. This is the first method - the second will follow in the next reply. Referring to the attached image:
  • 1) I've drawn a curved ramped surface with a brick wall along one edge. The wall is a profiled object created with OBJECTIVE. We are seeking to slope the wall to match the ramp incline.
    2) I've switched to an elevation view, selected the wall object, and used "OBJECTiVE/Tools/Offset" to raise one end of the profile.
    3) The elevation following the "Offset" operation
    4) Completed result in 3D. The texture remains horizontal as required, although control over this is not as good as I'd like yet. The next release will improve control over texture direction.

wall1.jpg
Ralph Wessel BArch
Active Thread Ltd
Ralph Wessel
Mentor
Brett wrote:
Ralph, Question, Can Objective do walls with a sloping top, texture horizontal, have a hot spot on the lower end to adjust height up and down in 3D.
Second part of the answer...
Again, referring to the attached image, we are seeking to match the slope of a wall to the ramp incline. The previous reply is the easiest approach, but real walls often have more detail. This example places a coping on the wall and uses an SEO operation to complete the result:
  • 1) Make another profiled object for the coping with OBJECTiVE
    2) Place and bend the coping to align with the wall, view in elevation and use the "Offset" tool again to align to the required slope
    3) Use an SEO operation to remove the wall above the coping, and view the finished result in 3D
Ralph Wessel BArch
Active Thread Ltd
Brett Brown
Advocate
Thanks for that Ralph, I don't seem to explaining what I need simply.

You have a wall, the top two corners (or just one) have a hot spot on it to adjust that height of that point of the wall up and down to adjust the angle of the top.

Of course it doesn't have to be a wall, it can be anything the looks like a wall, and have a horizontal texture. The same as your first example with a sloping top and not necessarily the angled sides. It has a horizontal texture with a sloping top.

It looks to me that you use something else as a sort of SEO to get the sloping top, so is not any quicker than an AC wall with a roof SEO. Hopefully I am wrong.
Imac, Big Sur AC 20 NZ, AC 25 Solo UKI,
Ralph Wessel
Mentor
Brett wrote:
You have a wall, the top two corners (or just one) have a hot spot on it to adjust that height of that point of the wall up and down to adjust the angle of the top.
Of course it doesn't have to be a wall, it can be anything the looks like a wall, and have a horizontal texture. The same as your first example with a sloping top and not necessarily the angled sides. It has a horizontal texture with a sloping top.
I think it's doing exactly what you're asking for, although the perspective of the finished result is probably confusing. I've attached more images to illustrate:
  • 1-2) I've drawn a simple straight 'wall' profile, and tilted it to the required slope - the texture remains horizontal. I could cut the ends and base to straight edges with OBJECTiVE's Split tool too if required.
    3-4) This illustrates a 'wall' bent to a curve and sloped upward (as in the previous example). The wall sides retain the same profile (vertical in this case), but the ends splay out because they are perpendicular to the slope.
    5-7) If I want the ends vertical, I can use OBJECTiVE's Split tool to cut them to a straight edge (or whatever angle is required). The result is shown in 2 elevations and in 3D.
Brett wrote:
It looks to me that you use something else as a sort of SEO to get the sloping top, so is not any quicker than an AC wall with a roof SEO. Hopefully I am wrong.
It would be a nightmare to make that with a wall and roofs - you would have to replicate a segment of roof many times around the curve, ensuring each segment was elevated by the correct amount from the previous and that the overall slope achieved the required levels.

My method is simply using two profiles created with OBJECTiVE - one is the 'wall' and the other is the wall coping. Both can be bent, sloped, and cut in 3D as required, so making rising curved forms becomes quite straight-forward.
Ralph Wessel BArch
Active Thread Ltd
Ralph Wessel
Mentor
Brett wrote:
Of course it doesn't have to be a wall, it can be anything the looks like a wall, and have a horizontal texture. The same as your first example with a sloping top and not necessarily the angled sides. It has a horizontal texture with a sloping top.
Or (as yet another alternative) you could:
  • 1) Draw the required wall elevation
    2) Use OBJECTiVE's profile tools to make an elevation profile
    3) Bend it to the required curve
    4) The finished result in 3D
Ralph Wessel BArch
Active Thread Ltd