Constructive Solutions with ArchiCAD

Examine parameters and functions for creating constructive materials and composites in ArchiCAD. Configure layered profiles to represent core, intermediate, and final finishes, and control intersections using layers and materials.

Learn to create and configure building materials in ArchiCAD by duplicating base materials, assigning surfaces like concrete light and brick 22, and setting priority to control intersections and finishes.

Learn to build complex profiles in ArchiCAD by assigning materials for each layer—wall, concrete hollow block, waterproofing membrane—and save custom profiles to templates for repeatable modeling.

Conclude BIM preparations by configuring model attributes and reusing the template to accelerate future projects, then model the pilot project volumetrically and apply attributes.

Begin the project by volumetrically modeling walls, slabs, doors, windows, and furniture, then evolve the shell into a constructive project with composites, profiles, and materials, and fine-tune intersections.

Define ArchiCAD project stories and levels (foundation, ground floor, roof), set units to meters, create base layers and volume three materials in architectural, structural, masonry, finishes symbology.

Outline an l-shaped structure by modeling walls and a ground slab, then add a parapet and roof/top slabs to establish the base volumetry for the project.

Position openings in archicad by aligning doors and sliding windows with pilasters and confinement elements, applying 15 cm offsets, setting uniform sill heights and levels for bond beams and lintels.

Position and copy confinement elements to serve as pilasters around openings in ArchiCAD, adjust doors and windows, and prepare for bond beams and main beams in the next steps.

Model bond beams and lintels for openings, extend and trim to confinement, and use temporary wall width adjustments to visualize and accelerate the workflow.

Activate the foundation floor and model a continuous footing with the complex profile at -58cm below the wall, using the ground floor as a trace reference.

Switch to the composite view, evolve walls and slabs into composites, visualize layer interactions, copy slabs, adjust reference planes, and assign materials for the ground and parapet slabs.

Select beams and columns, assign materials and composites, differentiate confinement elements with concrete grades, and finalize finishes for openings and doors to complete the project.

Offset the intermediate finish and fix the parapet wall details and intersections by adjusting the complex profile and adding a paint layer, then test in 3d across walls.

Adjust wall openings and window reveals in ArchiCAD to fix display gaps, using reveal types and small parameter tweaks for a polished presentation.

Apply terrain modeling in ArchiCAD by assigning a soil material to the terrain slab, adjusting height and offsets, and using material priorities and subtraction to accurately represent soil excavation.

Learn to build a constructive ArchiCAD model by approaching the project volumetrically, applying three volumetric materials, and assigning constructive attributes, then document in 3D with the Graphic Overrides tool.

Apply filters like layer combinations and model view options to document the construction process in 3D with ArchiCAD, and use graphic overwrites to create rules for 2D and 3D dimensions.

Configure ArchiCAD layer combinations for foundation, terrain, and ground slab; update statuses, isolate elements, and move items to correct layers. Use core-only display for shell models and document columns.

Explore configuring masonry and parapet wall in ArchiCAD using profile manager to assign core, intermediate, and finish layers, then create combinations: core only, without finishes, and model for 3D documentation.

Explore how to create and manage graphic overrides in ArchiCAD to highlight beams in red in the 3D view, using element-type criteria, color fills, and transparency.

Explore how graphic overrides in ArchiCAD use a defined rule order to control which rules execute first, overriding 3D surfaces with transparent white and setting transmittance.

Apply and manage graphical overrides in ArchiCAD to color-code beams, foundations, slabs, and confinement elements by layer, creating and ordering rules for clear 3D documentation.

Create analytical models in ArchiCAD by applying layer-based rules to slabs, ground slabs, ceilings, doors, and furniture, using or logic and duplicating criteria.

Communicate your project in 3D with layer combinations, model, view options, partial structure, and analytical models to illustrate construction phases and elements, and prepare 2D documentation with the label tool.

Advance project documentation by transitioning to two-dimensional views using familiar filters, creating foundational views for masonry, finishes, glazing, carpentry, and architectural work, and automatically annotate all elements with one command.

Configure ArchiCAD's grid system in part 2 by inverting grid orientation, adjusting markers and text, setting scale and decimal places, and preparing 2D documentation.

Learn to create and manage 2D layer combinations in ArchiCAD for ground floor documentation, including preliminary and masonry plans, with clear nomenclature and updated status for accurate architectural visualization.

Configure layer combinations by setting columns, beams, bond beams, and pilasters to two to prevent wall subtraction, then update displays to show complete architectural walls and finishes.

Configure ArchiCAD's model view options to detail carpentry, glazing, and finishes on windows and doors. Combine five ground-floor options to control openings and markers.

Learn how to configure label data in ArchiCAD by using volume net versus grass, and combine automatic and static data to quantify wall elements with openings, height, material, and length.

Create the 2D foundation plan in ArchiCAD by assigning foundation number one as the ID, labeling elements with the auto label tool, and saving the 2D documentation view map.

Master 2D structural documentation in ArchiCAD by applying a graphic override to hide slab hatches, then label columns and beams, and save the structural documentation view.

Configure the masonry layer and symbology, assign ids to pilasters and bond beams, and label and group elements for accurate 2d and 3d masonry documentation.

Create 2D masonry documentation in ArchiCAD, handle symbol overlaps, and apply interior and exterior automatic dimensioning. When needed, switch to manual dimensioning and manage layers for accurate masonry plans.

Learn to automatically label finishes on walls and floors in ArchiCAD, with labels that read an ID, orient perpendicularly to walls, and adapt as walls rotate.

Label wall and floor finishes in ArchiCAD, flip labels outside, adjust offsets, and use document annotation for walls; set floor tiles with a rectangular frame and drafting fill.

Set the layer combination to sealing, configure label options (text, auto text, or property label) with circle geometry, assign an ID, and save the ceiling finishes visualization.

Learn to document carpentry and glazing by internally labeling doors and windows on the carpentry layer (plan a) or using the label tool as a backup (plan b).

Configure layer combinations, finishes, and model view options to generate accurate 2d and 3d architecture documentation, then use filters and symbology to create specialty views.

Explore ArchiCAD functions to create and document specialty plans from BIM model, extract views, annotate, and enhance documentation. The next module covers quantification and tables for doors and windows specifically.

Explore scales in ArchiCAD to quantify elements automatically and generate documentation such as tables and schedules, while managing scales by elements, components, and surfaces.

Explore applying format options to ArchiCAD schedules, customize headers, values, totals, and preview images, and adjust row height, text style, colors, borders, and merging settings.

Master automating door and window dimensions in ArchiCAD, customize dimension positions and offsets, and create detailed annotations and labels for schedules to streamline design documentation.

Discover how ArchiCAD exports schedules to external software like Excel and Google Sheets, saving as xls, xlsx, or pdf and embedding images for easy editing and sharing.

Master ArchiCAD schedules for foundation quantification by adjusting vertical layouts, aligning 2D and 3D data, and saving formatted schedules via view map and project preferences.

Learn to quantify wall components in ArchiCAD with a component schedule, identifying hollow block cores, subtracting pilasters, and extracting core, finishes, measurements, and reference line length fields on ground-floor walls.

Quantify wall components in Archicad schedules by comparing net area, surface area, and exterior skin, set wall IDs, and update the 3D model for accurate totals.

Learn to quantify wall paint in ArchiCAD by creating an exposed area schedule using surface by criteria, filtering by layer walls and parapet, to determine paint quantities.

Create door and window schedules in ArchiCAD by elements, selecting quantity, nominal sizes, orientation, and 2D plane preview; decide to combine or separate schedules and save with model view options.

Duplicate and rename door and window schedules in ArchiCAD, export or import for reuse, adjust dimensions and IDs, then save scales in the view map and annotate.

Learn how to set edge and end cuts for ArchiCAD columns, including vertical and slanted profiles and custom angles, plus 3D rotate join angles and axis rotation for precise alignment.

Learn to define ArchiCAD column segments with base, slope, and pilaster heights, using fixed or percentage heights, and tapering bottom and top widths for a complete isolated footing.

Explore constructing isolated footings with the ArchiCAD column tool, including boundary and corner footings, adjusting reference axes, and applying slanted or rotated columns on the foundation level.

Learn to simulate different footings using ArchiCAD's object tool and building structures library, including precast sleeves, pilaster dimensions, and continuous footing via beams and columns, with parametric settings.

Learn to model a continuous footing in ArchiCAD using a custom complex profile and the profile manager, with dimensions, offsets, and placement guidelines, plus option to use object tools.

Model columns and tie beams in ArchiCAD, with 9-meter columns of 40 by 40 and tie beams 40 by 30 between isolated footings, using trace references for placement.

Model primary beams in ArchiCAD using a simple rectangular profile, set tentative dimensions, and place copies; group beams and adjust heights with cut section view and edit by stories.

Select the primary beams and switch to the complex profile, adjust intersections with the column, and manually fine-tune beams to align with the column borders in ArchiCAD.

Conclude the first module by mastering structural modeling with column and beam tools and object integration, then preview simulating constructive systems with combined tools and techniques.

Expand your small experimental project by integrating various construction systems with ArchiCAD tools to simulate different construction solutions, and pause or replay as needed for ongoing material.

Explore how to create cutaways in ArchiCAD using solid element operations, switching between target and operator, adjusting air material priorities, and applying diagonal cutting planes for steel profiles.

Learn to model steel deck with concrete pour in ArchiCAD by applying slabs over beams and using the profile manager to create steel deck profiles for constructive systems.

Master a 2d waffle slab representation using a custom symbol field and color fill on the slab tool. Explore three methods—opening tool, pattern fill, and orientation—to control openings.

Place prefabricated precast slab elements in Archicad, such as precast double T and precast single T, using object tools and external portals, adjust topping and materials, and position across spans.

Configure a hollow block profile with the beam tool in ArchiCAD, position elements across levels, and copy them with the matrix tool while preserving small separation gaps.

Position the purlins over the trusses in ArchiCAD using a custom steel profile and set their length, create a cut section to visualize, rotate to 13.5 degrees, and distribute copies.

Learn to model metal roofing in ArchiCAD using the steel deck object with an undulated profile, aligning perpendicularly to purlins and adjusting pattern angle and slope to fit the truss.

Explore map modeler changes from ArchiCAD 26 to 27 and review its main workflow, improvements, and limitations in ArchiCAD 27.

Model pipe routes in ArchiCAD on the ground floor with the pipe route tool, setting layer and elevation, drawing as a polyline with automatic elbows and diameter transitions.

Model pipe routing in ArchiCAD 27, mastering transitions, elbows, and vertical displacement to the second story using node settings and z coordinates.

Explore how to create Y and T pipe fittings in ArchiCAD using the pipe root and pipe branch tools, manage system maps, and visualize two-dimensional and three-dimensional representations.

Learn to create a sloped pipe routing in ArchiCAD by locking the slope parameter at 2% and observing its 3D behavior from the ground floor.

In Archicad, set architectural profile, create 3d text with the object tool, rotate on the z axis, and explode to convert to 2d polylines for pipe representations.

Demonstrate tagging and labeling in ArchiCAD map modeler, compare map modeler 27 and 28, and present practical workarounds for isometric views and 3D labeling to avoid manual tagging.

Explore quantifications in ArchiCAD, compare map modeler behavior across ArchiCAD 26, 27, and 28, and learn why map components and library parts are broken in AC27.

Demonstrate how the magic wand tool converts references into segments in ArchiCAD 26, reveal its failure in ArchiCAD 27 for map routines, and discuss workflow with walls, ducts, and environments.