House design software ?
Posted by: Steveandkate on 25 September 2004
Any ideas what to buy ?
I want to be able to see it in 3d, have NO previous experience in doing this (and not much with pc's full stop)
It is just to get some ideas before we go to an architect, so being able to produce plans is not important.
I do remember a recent review in a pc magazine, but having recently cleared out all the old magazines, don't have a clue which one it was.
If you have any useful ideas, please let me know !
Thanks
Steve
I want to be able to see it in 3d, have NO previous experience in doing this (and not much with pc's full stop)
It is just to get some ideas before we go to an architect, so being able to produce plans is not important.
I do remember a recent review in a pc magazine, but having recently cleared out all the old magazines, don't have a clue which one it was.
If you have any useful ideas, please let me know !
Thanks
Steve
Posted on: 25 September 2004 by Tim Danaher
SketchUp 4.0 ( www.sketchup.com )is an amazing piece of software for Architectural 3D visualization. However, it's around £400, so you may not want to pay that much.
Cheers,
Tim
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Cheers,
Tim
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Posted on: 25 September 2004 by Rasher
It isn't as easy as that I'm afraid. It sounds good in theory, but it just doesn't work like that.
What I would suggest is to find an Architect that works with those techniques - and you will be disappointed at how many actually do - and go from there. Few are geared to give that service - so you are looking for a small outfit with staff under 40 yrs old.
Give me a PT if you get stuck. I'm not an Architect, but I know lots in London that do this sort of thing when necessary.
What I would suggest is to find an Architect that works with those techniques - and you will be disappointed at how many actually do - and go from there. Few are geared to give that service - so you are looking for a small outfit with staff under 40 yrs old.
Give me a PT if you get stuck. I'm not an Architect, but I know lots in London that do this sort of thing when necessary.
Posted on: 25 September 2004 by Martin Clark
Rasher's right, for a reason that's not entirely obvious. It takes a surprising amount of time to get worthwhile 3D visuals out of CAD, because you need a fair amount of decisions made in order to be able to 'sketch' out the model. As a beginner you'll also need the time to learn and make the model. If you are looking for a 'realistic' visual effect, figure in about twice as long to light and set surfaces / materials as it took to make the model in the first place!
If you are doing this yourself, you may be in for a steepish learning curve and a few hours invested. Obviously, if you expect someone else to do it for you, you end up paying for their time... which gets expensive quickly.
The halfway house - and one most architects use - is to draw. Most architects wil start with blunt pencil or a marker when explorng ideas in 3-d, and not go much beyond there unless there's a requirement for presentation purposes*. Complex schemes can be modelled as blocks, to set up the perspective after which a quick doodle on top is the way to explore ideas. Very quick and easy.
I'd encourage you to try this route first, because I sense from the question that you are wanting to explore ideas, flavours, to get a sense of the sort of thing you like. Go on a magazine and book search for images of buildings and bits of buildings you like. Pop a sheet of detail over the top and start lining- in the bits you like and experiment with altering to taste - the photo gives you the framework, and you are free to doodle. Add a scanner and your favourite graphics package to the mix, and the results can be striking, in colour - and a *lot* quicker than trying to achieve the same thing in CAD. Don't be self-concious about the results at first; it's a very therapeutic process that will develop - and I guarantee you'll surprise yourself.
M.
*Architects can be very poor at effectively communicating - we have an unhelpful tendency to assume everyone else can fluently grasp the relation between a schematic 2-d representation in plan, section or elevation and the 3-dimensional idea in space it represents.
If you are doing this yourself, you may be in for a steepish learning curve and a few hours invested. Obviously, if you expect someone else to do it for you, you end up paying for their time... which gets expensive quickly.
The halfway house - and one most architects use - is to draw. Most architects wil start with blunt pencil or a marker when explorng ideas in 3-d, and not go much beyond there unless there's a requirement for presentation purposes*. Complex schemes can be modelled as blocks, to set up the perspective after which a quick doodle on top is the way to explore ideas. Very quick and easy.
I'd encourage you to try this route first, because I sense from the question that you are wanting to explore ideas, flavours, to get a sense of the sort of thing you like. Go on a magazine and book search for images of buildings and bits of buildings you like. Pop a sheet of detail over the top and start lining- in the bits you like and experiment with altering to taste - the photo gives you the framework, and you are free to doodle. Add a scanner and your favourite graphics package to the mix, and the results can be striking, in colour - and a *lot* quicker than trying to achieve the same thing in CAD. Don't be self-concious about the results at first; it's a very therapeutic process that will develop - and I guarantee you'll surprise yourself.
M.
*Architects can be very poor at effectively communicating - we have an unhelpful tendency to assume everyone else can fluently grasp the relation between a schematic 2-d representation in plan, section or elevation and the 3-dimensional idea in space it represents.
Posted on: 26 September 2004 by Steveandkate
OK, Tim - thanks, but yes, £400 is way too much for me.
Rasher and Martin - thanks too - I guess I ought to start with a few magazines and look at photo's. I may well be in touch later, once I have a few ideas to get a contact or two from you.
So, next question - what magazines or books to look for ?
Have a good Sunday
Steve
Rasher and Martin - thanks too - I guess I ought to start with a few magazines and look at photo's. I may well be in touch later, once I have a few ideas to get a contact or two from you.
So, next question - what magazines or books to look for ?
Have a good Sunday
Steve