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Showing posts from March, 2011

HOW TO create any kind of complicated/fine work 3D in ArchiCAD

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I know, I know, not many firms out there use ArchiCAD anymore, but thank god there is still some and for those who do, like us, this is for you :) Fretwork for federation house Usually, if you are not after much detailed 3D work, using the slab and wall tools are sufficient enough to get the job done. you would get the basic shape of this fretwork.  However, if you are after delivering an exact representation of the existing house, like above, this tutorial is for you. We are going to work on a plane and save the work as an OBJECT  to then be used in your 3D.  STEP 1 On the ArchiCAD file you are working on, start by importing an image of your fretwork in  AC (short for Archicad, I will be using this word a LOT, I just realized)  on a blank story level.  Click on the 'figure tool'. It looks like a little house icon. You can pretty much import almost any kind of file into AC with this tool, PDFs, JPEGs, TIFs.. like so..  After you are done, start drawing ou

give your steep site a lift!!

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Got a steep site...? Difficult access....? Consider a lift. It's not a cheap solution but it adds incredible value and function to a site that has steep access. Here's one we completed in Coogee. Combined with additions that located living areas to the new top floor it allows direct access from street level. It totally transformed the functionality of the house ... and  ... the value of the property. Lot's of jack hammers in a solid stone hole and a big rock muncher from Coober Pedy working horizontally. Some issues with super hard rock and rock fractures, so geotech info is important. Quite stressful to build but great once completed. J       

great architecture site

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Here's a fantastic site for those who like immersing themselves in 360 o views of buildings from ancient to modern. http://www.learn.columbia.edu/ ha/html/medieval.html Thanks to Vicki (our favorite client, teacher, artist and now movie star) for sending this link. John

our TOP 5 TIPS to getting a job in the Architectural world

#1 Get a job in the industry while you are still attending university. Be it internship or administration work, as long as you put a foot in, you're in for the ride. !Warning! This might involve you going out of your way to talk to the architect who comes in to lunch everyday at the pub you are working at, but who knows, he, or his all time best friend/fellow architect and colleague, might be needing a CAD genius like you and the timing might be just right. #2 Short and to the point RESUME If you can, put in a nice picture of a smiling you in the CV. It should be 2 page maximum and should be a mixture of graphics and writing. It will be architects and interior designers looking at your resume. They will be mildly interested to know you have some experience in retail but your retail history should be compressed into one or two paragraphs (max) and put way to the back of your resume along with your school info. By all means, list out all the CAD programs that you consi

Timeless faces from Chartres

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Chartres cathedral in France was constructed between 1193 and 1250 and retains most of it's original architecture and details, including it's medieval stained glass windows. One of the striking features for me was the many statues carved into the decoration. These were characters from biblical tales but were also often local characters, workers and notables of the time. A lot of them look very serene!  A stone "facebook" for the times! They didn't forget the little people. You will see smaller characters above and around the main ones, supporting them or doing the work. Australian Gothic revival buildings such as St Mary's cathedral in Sydney and buildings within Sydney University carried on the tradition to a lesser extent. You can often see stones that are blank pieces where faces or characters were intended to go. Going to Chartres you get to meet the ancient population as well as the new.