CAD fundamentals for architecture

208 Pages·2013·21.139 MB·English

by  John, Elys

CAD Fundamentals
for Architecture
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Published in 2013
by Laurence King Publishing Ltd
361–373 City Road
London EC1V 1LR
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
E [e-mail]
www.laurenceking.com
Design copyright ©2013 Laurence King Publishing Limited
Text copyright ©2013 Elys John
Elys John has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patent
Act 1988 to be identifi ed as the Author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval
system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 978 178067 282 3
Designed by John Round Design
Project Editor: Gaynor Sermon
Copy Editor: Angela Koo
Printed in China
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CAD Fundamentals
for Architecture
ELYS JOHN
Laurence King Publishing
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Contents
6 Introduction
8 PART 1: 2D DRAWING 58 PART 2: MODELLING
10 Introducing CAD 60 Introduction
12 Icon references 66 3D interfaces
14 Setting up a user interface 72 XYZ
20 Understanding layers 77 Simple creation techniques
24 Tutorial 1: Basic drawing exercise 84 Modifi cation
36 Plan export/Presentation drawing 92 Methods of construction
54 PDF plotting 102 Copy/Array
108 Tutorial 2: 3D exercise
112 PART 3: RENDERING
114 Rendering basics
122 AutoCAD rendering
130 3ds Max rendering
138 Form Z rendering
144 Maya rendering
150 SketchUp rendering
156 Vectorworks rendering
162 Tutorial 3: Rendering
Related study material is available on the Laurence King website at
www.laurenceking.com
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168 PART 4: PRESENTATION
170 Introduction
172 Setting up Photoshop
174 Presentation points
178 Photoshop tools
184 Tutorial 4: Presentation
188 PART 5: OVERVIEW AND RESOURCES
190 From start to fi nish: the Barcelona Pavilion
196 BIM: Building Information Model
200 Troubleshooting tips
202 Glossary
204 Index
206 Useful websites and further reading
208 Picture credits and acknowledgments
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6
Introduction
Drawing is often referenced as a hand-rendered activity, key methods of drawing and modelling, and, by showing
and today it still plays an important creative role in the examples from a variety of software programs, this book can
design development of architecture and interiors. Many be used as a global reference rather than a guide to any one
architecture and design courses emphasize the importance specifi c type of software.
of hand drawing and modelling as an effective way of The main aim of this book is to demystify 2D and 3D
communicating and developing a design brief but, while software interfaces and provide a detailed explanation of
the role of hand drawing is undoubtedly a signifi cant one, the key skills required in architectural design, from simple
the reality of day-to-day design practice now places far more 2D drawing and 3D construction methods to more complex
importance on drawing and modelling using digital means. rendering techniques. The programs included are some of
Increasingly, computer-aided-design, or CAD, is those most commonly used in education and in industry:
becoming the professional norm in terms of both creativity SketchUp, Vectorworks, Form Z, AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Maya
and effi ciency, and this book examines the fundamentals and Photoshop.
of digital rendering for architects and students. There is Different software programs are examined alongside
a consistent formal language within CAD that references each other, so that you can see how similar tasks are
Chapters 1 and 2 guide you through the basics
of 2D drawing and 3D modelling, while step-
by-step tutorials take you through the process
of creating a building from scratch.
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Introduction 7
performed across the range of programs. Step-by-step integral part of architectural design and manufacture. A
tutorials are included in each chapter, showing how to draw, comprehensive resource section includes troubleshooting
model and render a building from start to fi nish using a tips, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading as well as
variety of programs, and tip boxes provide further references useful websites.
to alternative software types. This will allow you to develop It is my hope that this book will assist architecture and
a broad awareness of what can be achieved with CAD and interior design students as well as existing practitioners who
become less reliant on one specifi c software type, to become are unfamiliar with CAD or whose skills are rusty. A common
a global user. fault with some courses is the lack of formal CAD teaching;
In the fi nal section, all of the skills demonstrated in quite often students are left to it. This book offers a solid
the book are brought together to show the step-by-step grounding in the fundamentals of CAD, and shows how to
rendering of an iconic architectural building – the Barcelona complete architectural visuals to a professional standard.
Pavilion. This demonstrates how the constituent parts of a
project come together. There is also information on Building
Information Modelling (BIM), which is fast becoming an
Chapters 3 and 4 show how to render a
building and produce presentation visuals.
Clear tutorials allow you to work through the
process yourself.
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PART 1 2D DRAWING
10 INTRODUCING CAD
12 ICON REFERENCES
14 SETTING UP A USER INTERFACE
20 UNDERSTANDING LAYERS
24 TUTORIAL 1: BASIC DRAWING EXERCISE
36 PLAN EXPORT/PRESENTATION DRAWING
54 PDF PLOTTING
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10 Part 1: 2D Drawing
INTRODUCING CAD
On fi rst encounter the CAD interface can look daunting.
Throughout this fi rst section I will introduce a simple way
of thinking about and using CAD packages. It may not be
the quickest – there are always quicker ways to do things,
although this comes with practise – but the following core
principles relate more closely to traditional drawing board
practice than they do to traditional CAD instruction.
Relating back to drawing board practice is a key mindset to
get into before you approach CAD drawing.
Below
This sectional perspective of
the Atelier Bow Wow house
(the practice's offi ce) shows
unprecedented orthographic
detail. Visual rendering can provide
the look of a scheme; drawing,
and particularly this level of
orthographic CAD drawing, can
provide us with the ergonomic
and construction information to
rigorously illustrate the building.
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