The story behind (and inside) The Revit Cow

Caution: What you are about to see may be shocking. To those just beginning to build Revit families, this is way beyond and outside the boundaries of “best practices”. I present to you: The Revit Cow. I just wish I’d thought of it first. This is not your average efficient 2.5D family. This is so crazy, even a window manufacturer wouldn’t go to this level of detail. I wondered why that burger I ate this afternoon seemed a little heavy.

And the section. Vegetarians can take solace in the fact that all cows are in fact made with brick, mortar and patience. Yes, that is in fact a wall, wrapping the cow massing family. Remember Reviteers, just because you can, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t – cause when it’s this cool, how can you resist?

Read on for the full story, behind and inside the cow:

Simply Complex: The Revit Cow

If you’ve been out of the loop, and this is news, you might wish to continue your journey of bewilderment below.

Similar stories – courtesy of David Light:

Star Wars meets Revit part 1

Star Wars meets Revit part 2

..which leads me to an announcement: I plan to build another, slightly more complex spaceship in the coming months. If you see me at AU this year, I will have something more to share then. All will be revealed when the moment is right. Of course, it will be rendered in the cloud.

Design Computation – Part I

Recently, I attended an internal discussion on identifying key trends regarding digital fabrication. It was discussed that together with the use of computational design tools like Vasari, Rhino/Grasshopper, and others, this approach will open some new opportunities for the AEC industry.

This reminded me to get my act together to finally sign up for Autodesk University – I better show, if I am to lead my full class on BIM Leadership. And I am getting off topic.

The following were part of the Design Computation Symposium which was a conference within the Autodesk University conference last December. The moderator was Dr. Robert Aish, the creator of GenerativeComponents – now with Autodesk Research, he is creating some new advanced parametric tools which we may soon be seeing inside actual design software. If you can attend AU2011, make sure this is on your agenda before it fills up like all great classes. What might you expect?

At the symposium, there were some impressive TED-style presentations from the following researchers and designers – I don’t have recordings of the actual presentations, but attempted to provide links that would elicit a deeper review. Much has been said about the impressive stone bench with a cheeky name designed by Carl Bass himself.

Nick Callicott | Stahlbogen GmbH/sixteen*(makers) – A Manufactured Architecture in a Manufactured Landscape: http://www.sixteenmakers.com

 

Gregory Epps | RoboFold – Robotic Metal Folding in Façade Fabrication: www.RoboFold.com

Shajay Bhooshan | Zaha Hadid Architects – Form, Structure and Design Intuition - Note: ultimately this research was integrated in Autodesk Vasari

 

Shrikant Sharma | Buro Happold SMART Solutions – Engineering the Complex Architecture: Smart_SolutionsLouvre, Abu Dhabi

Matthias Kohler | Gramazio & Kohler – Digital Materiality in Architecture Using Robotic Construction: gramaziokohler.com

 

Mathias Höbinger | Evolute – Enabling Free-Form: evolute.at

René Ziegler | Waagner-Biro Stahlbau AG – Finding Repetition in Complexity: Design and Construction of Free-Form Building Envelopes in Steel and Glass (Case Study on the Yas Island Marina Hotel)

The Proving Ground by Nathan Miller: NBBJ Design Computation – Job Opening

Re-post:

The Proving Ground by Nathan Miller: NBBJ Design Computation – Job Opening.

Dear Computation Community,
I am happy to announce that NBBJ is expanding its efforts in the field of Design Computation. We have officially opened a search for an additional expertise to work with me on a firm-wide effort based out of the Los Angeles studio. Please review the job description below.

If you are interested in this position, apply through the NBBJ website!

NBBJ Los Angeles is seeking an expert in Design Computation who will be placed in a co-leadership position with a collaborative team of experts. The Designer we are seeking must have a proven track-record for pushing the boundaries of design by drawing upon a deep interest in science, mathematics and computing. This individual should possess experience in applying technology driven methodologies in the context of real-world design problems.

The individual will have responsibilities which include collaborating on the design of architecture projects, working with teams to develop innovative computational design tools, and mentoring design teams in computational methods. The position will offer the candidate opportunities to grow within the firm and exposure to an innovative, fast-paced and highly collaborative environment.


• 4-year degree in related field required; Architectural degree a plus
• Minimum of 4-6 years of experience in leveraging computational methods for architectural design
• Advanced knowledge of parametric design software and generative design techniques (software may include Grasshopper, Generative Components, Catia, and/or Inventor)
• Working knowledge of common computer programming languages (VB.NET, C#, Python)
• Familiarity with scripting and application programming interfaces (API) for tools such as Revit, Rhino and/or AutoCAD
• Comfortable working in common 2D and 3D design environments including Revit, Rhino, and/or AutoCAD
• Proven experience teaching design computation
• Strong critical thinking and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to travel and lead team training seminars in all of NBBJ’s office locations

 

Installing IronPython with Vasari – Nathan Miller

Nathan, often shows off some incredibly impressive chops when exploring application integration. Here we see an interesting use of a relatively little known technique for scripting in Vasari/Revit.

Revit application developers take note, IronPython will allow you to fluidly test your code without recompiling and initializing Revit. However, if you are doing heavy parameter pushing, be prepared to wait.

Read on: The Proving Ground by Nathan Miller: Installing IronPython with Vasari

The Revit Kid.com!: Revit SP Writer – Shared Parameter Utility

The Revit Kid.com!: Revit SP Writer – Shared Parameter Utility.

 

Original post below:

“Thanks to Steve Stafford for the link… This is a great and useful utility.  I am all about making utilities for Revit (See SAuBIM – Code Calculations) and always give others utilities a try.

For those of you not familiar with Shared Parameters yet I plan on attacking them one day with tutorials…  I promise you that you will end up running into them in your Revit lifetime.

This is the initial public release of Revit SP.Writer for Excel.


This utility is intended to manage shared parameter files for Autodesk Revit platforms. It was written and tested using Excel 2007.
Features:
  • Import Shared Parameter ’.txt’ files
  • Export Shared Parameter ‘.txt’ files
  • Create New Shared parameters
  • Selective Export from Parameter Library
  • Organize Parameters

 

designby: Cut and Paste

Looking for architectural design problems that need solutions, or solutions to common problems. Look no further than:

Already a whiz in Revit, 3dsMax, or Rhino/Grasshopper? Respond to a challenge, so others may benefit.

Still learning how to solve a geometry problem or build a parametric component? Whether you need a component family, Revit project, GH definition, or other 3D model, sift through the various challenges or projects and their responses, and download to your heart’s content.

Be sure to post a new challenge if you have this idea that you want to crowd-source for a solution. Reward that respondent well when you find modeling Nirvana.

So the next time someone tells you that software ‘X’ cannot do ‘Y’, or ‘Z’, call their bluff and open up an example from some amazingly talented contributors. When you are ready, young padawan, you too can share your brilliance. Click for the latest activity, or search the archives. latest activity | designbymany.

How a Culture of Collaboration & Technology Enables Design Excellence at NBBJ

Note, previous versions of this video were without slides, and this version has been improved to show the visuals accompanying Steve’s very engaging and inspiring talk. I hope you all enjoy it!

At the 2010 Design Futures Council Leadership Summit on Sustainable Design, Steve McConnell, Managing Partner of NBBJ spoke about new technologies that are driving innovative sustainable design solutions at NBBJ. Using two projects currently under construction, Steve discusses the need for new models of collaboration to enable paradigm shifts in our industry. For more information on NBBJ, visit nbbj.com.

Click through for the iOS friendly version: How a Culture of Collaboration & Technology Enables Design Excellence at NBBJ – Steve McConnell, Managing Partner, NBBJ

It is both an honor and joy to work with such talented and visionary leaders. There are nine other wonderful presentations from other industry leaders (including one by the also eloquent speaker Phil Bernstein) also found at Design Intelligence on Vimeo.

Autodesk – a whole lotta love for the 3D concept model!

A whole lotta love for 3D and conceptual design is coming out of Autodesk Labs and Autodesk Research this week. Here’s two pieces of news that will get designers to stand up and take notice.

One:
Autodesk Labs has updated Vasari to be compatible with Revit 2012, and added a few new goodies. For a review: Project Vasari 2.0 is now available – The Sustainable Design Toolbox
Website: http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/vasari/

Two:

A new app was anounced: Autodesk 123D Beta
As a result of Carl Bass speaking at the Maker Faire last weekend, we were all treated to a new tool to enable the coming personal factory revolution.


Below is a sample that I whipped up with no training. Oh, and videos are provided to help you get the most out of the feature sets. One of the most interesting is the construction method awareness, which if you are expecting to output using 3Dprinting, or simply want to unfold and cut from flat stock on a CNC machine, there’s little out there that is more straightforward and simple to use. They’ve also teamed up with a handful of online services to help you make your digital creations materialize, and for a limited time, fabs are 50% off.


Website: www.123dapp.com

Digital Vision Automation Blog

My “BIM rant”, on adoption and setting expectations “Thoughts on a Train”, or “Mind the BIM Gap” was picked up by the blog All Roads Lead to BIM. I feel honored to be alongside such a cast of excellent authors whose work is collected on that site. Check them out on the information super highway, otherwise known as the inter-tubes: Digital Vision Automation Blog

2012, Get Your 2012…

DANIEL HOUGHTON / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Like the popcorn and beer concessions guy in a ballpark, I loudly announce the availability of your favorite Autodesk products for the (FY) 2012 season. It will come to you quickly when you use the download manager option. Pass your money down the aisle, please. Can’t yet see them in your geography or subscription center? Get them here as a free trial download:

http://usa.autodesk.com/support/downloads/

Direct Link: Rick \”Peanut Man\” Kaminiski