Modeling Concrete Block with Archicad 24 Curtain Wall Tool!

[@niranjandassharma]

Explained very systematically. Thank you

[@MaxGDesign]

Awesome video. I spent most of yesterday trying to model and repeat breezeblocks as a morph. This is much more elegant

[@CONTRABIM]

Thanks for the comment! Yes morphs can certainly be a useful tool to help create the geometry. Loading them up into the Curtainwall tool can be practical means for distribution. Glad you liked the video!

[@seanwilson1837]

you do this really interesting move in 3D where you move the camera in XYZ but also rotate around. This is shown really obviously around the 9:30 mark. How do you do that?

[@conmes3077]

John your are awesome 😊😊😊

[@CONTRABIM]

Thanks for watching!

[@LeoPetri]

Amazing content! Keep it going! Thank you a lot for this lesson, currently testing these techniques for a university project. The tutorial was on point with what i was searching for.

[@CONTRABIM]

Awesome, thanks for the comment! Hopefully you caught the other videos on this subject as well!

[@JoeFortbuilders]

Masonry concrete unit, how did you get this?

[@melika1265]

Hey I have the same question Did you get how to get that material?

[@timothyadem8354]

Such a great tutorial here.

[@n2prod]

there is a wat to put two frames at the same panel? im trying to make a timber frame, with 1,22m of panels but 0,6 betwen frames. (And then i want to make schedule to get how many panels i got). Thanks

[@TheIsadoraFurtado]

Hi! Thank you for the video. Is there a way to add a window to a Interleaved Pattern Concrete Block curtain wall?

[@CONTRABIM]

Thanks for the question. Yes absolutely. It is a curtain wall by nature, so you can add windows and doors just the same as if it was a glazed assembly!

[@Studio39DesignStudio]

thanks for the great content, very much interested in the material list, would like to know where you go it?

[@CONTRABIM]

The materials are my own creation based on CSI Masterformat spec outline, which is the best out there for organizing building materials. They are built in line with the Graphisoft USA materials list (index 1-73), but added several more to fill in the areas where more are needed. I like using the CSI codes for everything from materials, surfaces and fills to keep it all in line. Thanks for the question!

[@ulrikeklaschka6898]

Thanks so much. 👍👍

[@CONTRABIM]

Thank you! Did you check out part 2 and 3?

[@ulrikeklaschka6898]

@@CONTRABIM I will for sure

[@benjaminn7460]

How do you make your cursor to have effect each time you click it creates like a circle buble?

[@CONTRABIM]

I do that in Camtasia, the screen recording software I use prior to rendering the video!

[@hectorsolissolis]

EXCELENTE VIDEO.

[@EnderAydin]

Great... as always! ;)

[@CONTRABIM]

Thanks Ender!

[@vanzfaustino8106]

nice one Thank you very much

[@CONTRABIM]

Thanks Vanz. Did you see part 2 and 3?

[@vanzfaustino8106]

@@CONTRABIM not yet.. where ?

[@CONTRABIM]

@@vanzfaustino8106 www.contrabim.com/blog/decorative-concrete-block-modeling-with-custom-curtain-wall-panels

[@vanzfaustino8106]

@@CONTRABIM salamat po ng marami ( thank you! )

[@xavansan]

hiii great video!! is there a way that i can apply this same procedure to floors??

[@CONTRABIM]

Sure just model it horizontally! Use the boundary geometry method and create any shape you want as a floor. Great question!

[@xavansan]

@@CONTRABIM didnt know you could place it horizontally... this is gamechanger thanks!! this channel is awesome greetings from ecuador!

[@CONTRABIM]

@@xavansan Thanks! Glad you're liking the content!

[@rogeriopenna9014]

@@CONTRABIM It's also a good method to create office ceilings. In fact, can even add lamps and stuff and save those as curtain wall panels, so your horizontal curtain wall, now an office ceiling, can have lamps, air conditioning, etc, as panels in the pattern.

[@keithjive]

Love your videos, thank you so much! Could you walk us through how to do the custom face profile for the shadow block? Is this two curtain wall panels sandwiched?

[@CONTRABIM]

Hi Keith. Thanks for the message! So the shadow block I built with a morph facing straight up when modeling in plan view, and was 6x12inches or 1x2 ratio. At 13:33 you can see the morph in plan view, and at 28:25 you can see the block pretty well in 3d. A pretty simple shape just two extra faces on the morph to create the shadow. Quick note: when you have an extrusion as shown, the overall width of the block will include the extrusion. I'll do another video on this here soon!

[@keithjive]

@@CONTRABIM I see! Thanks for the clarification and keep up the good work

[@Claudiozee]

This is very nice. Thank you very much for your detailed explanation. Do you have a way to keep the file running smooth and minimize risks of crashing? We noticed that when you start to have a large wall, even just 3 storey high x 10m wide, there's a lot of background working process, the file slows the file right down and it can even crash the whole computer, not just ArchiCAD. Perhaps something which can keep the representation to a more basic level with less polygons or the like?

[@CONTRABIM]

Yes, if you keep the curtainwalls limited in size (number of blocks) it definitely helps. I've found that when using excessively large assemblies, it can slow everything down. In some cases, just using the wall tool for CMU will be better for performance. The concrete block with curtainwall is good for select locations where extra detail is nice to have.

[@Constantinesis]

Hello, this is a great tutorial! I was wondering do you think there is a way to design modular wall panels with Curtain walls? I am thinking about the type of panels used in the prefab type of houses. For example to design a curtain wall system with interior framing, timber panels, insulation, cladding, etc but keep them precise and repetitive.

[@CONTRABIM]

Yes this is definitely possible. I've seen it done for modular commercial partitions. The trick is to make sure the lengths are drawn exact so you don't end up with a lot of unique sized frames at the end or beginning of the scheme.

[@NomissimoN]

Good day, Is this also a way to create pre-cast walls? Thank you

[@chrishutchison4182]

Hi, this is a handy tutorial! Although i am unable to get the custom wall panel to appear when added to the curtain wall. Once I have saved a slab with the profile of the block it just seems to change the surface of the panel? I think i have followed the process quickly being the only difference i create a slab instead of the preset block you already had as a template. Is this where i am failing? apologies if this doesnt make much sense.

[@CONTRABIM]

Hi Chris. Hopefully you found the other video I did on how to create a custom block. I think that will help answer your question. If not hit me back up and we'll see if we can get it sorted!

[@chrishutchison4182]

@@CONTRABIM ​Hi mate, Thanks for getting back to me. I still can't seem to figure this out. I'm a student and am still pretty green so bear with me if my terminology is wrong 😥 I have created a block similar to the pattern in the video with the slab tool, then converted to a morph and saved as a window panel. When I try to add to my curtain scheme the scheme pattern is correct but the block is grey (using a white brick surface)? Are you able to link the video you have mentioned here?

[@cooking.architect]

Do you have any idea to make tiling for walls and floor with scheduling in Archicad?

[@CONTRABIM]

Hi Jevon. Yes! This same application as shown in this video can be used for modeling tile patterns on walls or floors. I'm going to do a followup video talking about the takeoffs next week. Using curtainwall for this purpose is great, and can get more exact than an expression based property would.... When scheduling, you'll have to ditch the curtainwall itself, and tap into the sub level using the "curtainwall panel" to list panel types and counts.

[@duncanh6045]

Hi I've played with this idea before in Archicad, I've come across problems with breeze blocks being squashed, I think it had something to do with the nodes on the reference line, I was able to remove the squashed ones and have it stick to a brick module. Have you ever come across this ?

[@CONTRABIM]

Hi Duncan. Yes it seems when the scheme is not a full spacing, it'll always squish the blocks together. It makes it really important to pay attention to the sizing, and running quantity schedules on this based on block height/width is a good way to find the slightly off ones. There may be some settings in the saved object for curtain wall panels that will prevent the squishing... something I'm looking into as that would be really useful. I'll often just replace the squished ones with a normal block instead. Thanks for the question!

[@elbeto1975]

Hi, can you do this with previous versions of Archicad.? Thanks

[@CONTRABIM]

You can do this workflow with Archicad versions 22 and later. In 22, they introduced the new curtain wall editor which allows for there types of custom schemes.

[@elbeto1975]

@@CONTRABIM That's what I thought. Thanks

[@mohammedabdi9942]

How should I go about that

[@pulealexforby]

@CONTABIM is it possible for you make a shipping container walls using curtain walls? and make it editable so i can add doors and windows to the walls? if so please make a tutorial

[@CONTRABIM]

Thanks for the question. I'm not sure if the curtainwall tool is the best for a shipping container. I think a profiled column or sheet metal object may be better for the walls, with beams and columns for the corner frames. I've never modeled a shipping container, that is an interesting subject though I'll add it to the list!

[@pulealexforby]

@@CONTRABIM thank you i would really like to see a parametric container made in archicad

[@pulealexforby]

@@CONTRABIM HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS

[@CONTRABIM]

@@pulealexforby Hi Alex! Sorry it's been a while since this post. I'll have to revisit the containers and that is a great subject to talk about inside the brand new CONTRABIM community. I know other users who have built them before...not sure about parametric though

[@Constantinesis]

Hello! Do you know if the panel type distribution can be controlled from the Grasshopper 3D connection?

[@CONTRABIM]

Hi Constantine! That is a great question, I'm not sure to be honest, in no way am I an expert on the Grasshopper connection, but something I need to get into and learn more about... Perhaps someone out there can answer that?

[@mohammedabdi9942]

Using archicad 23 and can't seem to change the colour of the panels

[@CONTRABIM]

Panel color/texture can be changed either by material, or be surface override. When changing to panel settings, make sure you'll adjusting the right panel from the list, that corresponds to the panels placed in the scheme settings. Keep playing with it and you'll get it! Also, check out the other videos part2 & 3 on the subject to learn more..thanks for the question!

[@FilipeArkitetos]

O conteúdo é bom,mas não está em metro e complica mais. Fora que é muito lento

[@markk1786]

What about corners?

[@CONTRABIM]

Corners are a little trick, and can be matched together by deleting out overlapping panels. If this is a method you plan to use often, it's good to mend the corners first and then stretch in the other directions. Using a wall is obviously easier, but for modeling decorative block there are some benefits of doing it this way.

[@markk1786]

Any way of creative use of corner frames, you can think of?

[@CONTRABIM]

@@markk1786 Perhaps, but nothing is coming to mind at first thought. Maybe two slightly different schemes that always begin at the corners would work.

[@archiBIMninja]

@@markk1786 To get the corners to work perfectly, you will need one of the curtain walls' Horizontal Pattern Offset (by the corner coursing) to make the corner stagger. So in your Scheme on the bottom lower right of the dialog box, you will find Pattern Origin > find where it says Start with Pattern you will see when you hover over It says Horizontal Pattern Offset. An Example would be to start by using the 16" course on Column 1 > Rows A & B then create your pattern as the first block would be laid 16" coursework. For example, let's say you have a 48" by 12 ft fireplace you will need the two curtain walls then you need to decide which wall you want the CMU course to start. The second Curtain Wall you will offset by 8" then when they are connected they will be coursed correctly, from there you will need to go in the 3D vied and select one Curtain Wall and edit the connections. Example of how I use my Panels > CMU (8x8x16) Stretcher or now let's say I will use a CMU (8x8x8) Stretcher or at the openings, CMU (8x8x16) Lintel or more examples of panels would be CMU (8x8x16) Kerf, Single Corner (Left), Single Corner (Right), also I have a panel for CMU (8x8x8) Void, CMU (8x8x16) Void. Voids are the airspace of the CMU, so while editing in 3D where the CMU overlaps one will be 16" or 8"; this is how the scheme works the patterns. The first wall is the starting of the 16", and the joining wall of the bottom course will show up as an 8", so now you will select all of those blocks and make it CMU (8x8x8) Void (it uses the airspace-this could be a new Airspace for CMU or just use the single airspace from the plain template of ArchiCAD) once this is done, exit the Mode and repeat this for the other wall. The best part is you will need to make a left and right-hand fit in these spaces, then select the CMU and make them the Single Corner (Left or Right) if you do this and when you create the CMU wall it will be modeled the way it would be built. It does seem crazy to do this but the BIM is so nice and now every section or detail that is generated is 100% done and no more hatches, line types, graphic overrides, or whatever to get things looking really nice. Because still the fastest CAD or BIMer in the office if it's modeled in 3D it is essentially done in the drawings. Also, the architect needs to remember making these Curtain Walls with CMU is in the Construction Document phases there is no reason to be doing this in other parts unless it's an exposed wall. Also do not forget you just need to do the one end and mirror and then join the curtain will together. For myself, I still use the wall for all the windows and doors, but the CMU is a cavity if you will within this wall, and if I want to model the CMU with the Curtain wall it goes within the cavity space of the wall. If openings are needed then this is were the Airspace void blocks come in handy to achieve this while selecting the right blocks. Hope this HELPS!

[@rogeriopenna9014]

Those perfurated block patterns are called "cobogó".

[@CONTRABIM]

Thanks Rogerio for the comment! I like that term for the perf blocks!

[@ghassankanaan1767]

👍👍👍

[@CONTRABIM]

Thanks you!!!

[@skyeelvy]

This is so frustrating!!! How do you get the holes in the block when you are making a custom one!! The vid skips over things too quick

[@johnhallgarth1284]

The custom blocks are just slabs or morph elements. You can create holes using the same methods you would with any regular slab. Create the line work for the shape, and you can magic wand the holes! Or use the subtract geometry method in the pet palette! Hope this helps!

[@CONTRABIM]

Check out this other video which goes deeper into the custom blocks kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5isn6NpabatodE