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‘architecture’

The Ease of Architecture in SolidWorks: Project Frog

25 May, 2011 by Josh Mings in DESIGN
3D Human CAD Models

Creating amazing looking structures using SolidWorks… Many doubt it, others toy with it and still others know just how to blend the capabilities to make it possible.

Project Frog, out of San Francisco, CA, is one of the later. They’ve got sweet looking, highly efficient, modular building systems down in a big way. They do it all in SolidWorks and have even extending it to use with Luxology’s modo preset and rigging capabilities. From concept to construction each piece of structure is designed to fit together perfectly. Ryan Olson, Product Design Engineer for Project Frog was kind enough to provide the specifics of how they take on architectural structures and explains exactly why it works.

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Peel that Blue Print Off Your Eyes. SolidWorks Live Buildings is Nigh.

28 Jan, 2011 by Josh Mings in NEWS

Yes, you read that right. SolidWorks Live Buildings, not Dassault Live Buildings. SolidWorks. Live. Buildings… as in the kind that you design and layout in 3D, as in the kind that is usually dedicated to programs like Revit, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD or other AEC software packages. SolidWorks is officially in the market and it’s all happening this year. Could this mark the transition of SolidWorks to V6?

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SolidWorks Brings on the BIM. 3 New Architecture Features in SolidWorks 2011

22 Sep, 2010 by Josh Mings in NEWS

You could stab the stuffing out of the SolidWorks documentation, but you won’t find the mention of BIM or AEC anywhere. What you will find is another cushiony three letter acronym synonymous with both, IFC.

In fact, for SolidWorks 2011, you’ll see a little .IFC format compatibility, the addition of walk-through visualization, and special reference geometry to help in the creation of tiny… or massive grid structures. They are three features being added to push SolidWorks kickin’ and screaming onto the AEC dance floor. Does it have the moves and the mojo to groove?

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The Best BIM Design, Drawing and Reference Apps for the iPhone and iPad

14 Sep, 2010 by Josh Mings in RESOURCES

There are a whopping 500 apps in Apple’s AppStore for architects and contractors. This includes apps categorized as “games,” “lifestyle,” and “entertainment.” While SimCity Deluxe might alleviate stress on the job site, it’s not going to help create layouts or access floorplans.

So, Software Advice has slapped together a list of the best iPhone and iPad apps for the AEC industry. They’ve filtered through ~500 apps and selected 34 of the most useful. They removed irrelevant results, sorted by trade and functionality, and prioritized the list by user ratings and popularity.

The result is their blog post, “The Best Construction Management Apps for the iPhone and iPad.” You can also view a complete list of AEC apps (minus the irrelevant results) in this Google Doc. Here, we highlight six of the apps from their list that are developed for design and architecture.

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Design Buildings Using SolidWorks? Maybe with SolidWorks V6… or V7

16 Jul, 2010 by Josh Mings in CAD

Quick! Switch your screen from the SolidWorks model of your house back to the spreadsheet that updates Mr. Manager coming round the corner on your task status.

Yep, you know what I’m talking about. Modeling your house in SolidWorks. Many have done it in their ‘spare time’. Or, maybe you actually work for a architect who models building with SolidWorks. Even better. I was a 5 day horse ride away from becoming an architect, so this topic is near the top of my “list of cool things I like to scream about into a fake microphone.”

Way back when I started this post, I saw a video from Deelip on Dassault’s Live Buildings. Then he post about Designing Building with SolidWorks yesterday. There are people doing it. We’ve touched on using SolidWorks for Architecture more than a couple times. But, what about the big stuff? We may be seeing more come out of SolidWorks and specifically Dassault as their V6 tech, their community and their collaboration tools find it’s way into SolidWorks.

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The ‘Autonomous Living Unit’ That Will Make You Run… For the Hills

28 May, 2009 by Josh Mings in DESIGN

The last time I saw something this lovable and all together creepy, Sigourney Weaver was watching mama Alien get sucked through a quarter-size hull breach. Shown at the D3 in New York as part of the FUTURE.city exhibit earlier this month, the ‘Autonomous Living Unit’ by Eduardo McIntosh, is the all-in-one

The idea? That this chair would be installed in shanty town shacks and run down buildings to… “provide for the basic needs of the 21st century human being.” Like surround sound, tubes and uncomfortable child-birthing positions.
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Feature Factory: Product Design and Architecture in SolidWorks

16 Jul, 2008 by Josh Mings in DESIGN

“That storefront looks spectacular. I’m tellin’ ya, it looks like it’s sizzlin’ right up from THE GROUND.” Yes, the colors are mesmerizing your eye holes and you grasp for word to explain how structures can seemingly float curvaceously in front of you.

Steel, screws and a little SolidWorks magic, I say, and Feature Factory has got loads of magical magic-ness – by which I mean, they’ve got some engineers, designers and fabbers that know a thing or two about creating fine architectural features using parametric modeling.
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Beautiful Architectural Design in SolidWorks

03 Apr, 2008 by Josh Mings in DESIGN

solidworks-architecture.jpgEvery once in a while I’ll come across some really nice looking images of models created with SolidWorks on Flickr, but finding exceptional Architectural Design created with SolidWorks is rare.

It’s not that architecture can’t be done in SolidWorks, it’s justs been focused primarily as a solution in the MCAD market. Architecture was my first interest and its excited to see some of the possibilities beyond motor housings and plastic moldings.

The designs below were created by Elmar Van Reijswoud from Gorinchem, Netherlands. He currently works at MAAQ Signing & Interior and you can check out his portfolio here.
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