Archicad | Graphisoft's Highest-Performance Software

Archicad is a BIM architectural design software that I consider to be of the highest quality. Although it is quite intuitive, with a little creativity you can create complex projects with a very high degree of accuracy. It combines CAD technical drawing and 3D design and modeling in a synergistic workflow, capable of gathering all the information you will need during the different phases of a construction project.

It all started with a focus on and move towards a technological advance that we now know by its acronym BIM (Building Information Modeling). BIM is a conglomerate of methodical processes that allow you to generate, store, and manage data pertaining to any type of construction and infrastructure.

Currently, Archicad, by integrating this system, has established itself as one of the most widely used computer-aided design software programs in architecture and engineering. Its popularity is no coincidence, as Graphisoft, the developer, has been in operation since 1982. Understanding how this duo works gives you a broader understanding of how you can develop your imaginary expertise in order to propose pragmatic solutions to social or creative problems.

What is Archicad and how can it transform the way you design?

Archicad is BIM-assisted design and modeling software that has been a pioneer in this boom and has prevailed by significantly improving its interface. CAD analytical programs continue to be a widely used tool, and it is believed that the education and business sectors are still in a phase of transition toward the BIM model.

If you are in this phase of change, Archicad will mark a before and after in your professional performance or that of your collaborators, as you will notice time savings as you progress in your designs, which will lead to improved productivity and effective collaborative work.

Archicad, developed by Graphisoft since 1982, was a pioneer in implementing what we now understand as BIM (Building Information Modeling). While other programs were just beginning to integrate collaborative or parametric modeling functions, Archicad was already several steps ahead. Its comprehensive approach to documentation, three-dimensional modeling, and coordination of disciplines is simply brilliant.

Furthermore, it is not just a drawing program, especially now that they have added a feature that generates images using artificial intelligence based on a simple conceptual model. It is a work system that forces you (in the best sense of the word) to think about your projects constructively and holistically from the very beginning. In other words, you don't design and then draw: you design as you build virtually. This mindset of generating and managing information from the model is what sets it apart from many other solutions on the market.

As if that weren't enough, Archicad's philosophy and new features are collaborative at their core, with the help of data synchronization in BIMcloud for remote teams. Features such as Teamwork allow multiple users to work on the same project in real time. Fascinating, don't you think? It's ideal for architecture studios with teamwork dynamics.

What Makes It Different From Other Programs?

The most sought-after program today is Revit, but one of the reasons why Graphisoft Archicad's product line remains my choice is its balance between power, ease of use, and high compatibility with external products. It's rare to find technical software that is also intuitive, but Archicad has achieved this perfectly.

Even new users can get started relatively quickly, and as you explore further, you discover that its tool catalog is quite extensive, with a global object library where creativity has no limits.

I have been using this program for about 8 years, and what I value most is its openBIM workflow, where there are no unnecessary steps. You can create a three-dimensional model while automatically generating floor plans, sections, and elevations. And not only that, everything is updated automatically. Did you modify a window in 3D? It also changes in the architectural floor plan, the list of carpentry, and therefore the visualization. Because of this, human errors are reduced on site, but above all, you save time, something that architects know we always need.

Archicad also stands out in terms of graphics. Its native rendering engine allows you to generate realistic renders without having to migrate to another program and enables you to create accurate graphic documentation of technical visualizations with great clarity. It works well as long as you are ready to deliver a clear and attractive initial proposal.

From Technical Drawing to 3D Modeling

If you have ever worked with AutoCAD and then switched to Archicad, you will realize that the leap is not only technological, but in some ways a totally drastic change. You stop thinking about lines and start thinking about everything as a whole, from construction elements to the types of materials that converge in the project. A wall is a wall. A slab is a slab. And all of these elements have attributes, layers, materials, associated data, physical behavior, and spatial location. This completely changes the way you approach design.

The advantage of this is that by modeling in three dimensions from the outset, you can anticipate interference problems, analyze a structural approach, demolitions, spatial relationships, calculate materials, and even schedule construction phases. All of this is possible because you are not drawing and then modeling: you are modeling and documenting simultaneously.

For example, when you start a preliminary design, you build simple volumes with the wall tool, basic roofs, and clearly defined spaces. However, as you progress, each of these components is enhanced with layers of materials, technical specifications, structural descriptions, and construction systems. The model develops alongside you, as an organic progression of the project.

And all this without compromising the management of technical details. Archicad makes it easy for you to create construction details from the model and then customize them. And if you want to go further, you have parametric tools and GDL programming that make it easy to create fully flexible intelligent objects.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions