A-konsultit architects has been working with the concept of virtual building or as we also like to call it "the 3D product model approach" for about ten years. The words "product model" refer to the way the components of the model are arranged (layers, layer combinations) for the purposes of construction documents and production planning.
In the design process the production of separate drawings is replaced by the construction of a virtual building. A drawing in the traditional sense is merely a view to the model at a chosen moment, as the whole building and its environment are included in one single product model. Everything is modeled using three-dimensional building components and library parts. The model is then maintained and revised throughout the project from start to hand-over. And if the client wishes to the facility management.
Today all the work in our office is done with these 3D models. Until recently we have been using the model just for our own purposes, product model being the direct source of our construction documents (plans, sections elevations, schedules and so on) and making virtual worlds and renderings to check our design and to support decicion making.
Figure 1. Construction documents and simulations from the product model
Recently, thanks to development of IFC, it has become possible to share the product model with various consultants, intelligent 3D-information including geometric and structural properties supplied for the simulations, life-cycle and cost analyses of various project alternatives. Utilizing sophisticated VR technologies and production 4D-planning (as we did in the HUT hall600 project) will be a natural part of the product model working method in the near future.
An other feature of our design process is the extensive use of multiparametric library parts (created with gdl) as a design tool starting from the early phases of a project. Instead of elaborately constructing and constantly changing several proposals with actual components like floors, walls and windows, we use whenever suitable multiparametric library parts to simulate them. They are programmed to produce the necessary support for decision making and construction work, creating geometry and materials for visualisations and environmental simulations.and if needed calculating quantities, creating bills of quantity (ArchiCAD data written and then read to a database, we use Filemaker and MySQL for web based solutions) Most of our construction details are also designed as parametric library parts, incorporated in the model and used to produce construction documents as well. Construction drawings of such separate components (with top, side and bottom views and if needed also axonometries) can be easily automated using a library part with Project2 commands in their 2D script.
Figure 2. A construction document for a lamp post. A simple gdl library part showing 4 different projections done using project2 command
TWO PROJECTS
1. HUT HALL600 IN ESPOO, FINLAND
architect: A-Konsultit, architects, Helsinki, Finland, project team: Eric Adlercreutz, Jyrki Iso-Aho, Päivi Vaheri
The main building of HUT (Helsinki University of Technology) was designed in early 1960's by the world famous finnish architect Alvar Aalto, and it is considered to be one of the his most important works. The HUT has had a need for a new lecture hall for a long time. We were chosen as the architect in autumn 2000. The construction project was called Hall 600 and it was carried out during 2001-2002. The goal was to build a new auditorium, for an audience of 600, into the existing main building of the HUT.
Figure 3. A view of the final product model (product model with ArchiCAD, lighting with Lightscape by A-Konsultit / Granlund / TML/HUT)
Adding to a landmark building, together with limited space for the construction of the lecture hall and the pre-planning stage decision to have 600 seats in the lecture hall (the most in the HUT campus) made the design of the new space a complex problem.
The design work was started by gathering information of the environment and the existing building and creating a virtual model of the site for the new lecture hall. The hall was designed to this virtual site as a virtual building / product model. Layers and layer combinations were then used to produce the construction documents (plans, sections elevations, schedules and so on) and making virtual worlds and renderings for the presentations and to check our design and to support decicion making as shown above.
Figure 4. A rendered sectional perspective from the product model of the hall600
1.1 Data exhange
The whole project was a pilot for the newest design, construction and project management technologies on the field of building industry. The project was one of the first in the world to exchange intelligent and structured 3D-information between the designers and other consultants using standard ArchiCAD and IFC-files. Of course also a number of other formats were needed for various 2D and 3D purposes during the design process. The architects product model was used by other consultants to produce cost and lifecycle evaluations, acoustic models and 4D construction planning, some of which were presented also in a virtual environment.
Figure 5. Some of the software used in the design and construction planning of the hall600
1.2 Use of multiparametric library parts
Example of a multiparametric library part from HUT hall600: seating arrangements for the hall. The library part started as a schematic layout tool for managing only the basic geometry and the number of seats. Then it gradually developed into a 28 parameter library part showing all the individual seats, their materials, row lighting and even ventilation under the seats in detail with millions of possible variations The size of the library part being 12 kb compared to the chair designers 2D dwg of a single chair being 696 kb). The geometric information produced by the library part was eventually used in site by digitally placing the curving rows and ventilation elements on the floor in their exact place.
Figure 6. Auditorium as a gdl library part
1.3 EVE - Experimental Virtual Environment
In the HUT hall600 project we had the opportunity to utilize the EVE virtual environment at the HUT (Helsinki University of Technology) throughout the project. Traditional presentation techniques are not a perfect solution for the architect. Architecture is, by nature, a series of interlocking spaces seen and felt in motion. Pictures, even the so-called 3D views, are in fact static 2D pictures. Compared to that, using VR-technologies is something quite different. Moving in the space is easy and gives a quite convincing feeling of the space. Our experience is also, that the dimensions of a space are easily understood, even in the early stages when the model is practically without detailing. The virtual reality techniques help designers to communicate with each other, as well as with the decision makers and with the end-users
In the first stage, the project was presented as three alternative designs. The alternatives were visualized with simple VR models and perspectives. After the first stage the virtual environment (EVE) was actively utilized throughout the process, until the opening of the new hall.
Figures 7 and 8: The first and the final product model presented in EVE, the virtual environment of HUT (A-Konsultit / Granlund / TML/HUT)
Also lighting, air flow and acoustic simulations (auralisations) done using suitable specialist's software tools, were then added to the architects model and presented in EVE
Figure 9: Particle paths in Hall 600 flow model presented in EVE together with architects product model (A-Konsultit / Granlund / TML/HUT)
The EVE is a virtual environment at the Telecommunications Software and Multimedia Laboratory (TML) at the HUT .In the EVE, the users stand in a cube measuring 3(3(3 meters. Three of the faces of the cube have rear-projected screens.. In addition, there is a magnetic tracking system for tracking the user. A wand, and two data gloves are other devices to support user interaction in the EVE. Currently the EVE is running with three walls, and the projection for the floor is under construction.
Figure 10: EVE - the virtual reality system at the HUT concept drawing by Seppo Äyräväinen TML/HUT
2. THE LEHTOVUORI HOUSING AREA IN HELSINKI FINLAND
Architect: A-Konsultit, architects, Helsinki, Finland, project team: Eric Adlercreutz, Jyrki Iso-Aho, Päivi Vaheri, Heikki Prokkola
The project is result of a winning competition entry. The task was to design about 90 units, mostly single family houses as a very dense villagelike arrangement, the ratio of gross floor area / site area being 0,5.
Figure 11 site plan of the area
The design work of the project is managed with two documents (ArchiCAD files) for the entire project. One consists of all the house types with all their variations, and the other is a site-plan where the houses are placed according to the terrain as parametric library parts.
Layers and layer combinations are used to produce plans, sections and elevations of all the variations of the houses.
In the site plan the parametric object/library part produces the house type, garage and storage shed arrangements, materials and colours of the buildings.The library parts 2D presentation in the site plan can be chosen to be a first floor, a second floor or a roof plan, according to the needs of a current design, document or printing purposes. The scripts of the library part were created either by drag-and-drop method or saving a top 3D-view of a part of the model as a gdl object. The necessary properties were then made parametric. The 2D view is organized by a 2D script using 2D symbol fragments.
Figure 12 Single family house as a parametric library part. Some variations of type B shown with a collection of possible 2D-presentations
Figure 13 A perspective of the first 32 houses to be built
For more information contact:
Jyrki Iso-Aho jyrki.iso-aho@a-konsultit.fiHeikki Prokkola heikki.prokkola@a-konsultit.fi
Päivi Vaheri paivi.vaheri@a-konsultit.fi
A-konsultit Ratakatu 19 FIN-00120 Helsinki, Finland