Revit Modeling Help - Challenge

[sreeves.118797]

Hey AUGI users,

I've been presented with a pretty complicated challenge. There are two questions I want to pose. See the attached images for more information.

This is a facade system that the design architect has come up with. The design of the slats undulate and follow a curve as you'll see in the images. This system also covers the whole building.

So, what I'd like to pose to the Revit masters out there are...What's the best way to model this system? Do you think it's worth modeling it?

Thanks in advance for your time and assistance!

sr

[greg.mcdowell]

Not sure I understand the design from these images so this may not work but I'd think about how/if a curtain wall would work.

[sreeves.118797]

Yes it is a very complicated concept. Here are a couple of perspectives.

I have explored the curtain wall avenue. Unfortunately you cannot edit the profile of a curved wall. I have a feeling it's going to get into some of Revits more advanced features.

[contact.andrewk968454]

Dunno if this'll work for you...

Create a family that follows every level's curves and undulations. Create a new material that has that slat pattern to it using a cutout. I can guarantee that modeling out each slat is not a good idea, but modeling the shape is.

EDIT:: Since you're in 2012, look into using an adaptive component. I have no experience with them, but they could likely make these issues easier.

[damon.sidel]

Definitely adaptive components. Do this whole facade in the conceptual design tools. I've attached a sample family for your examination. Once you get the hang of the conceptual design tools, they are a lot of fun. This example is all wrong for what you want (for example, all the slats are perpendicular to the surface, whereas I think you want them all in one direction), but you get the picture. If you go this route, feel free to PM me for additional help. I enjoy the conceptual design tools and am always looking for projects to test things out on.

EDIT: Looks like the design architect created the model in SketchUp. If s/he has a model with the facade surfaces, you could use that to build the massing directly without having to remodel it. Not as parametric, but would be a good workflow between the design architect and yourself for future revisions.

[greg.mcdowell]

Nice! I'm not used to thinking about the CM tools but I need to start!

If the OP needs the fins to all be the same angle relative to some constraint (as opposed to normal to the curve) I'd recommend reading a few posts on buildz;

http://buildz.blogspot.com/2011/07/louvers-that-know-their-orientation.html
http://buildz.blogspot.com/2010/08/look-ma-no-api-making-sun-tracker.html

The same thinking should apply to vertical fins as well as horizontal.

[damon.sidel]

Love that blog. We're having Zach Kron, the author of the blog, into our office in a few weeks to share some of his conceptual design tool knowledge. The conceptual design tools have so much potential for our office but we haven't been able to leverage them, yet.