Best program for Modeling Buildings?

[Nellie]

Just out of interest,

 

what is the best program for modeling buildings? i'm using AutoCAD 2008 but was thinking of using 3D max alot more?

 

Thanks

[nocturne00]

Basically aCAD2008 is already good, for buildings Architectural Desktop could be a better alternative.

Im not sure for 3d max, I only use it sometimes for adding some finishing touches from imported ACAD models.

[f700es]

It also depends on your intended use for the model. Just to show and render? Max will be fine. Are you needing to produce the model and then slice for CDs, I would say Revit or ADT. Programs like SketchUp, Lightwave, XSI and Cinema4D will also model a building.

[papagyi]

Modeling for engineeer & archi work will be good with autocad.But you can create complex modelind and great rendering with 3dx max + vray.

[shift1313]

you can do it with any of them, but your productivity will go way up if you use a program based in what you are doing. Like for instance, inventor and mech desktop have gears, belts, bearings etc built into the content center. You do all this in Acad but someone has done it for you in mech and inventor and it saves a lot of time. I know an architect that loves Revit.

[Lazarus]

I agree with all of the comments.

@papagyi: What's Vray got to do with it?

[nocturne00]

Are you intending to create a model of a building based on 2d floor plans?

[Morgan]

revit is an amazingly easy program to learn, and the accurender rendering engine it comes with (at least revit 9 did) can do some great stuff out of the box

[Noahma]

revit is an amazingly easy program to learn, and the accurender rendering engine it comes with (at least revit 9 did) can do some great stuff out of the box

 

 

that is the first time I have heard that.

 

 

this is what I hear most common (copied from another forum)

 

THE SIX PHASES OF REVIT

 

Phase One - Initial Excitement!!!

"Holy Crap! Look what I can do with this thing!"

 

Phase Two - First bump "Hmmmm...?

Why won't it do what I want? That's not how I did it in (insert other cad software here)!!!"

 

Phase Three - Creamy Middle

mmm... things are going more smoothly, now......mmmmm"

 

Phase Four - What The F*** stage

The family editor "eats you up and spits you out"!

 

Phase Five - The Enlightenment Things really begin to click!

You understand why things are happening in your model, and better yet how to control them and avoid problems. You have conquered the family editor.

 

Phase Six - Zen of Revit

You have mastered nearly all things Revit. You "know" what Revit "likes", and what it "dislikes" during model construction, a sixth sense, really. You spend your time exploring and tweaking advanced scheduling, OBDC, external parameters, AR3. You have a template to beat all templates, families for every situation.

repeat the 6th and 2nd step several times with each project.

[Morgan]

I don't know, I never ran into any problems with it, but then again, I only used it in drafting class in high school, so I'm guessing that I didn't get into any of the "advanced" features.

 

But, when I first started using it, it probably took me 5 minutes to get the exterior walls of a house, roof, some doors and windows placed in, and then another 10 or 15 minutes to figure out how to edit them

[nocturne00]

We had a product demo of revit once, never actually used it but I did notice one thing, It takes away a lot of Concept Innovation.

Since almost everything was done automatically, (from the demo) from preset doors, to preset windows, to automatic interior finishing. for me designs need to evolve. well IMO anyway

[mehiar]

am using AutoCAD from 5 years ,, till now i did't need any program with it ,, but i think u can use MAX for finishing models - just render and clothing- cuz i found that CAD is easyer to model a building from a 2d plan

[papagyi]

I agree with all of the comments.

@papagyi: What's Vray got to do with it?

I means complex modeling with 3ds max and render with vray(ver: 1.5 >).