Diamond Pattern

Workflow

(01) Setting up Database
(02) Modeling Massing
(03) Starting Plan Study
(04) Setting up Class and Type
(05) Setting up Sub-Database
(06) Creating and Modifying Elevation Grid and Panel
(07) Modifying Class and Type
(08) Generating 3D Archi Model
(09) Deepening Plan Study
(10) Generating 3D Interior Model
(11) Adding Landscape or Other Stuff
(12) Documentation(Plans/Elevations/Sections/Views)

INTRODUCTION TO SWIFT(2)

What is Swift – Users’ Guide

1 Model Space

The model space includes 4 quadrants: The right upper quadrant is for 3D massing and architectural model and visual basic data; the left upper quadrant is for 2D plans; the left lower quadrant is for class and type; and the right lower quadrant is for sketches (early study in SD) and details (late period in DD).

2 Model Objects

Swift has three primary categories of objects: model, data, and class/type.

Model contains 2D plan model and 3D exterior and interior model. For both 2D and 3D model, they include sketch model and architectural model. Plan model does not include any surface or polysurface. All of objects in 3D sketch model are surfaces (without volume), as well as those objects in 3D architectural model are solids.

3 Data – parameters

In SWIFT, the data has two types: the abstract and the visual. Abstract data are recorded as numbers in documents. Users can callout these numbers anytime to view or modify by their responding commands; Visual data display in model space as general items(curve, surface, textdot), in order to make users observe conveniently.

4 Class and type

Class and type is used to deal with details. It includes three basic methods: point based, line based and surface based. For each method, there are one or more classes, and in each class, users can create an amount of types, as they require. Objects in class and type can be any architectural components, such as column, beam, mullion, glass, equipment etc.

The classes includes:

Basic line based --

Column(section curve)

Beam(section curve)

Horizontal mullion (section curve)

Vertical mullion (section curve)

Flexible line based --

Extrusion (section curve)

Perpendicular (solids)

Parallel(solids)

Multisufaces line-based extrusion(section curve)

Surface based --

Glass(solid)

Wall(solid)

Panel based (solids)

Panel data based(grids/panels)

Wall pattern(curves)

point based --

Point-based(solids)

Landscape Person(surface)/Tree(surface)/Customized landscape(surface)

5 Commands

Swift toolbars layout includes two categories: general modeling toolbars and architectural modeling toolbars.

General modeling toolbars have six toolbars: drawing tools, modify tools, transform tools, group editor, planarsrf editor, unplanarsrf editor. In general, planarsrf editor toolbar, unplanarsrf editor toolbar and group editor toolbar are invisible. Only if users want to modify a planar surface, an unplanar surface or a group, these three toolbars would be opened separately by their relative commands.

Architectural modeling toolbars include: database toolbar, class and type toolbar, massing toolbar, elevation grid/panel toolbar, 3D model toolbar, plan toolbar, documents toolbar, visibility toolbar, filter toolbar, main toolbar and management toolbar. Main toolbar is composed of four toolbars of database, class and type, massing, elevation grid/panel, and management toolbar is composed of two toolbars of visibility and filter. Thus, in general, users only need to open main and management toolbars.

6 Workflow

Swift follows cyclic-revolutionary design process.

This is a diagram to show Swift workflow.

7 Notes
In order to make the plugin work exactly, please take the following notes:
(1) Follow the workflow exactly, otherwise users might not reach their requirements. For examples, only if users set up database first, they can generate plans in the right upper quadrant; without generating floors, users can not use the command of “ProjectInformation” to calculate and analyze building areas.
(2) Never touch, change anything about "SWIFT" layer. Do not expend "SWIFT" layer.
(3) Always use “SKETCH” as the current layer. Do not change the layer name. Only its color and mateiral could be modified.
(4) Do not purge layers

(5) Do not change objects' names, if these names are generated automatically.

INTRODUCTION TO SWIFT(1)

Why Swift – Main Characteristic

For any given modeling software using for architectural design, basically it could be reviewed and evaluated from three aspects – modeling ability, documentation ability and user interface.

1 MODELING  

(1) Sketch Model and Architectural Model: Unlike traditional modeling method that users work on final architectural model directly, for most of time, in swift users only deal with sketch model and its database and parameters. Sketch model, with its data, will generate final architectural model automatically. Compared with architectural model, sketch model has much less geometries. This make it much easier to be observed, created and modified.

(2) Parametric Automata: Architectural components are weaved with complicated relationship. This relationship has been mostly summarized as a clear parametric one among digital geometries in Swift, therefore users can build up their model with parametric automata.

(3) No Transfer: Users can work on 3D model, which is mainly for exterior and interior design, and 2D model, which is mainly for plan/programming/circulation study in the same software and file. Thus users no longer need to be bothered with transferring files among different software as the old way.

(4) 2D or 3D: As traditional method, plan study and exterior/interior design are still separated, and plan study maintains using 2D modeling. The reasons are that we hardly observe plan from 3D view and modeling plan in 3D hugely increases the amount of geometries and thus decreases operating speed. This makes users waste a lot of time for waiting and influences users’ efficiency severely. But, in swift 2D plan can be transferred to 3D automatically, as well as 3D exterior/interior skins change to 2D easily.

(5) New Commands: Swift adds to Rhino some general modeling tools, which are suitable for architectural modeling.

2 DOCUMENTATION

(1) 3D to 2D: The plugin can help users generate plans/elevations/sections automatically, if users have already built up 2D and 3D model.

(2) Architectural Express: Those architectural symbols, such as dimension, grid bubble, level token, and elevation/section symbol, can be created easily. And their drawing scale can be adjusted.

(3) Building Information: The basic building information, such as building area, building height, floor numbers, parking lots numbers can be calculated automatically.

3 User Interface

(1) Learnability: Although there are about one hundred commands in Swift, most of them are very similar to those old modeling and documentation methods. In another word, users can understand and learn Swift at ease.

(2) Management: By visibility control, filter and group editor, the plugin strengthens the management of objects – sketch components (massing/grid/ panel/token), architectural components (columns/wall/…), database (parameters/class and type/reference). On the other hand, it is also noticed to avoid making the management too complicated and inconvenient.

(3) Model Space: By customizing rhino, the modeling space could be suitable for architectural observation, like Sketchup and Revit.

The primary goal of Swift is to help architects save time from modeling and documenting, accordingly they can spend more time and energy on design itself. Furthermore it is also valuable for providing design diversity and ensure high design quality.

One point, highlighted here, is that the current version can only provide the first stage and the overall frame, because of the writer’s limitation of both computer knowledge and his personal energy. Many functions need to be improved and refined, and a lot of complicated parametric relationship has not been cleared up. The writer will continue to develop and improve the plugin and add in new functions.