Archive for April, 2009
The latest edition of the Virtual Environment software, version 5.9.1 has just been released and is now available for download along with the updated Revit plug-in. This new version of the software is available for download through your Virtual Environment software installation via IES Online > My User Area. The IES <VE> Revit plug-in is [...]
While the Massing Tools in Revit 2010 do allow users to create compelling, morphic forms – the user’s expectation to be able to further iterate and potentially rationalize the initial, intuitive design decisions has been lost. There is simply no option to “Edit” the resulting extrusion, blend, sweep, etc. at the elemental level without starting [...]
By borrowing from nature and maximizing science and technology, the Vancouver Convention Centre has assembled plant groups for its living roof. This innovative project brings in a new level of ecology and habitat to the urban landscape, and will fluctuate and change over time. The first video features extensive interviews with the landscape architect, Bruce [...]
The site Membranes24.com provides a free online service for form finding of tensile fabric structures. They have several basic shapes where you only have to provide node locations. After clicking on “Design” in the top menu, you can select from a variety of different topologies for your membrane structure. For our example, we select “Center [...]
The latest release of the EnergyPlus building energy simulation program, Version 3.1, is now available in versions for Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems. A few key new features include simplified rectangular geometry for walls, roofs, ceilings, floors, windows, and shading; thermochromic windows; upgraded UFAD model; Standard 62.1 demand control ventilation; cool beam HVAC model; [...]
MacKay, a Cambridge Physics prof, approaches the subject of carbon and sustainability with a scientific, numeric eye. First, in a section called “Numbers, not adjectives,” he looks at all the energy and carbon inputs and outputs in Britain and the rest of the world: this is how many kWh of energy are needed to power [...]
Most of us have heard about LEED for documenting the metrics of green choices in buildings. However, there have been many cases where a project with a high LEED rating still seems to miss the mark on being very green. How might we better measure the sustainability of buildings? What materials are in harmony with [...]
Today the Cascadia Green Building Council published their findings of a financial study of Living Buildings. The study — officially named The Living Building Financial Study: The Effects of Climate, Building Type and Incentives on Creating the Buildings of Tomorrow — is extensive and we’re still going through all the details. But there’s one major [...]
If we are to make a big change in the way energy is produced and consumed we need an “Energy Literacy” that gives people a tangible sense of their energy consumption, and of what it takes to meet that. This talk aims to inspire people that the problem is solvable with rational, data-driven development of [...]
Dave Fano at DesignReForm has released yet another great video tutorial. In this Revit Architecture 2010 video the techniques for making a revolve in the new conceptual massing environment will be covered as well as the new tools for paneling surfaces.
