Best CAD software for architecture

yantorsen

yantorsen

yantorsen

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What is the best CAD software for architecture?

I know that the industry standard is Solid Works and AutoCAD.

I want to get used to some kind of program for when I go to Uni and do architecture. I haven't used the above two programs but from what I can tell the learning kerb might be a little steep for now as I just want something I can use fairly easily and casually.

My current CAD experience is fairly basic, I'm pretty good with Pro Desktop/Engineer, and obviously I can use Google Sketch Up easily, as any monkey can. I've heard good things about Rhino, apparently it's easy to use.

What would you recommend? Thanks :)
 
As above, AutoCAD seems to be the standard, especially for 2D floor plans. I haven't seen to many people working in architecture using SolidWorks as it seems to be more focused on the mechanical side of things.
 
ichabod crane said:
Where are you going to study? i would recommend you start with AutoCAD as this is the standard in most practices
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I'm not sure yet, possibly Sheffield or Manchester

BillytheImpaler said:
As above, AutoCAD seems to be the standard, especially for 2D floor plans. I haven't seen to many people working in architecture using SolidWorks as it seems to be more focused on the mechanical side of things.
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This will be mainly for 3D work, as I just want to get used to that aspect of it, as I think it will be harder than doing 2D drawing which should be relatively straight forward.
 
yeah. ACAD Architecture. I don't think there's any specific bugs in it per se, but we seem to have more trouble with it than standard acad, and autodesk are scratching their heads as to why it keeps crashing our pc.
 
k.Jacko said:
yeah. ACAD Architecture. I don't think there's any specific bugs in it per se, but we seem to have more trouble with it than standard acad, and autodesk are scratching their heads as to why it keeps crashing our pc.
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What is the difference between vanilla autocad and architecture?
 
Architecture is an attempt at producing a specific program to architects maybe to make them feel special! but it isnt very well support and is terrible if unproperly setup as has been mentioned.

You say 2D is relatively straight forward but there are people who can draw and people who can draw properly! AutoCAD is mainly a 2D presentation software it has 3D capability which is getting better each revision but it still lacking in usability and i think this mainly down to the fact autodesk dont wish to damage the sales of there 3D products such as VIZ, 3DS and newly Revit; which i have to say looks promising from the sample we have had at work!!

I dont know how much CAD you have done before but the best choice is to start with the basics of 2D autoCAD and once you are proficient in that move to the 3D side of autoCAD, VIZ, Revit and 3DS which will come much more naturally from having that background knowledge.
 
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ichabod crane said:
Architecture is an attempt at producing a specific program to architects maybe to make them feel special! but it isnt very well support and is terrible if unproperly setup as has been mentioned.

You say 2D is relatively straight forward but there are people who can draw and people who can draw properly! AutoCAD is mainly a 2D presentation software it has 3D capability which is getting better each revision but it still lacking in usability and i think this mainly down to the fact autodesk dont wish to damage the sales of there 3D products such as VIZ, 3DS and newly Revit; which i have to say looks promising from the sample we have had at work!!

I dont know how much CAD you have done before but the best choice is to start with the basics of 2D autoCAD and once you are proficient in that move to the 3D side of autoCAD, VIZ, Revit and 3DS which will come much more naturally from having that background knowledge.
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Thanks for the information. May I ask what profession you are in?

Also I realise 2D work isn't "straight forward" but it's not as hard from what I've done on other programs as 3D work.

I am only in year 12 at the moment though, so it's just to have a go at putting some ideas togethor, bit of fun, getting used to software, and producing some nice looking designs. So I'd prefer 3D really.
 
BillytheImpaler said:
Then it seems like the way to go is to master AutoCAD and dabble in 3DSMax. Enjoy your licensing fees. :p
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I will look into 3DSmax as I;ve not heard of it. It has been said in this thread that autocad isn't good for 3d, or is just not as good at doing photo realistic rendering or something?
 
AutoCAD isn't really for photorealistic rendering at all. It's for drafting, full stop. YOu want to draw a 24-foot double line to represent a wall, you draw the line. Compare it to using a pen and paper. It's not good for making 3D models. It might have 3D crap bolted-on, but it's not as good as other programs for that.
 
yantorsen said:
Thanks for the information. May I ask what profession you are in?
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I am an Architect :p

AutoCAD is fully capable of 3D and descent imagery to but its the time and effort that has to be put in to produce that sort of quality which renders (no pun intended) it useless! Viz and 3DS require a little less and are far more sophisticated in there work flow rate to produce 3D

Edit; and year 12 if i was you i would just forget about needing to learn anything it will all be taught on your course if you do go in that direction
 
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ichabod crane said:
The percentage of practices who use vector works is not as high as autoCAD and there are even fewer subcontractors who use it.

The choice of program is not purely down to what you wish to use it must also be fully compatible with your subbies
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Vectorworks is compatible with Autocad which is more than can be said about each new release of Autocad with its predecessor. :)
 
AJUK said:
Vectorworks is compatible with Autocad which is more than can be said about each new release of Autocad with its predecessor. :)
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its a little one sided though, we had a mechanical engineer the other week who if we sent drawings could open them fine but he always kept sending back vector-works files that autoCAD cannot read it just made things difficult! and yes everytime they revise the damn program they reduce the backward compatibility and you end up having to remember to save as 2000 and so on!

But it is a never ending argument the best program is the one that suites you and your work place.
 
BillytheImpaler said:
AutoCAD isn't really for photorealistic rendering at all. It's for drafting, full stop. YOu want to draw a 24-foot double line to represent a wall, you draw the line. Compare it to using a pen and paper. It's not good for making 3D models. It might have 3D crap bolted-on, but it's not as good as other programs for that.
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Ok, so you'd recomend 3dsmax?

ichabod crane said:
I am an Architect :p

AutoCAD is fully capable of 3D and descent imagery to but its the time and effort that has to be put in to produce that sort of quality which renders (no pun intended) it useless! Viz and 3DS require a little less and are far more sophisticated in there work flow rate to produce 3D

Edit; and year 12 if i was you i would just forget about needing to learn anything it will all be taught on your course if you do go in that direction
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Cool, thought you might be, but I wasn't sure.

So if learning AutoCAD isn't worth worrying bout would you say that Viz and 3DS are gong to be the easiest to get the best results?
 
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