Example of an architectural BIM software project

How to use a BIM software for the architectural design? What are its characteristics? Let's find out some of them by reproducing a case study example: the Volumes Symphony project

Let's start reproducing a project modelled with a BIM architectural software. This will help assessing all the potentials of an architectural design BIM software and to understand the advantages of its use. Let's analyze the Volumes Symphony project, a single-family villa designed in 2009 by the A-cero architecture studio and buit in Las Rozas in Spain.

Volumes Symphony, an architectural concept and distribution of spaces

The represented building  consists of a series of carefully combined volumes and stands on a slightly sloping site of 1,368 m2, which the architects have used to adapt the progress of the house.

Project Drafts where the progress of the residence is highlighted

The house is on three levels: basement, ground floor and first floor, all connected by an internal staircase and an elevator.

One of the staircases connecting the basement with the ground floor is made of reinforced concrete with marble slabs, while the other one connecting the ground floor to the first floor is entirely made of wood with cantilevered steps.

The property is surrounded by a fence made of steel panels on concrete walls with a “fan”shape and a modular layout.

At the front and back side of the house we find green areas crossed by gravel paths with a serpentine shape.

Two stone stairs allow you to overcome the difference in level with the ground floor and to access the outdoor pool from the garden, which is designed with an irregular shape and variable depth.

Volumes Symphony floor plan

The pedestrian access starts from the ground floor where the living area is located.

At the entrance we find the living room, the sitting room (with double height ceiling) and the dining room, while on the left side we have the bathroom, the cleaning room, the pantry and a large kitchen that  allows the access to the courtyard through a sliding window. All the rooms are very bright thanks to large windows conveying a feeling of continuity between the interior and exterior parts.

The driveway via a ramp leads to the basement where we find the installation system room, a storage room for garden tools and bicycles, a massage room, a gym and a large room with swimming pool and Jacuzzi.

On the first floor there is the sleeping area consisting of four bedrooms, two for children, one double and one for guests and a study. All rooms have a dressing room and an en suite bathroom.

An elegant suspended walkaway-bookcase defines the floor and connects the studio with the double bedroom. The walkway is made of steel beams and the floor is made of glass.The interiors are wide and bright, with a defined distribution of elements making the building comfortable.

The beige marble floor and the light color of the walls give brightness to the interiors and create a wideness feeling. The façade cladding and the external paving are made of large travertine blocks defining the design of the project.

Design, functionality, quality, simplicity and above all elegance and modernity are the key principles of the A-cero architecture project.

Designing Volumes Symphony with an architectural BIM software

The above described residence has been designed with the aid of the  architectural BIM design software Edificius.

This project example process can start with easily importing graphs in image format, such as Raster images, in Edificius and  scale them with the Scale command.

Using the Raster image as a reference, we can proceed to insert: columns, beams, perimeter walls, floors, doors and windows.

Then taking the advantage of all the potential and the tools made available in the window and door editor, we can recreate the entrance door and all the large sliding or fixed windows.

After the envelope is designed, we can continue by modelling the terrain.
Although not having a .dxf format file, we can modell the terrain by inserting the contour lines with different elevation also in this case so to create a slight slope to the lot and with the earthworks tool we can organize and arrange the external surfaces.

To design the outdoor pool, with a particular shape and variable depth, we haven't used the pool object, but individual components. We have therefore defined the terrain movements with the relative dimensions and then continued  working on the slabs and the perimeter walls.

Once the model is completed, we can proceed creating photo-realistic renderings.
During each planning stage we can use the Real Time Rendering, one of Edificius functions, to check the effects of the assigned materials, lighting and more in general, to verify the architectural choices made.

Do you want to design more easily and quickly? Download and test the architectural BIM sofwtare Edificius for 30 days for free