A workflow question for architects and designers that draw house extensions/new homes from scratch - Do any of you use Layout to draw your 2D plans to mock up and work through concept designs prior to modelling? I’m not keen to model from scratch until I have a defined design floorplan first as it is much harder to edit a model ie: moving walls etc.
I have been using Archicad for the last 23 years so the workflow for me is: As built plans, Concept plan(s), demolition plan, defined design then CAD model the house. Keen to connect with others who use sketchup for architectural design too. Thanks!
I’ve been using sketchup and layout for over 10 years, I also used Archicad for a long time before using sketchup/layout exclusively for making everything, from the pre design to the documentation of my projects.
Your workflow is like the one we were taught in the university some years ago using autocad to draft and from there keep working until having a final design cause it’s easier as you said to make changes to the 2D draft than to a 3D model made in Archicad or Revit, but in sketchup is different, it’s a lot easier to start with a 3D and make changes on the 3D model is as easy or easier depending on the workflow, to make changes directly on the 3D model, even though Layout is 2D vector software, it’s not like autocad or any other 2D cad software, you can make scaled drawings in it, but it’s not meant to do that, Layout works in tandem with sketchup, every change you do to the 3D model it will affect the 2D plans on LayOut, and as I mentioned making changes to the 3D model in sketchup is very easy. Even if you prefer to do 2D drafting before making a 3D model, it’s better and easier to make it in sketchup rather than in layout.
I suggest you to visit the sketchup campus website and get familiarized with the software, it will teach you the basics of both programs, but there’s something you must know, there always more than 1 way to do something on sketchup and LayOut, there are different architects that have developed different methodology to work with sketchup and layout, I personally use the Nick Sonder methodology.
Thank you for that advice - I’ll go see if I can obtain a copy of Nick Sonder’s book & templates in my country. Looks great!