Top 10 Architectural Design Software for Budding Architects February 5, 2013, If you are a professional architect or an architecture student that is looking for ways to make your work in designing much easier, there are architectural design software that can meet all your needs. You can use these software to help you in your projects and even in starting to design your future home.
The all-exclusive ecosystem of the Mac operating system has in some cases made it difficult for independent software developers to build apps for Apple’s computers. And the computer aided design developing community which has been a victim of this, currently produce CAD applications to run on other operating systems—Windows, Linux—while shunning the Mac OS. 10 useful CAD software for Mac OS X Written by ravindra + We already covered the 10 free and useful CAD software for every types of platform. Here is another 10 useful CAD software which will run natively on the Mac OS X operating system. It fully compatible with Mac OS X operating system, no need to use any specific emulation software or a.
These software can help you in making a 2D or 3D designs and mostly have automatic feature to make designing easier. They come in many types that suit the designer’s needs. There are even software that can be used by beginners and those who have little experience in architectural designs and some have sophisticated features that require an experienced architect to operate and understand the software. In this top 10 list, we feature the best architectural software that is easy to use and understand for all aspiring designers and students that are only beginning to explore the designing world. Microstation There are many people that use this software because of its stability when it comes to the platform that they can work on unlike other software.
They also find it easier to use. There are some problems with using this software, it is its compatibility and it may cause some workflow problems to the user. Some of the images that are from an AutoCAD can’t be viewed in Microstation. This results in seeking help from an architect to do the bindings or do the necessary changes on your own. SketchUp After Google purchased the rights of this software, it software is now becoming popular and known to users.
This software allows the user to quickly and easily make 3D building designs. Though the features that it has may be as sophisticated as you can find in other software, its price is reasonable especially if you don’t need a sophisticated software in the first place. This software is a great deal for students that are looking for software that can generate 3 dimensional designs in short amount of time and for people is just starting on their architectural careers. Revit Architecture This is a software is built for building information modeling or BIM, which is the key for a sustainable design. The changes that you will make will be automatically coordinated throughout the project that you are working in. This will help you in making a consisted and complete project.
The features are easy to understand to help you start a complete, consistent and error free designs. You can you this software in Windows Vista and XP. Softplan This is easy to use software that you can use on all your designing needs. It also support building information modeling that gives a complete documentation, 3 dimensional designing capabilities, list of materials and real time cost estimate repots. The changes you will do on your design will automatically coordinated throughout the project that you are working on.
This is the best choice when you are working on residential and commercial designs. Autodesk Revit This software works in ways that can that architects and designer needs. By doing so, this can make it easier for designers to make high quality designs that are accurate.
This design software also support the building information modeling workflows which means that you can also get and analyze each concept, meet all your goals throughout the design, documentation and the overall construction of the project. This is a standalone application and is the best solution if you are looking for functionality. It also comes in different editions that have specific features that can meet all your design needs. Also Read: 5. Vectorworks Architecture It may not be as simple to use as the other software, but through its complicity the designer can produce extraordinary results and generate exceptional projects. The long and sometimes frustrating hours that you will have in learning will all be worth it, especially when you can already make fast and unique designs after some time. This software also supports building information modeling.
It is actually an easy to use application when you get used to it. It is the software that is suitable for those with experience and those who want to have the best results. It is not recommended for first timers in architectural design. AutoCAD Architecture AutoCAD Architecture is a version AutoCAD that is created especially for architects. It has features that allow architects to do a more efficient drafting, creating designs and documents that are familiar to them. They have the same platform as AutoCAD that will make it easier for experienced architects to understand.
There is a free trial version that you can try before you purchase this product. This AutoCAD package is tailor-made for an architect that is enough reason to get this software. Punch Software This self-entitled America’s#1 Home & Landscape De sign Software is an application that combine NexGen power with the stunning realistic photographic quality from LightWorks that will allow the architect or designer to generate realistic and great residential designs on their own or for their clients. They have packages that can meet the architects’ needs when it comes to design.
The software is compatible with Windows and though it is pricy, it can always produce the great results. Chief Architect This is professional design software that can help generate 3 dimensional designs.
It has automated tools that can make home design and remodeling easy. This is the software that most architects prefer to use in 2D or 3D architectural design because it is easy to use and can still give the results that they want. ArchiCAD This is an all-in-one software that you can use in 2D and 3D projects.
It can also be used by first time designers and architecture students. It is user friendly that first time designers and architects can easily maximize the software’s potentials. It also has almost all the features the other applications have, but they can never top the efficiency of this software.
20 Responses. John Omar hey 10th number(top) software is best or number 1 (last)??. Jake Johnson I am lost for words after seeing this list. I would not put half of them on my top 25.
Most of those softwares are almost a joke. Rhino, Maya, 3DS Max and The Adobe Suite should have been the top 4. This was obviously written by an aging architect or an out of touch Student. Abnoynoy Can you make construction drawings with the software you mentioned?. Yuri Lee Exactly.
What he mentioned are more equipped for animation. juancalcala Wow! What an inaccurate list of programs.
Not only are the grammatical mistakes and lack of cohesive sentences annoying; the list of programs is terribly inaccurate. Here are my top ten based on relevancy: 1.) AutoCAD (still the No. 1 program used in arch. Firms whether you like it or not), 2.) Revit, 3.) SketchUp, 4.) Adobe Suite, 5.) 3DS Max, 6.) Rhino, 7.) ArchiCAD any other program after these plays an insignificant role in the architectural design industry. JVeisz I appreciate your comments and obvious knowledge of available soft ware.
Are you aware of any architectural sketch/trace software similar to Architectural Studio v3 that was offered Autodesk until 2004?. gytis dramblewolfskis but autocad is soo horrible for architects maby for some other kind of peaple who work with werry different stuff its good but for architect horrible software. Revit i believe is one of best for architect. Sketchup better than autocad but still not really architect stuff. Nothing can mess with Microstation V8i but you have no idea! )).
Hi Couldn’t agree more! As I was reading this I had to think who got paid off to make this list. Nandan Kella This guy must be used to drag and drop type of things! 🙂. ceanyb 1.
Chief Architect 3. AutoCAD Architecture and/or Revit Architecture 4.
VectorWorks 5. Allplan (a little different interface from the above, but useful & used in DE, for the engineering module) 7. Punch Software these are true architectural softwares, not adobe and 3dsmax, rhino, or (S)ketchUp. Abnoynoy SketchUp is. bruce Let me introduce Vizterra to fill your list. It’s an easy to use design software.
Have a look if you’d like to 🙂 Cheers!. parriginhomedesign Chief Architect is where it needs to be. It is a great program. The program allows you to show uncertain clients exactly what their house will look like within the matter of seconds. That is the program of my choice and that is what my business runs on. An unbelievable generating function are at solid proportion so as to the quantity of visits one can believe on the net web page, because of this increasing the complete gross sales.
Pay a visit to with regard to more generating guide. tftillman I have Chief architect and I find it to be very un-intuitive and difficult.
I, and others, cannot print some layouts, for example, after following the instructions exactly. No flat roof design. Just the layout tutorial is shallow and hard to understand. Be sure with the trial before you buy it.
Morgan Brand I dunno about all of them, but I’ve used Chief Architect in the past for small house drawings, like private houses and etc., but found many weaknesses when it comes to more complex projects. That’s why I wouldn’t include among top I to 10. Now I use Arcon Evo architectural design software. Very intuitive and most importantly flexible software that allows to change features and create specific design. Gotta it from Pretty well stuff. Support is very good.
Just call them, no charges. florian Archicard is always the best and easiet software to use believe me, i have experience.
Josh Sanabria If you want a more updated architecture design tool resource check out Bryck Stack. fish45234 People will refer you a lot for the architectural design app but i will refer you just one. The AutoCAD Architecture design software is the better one. You can work here easily and swiftly.
CAD software is a must-have tool to have in most enterprises to reduce fatal flaws in design that may show up during production. If you’re in the industry that relies a lot on CAD tools, you probably already know that getting a good CAD software can be quite costly. And if you are a student who is just starting to dip your toes into CAD software, this will definitely be a problem. There is however a second option: free alternative CAD software.
We have done the legwork and looked for the 10 CAD software that you can try for free now to design your next 2D drawing or 3D modeling project. Here are but just 10 of these software, and the links to download them for whichever operating system you are currently on. If you know of more, do share them with us in the comments section. Recommended Reading: 1.
Sculptris is a professional yet free 3D modeling program that is made by one industry 3D expert, Pixologic. You can use it to easily design your own version of a troll, dragon, or even Godzilla itself through their rich sculpting toolset.
If you’re bad at playing around the geometry and polygons to create your own surface, worry not, because Sculptris surface contains countless of triangles that are automatically built into your 3D model surface. Download:2.
SketchUp Make One of the most popular 3D modeling software, is used mostly for architectural purposes and sometimes for other niches in the 3D design market. If you’re looking for a complete 3D modeling software for your professional career with all the tools included, minus the price tag, then SketchUp is for you. Take a look at SketchUp for a lot of amazing content (created by SketchUp users) which you can download, and at the same time, see what the software is capable of. Download:3.
DraftSight is a free 2D CAD editor that is good for professional CAD users, students and educator, especially if you need to create, edit and view your project in the native DWG file format. It comes with a nice set of features that allows you to generate professional looking plans using lines, polylines, dimensions, text and others. The interface is relatively dull, but this may appeal to those who prefer a minimalist and simple CAD software.
Download:4. FreeCAD This project is 100% open source and is aimed directly for mechanical engineering and product design uses, but also can be used for architecture or other engineering industry that relies a lot on parametric 3D modeler. Although it is open source and free, is on par with other popular CAD programs due to its capability in creating real 3D solids, support for meshes, 2D drafting, right hand coordinate system plus many more features.
The program itself is extremely modular, where you can opt for very advanced extension and customization. Download:5. OpenSCAD For those who want to work on the specifics, especially engineers, is your ideal 3D modeling platform.
It does not have interactive modeling for you to design your model, but instead relies more on what you defined in the parameters through the script files. If you’re looking to build a machine parts instead of designing your next game character, OpenSCAD is the best fit that purpose. Download:6. KiCAD Want to design your next Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and don’t know where to start? KiCAD is a free and open source PCB design tool that includes a project manager and 4 main software such as schematic editor, printed circuit board editor, GERBER file viewer and footprint selector for component association. There are also additional software tools, a 3D viewer to render your PCB in 3D and 2 library component editors to allow you to create or modify schematic and footprint components.
Download:7. QCAD is the application you should use if you’re looking to create technical drawings be it for buildings, mechanical parts or even schematics and diagrams. Since it is open source, QCAD’s focus is more towards modularity, extensibility and portability. Its 2D CAD platform is powerful but yet easy to use even for a beginner who has little to no experience in CAD applications. Download:8.
LibreCAD Here’s another high quality 2D-CAD modeling platform, an easy-to-use software with a lot of high quality features included in it. LibreCAD has features such as snap to grid for drawing, usage of layers, measurements inside your drawing and plenty others to make your life easier when you’re drawing on a 2D-CAD platform. If you find it hard to get started on LibreCAD, they have included a manual on their wiki page.
Download:9. 3DCrafter This real-time animation and 3D modeling software allows you to do 3D modeling as simple as drag-and-drop. Comes with 3D primitives and Shape Building Tools for you to create your complex models plus some modeling tools to help perfect it. Since it allows you to do animation too, all you need is just to have your subject placed at each point in time and the software will make sure the animation runs smoothly. Download: 10. NanoCAD If you’re looking for other CAD tools that comes with full.dwg support, is next on the list. Although you can use it for free, nanoCAD still comes with many benefits that you usually need to pay for at a premium price, such the famous Command Line tool, SNAP and ONSAP, large number of precision tools and many others that you may find useful.
Whether you’re just a beginner or already a power user, you will find nanoCAD a good alternative. Download:.