Some of these buildings seem to defy the laws of physics, gravity and possibility in one foul swoop.
Some are so admired they have acquired affectionate nicknames such as “The Gherkin” (30 St Mary Axe) in London and “The Bird’s Nest” (the National Stadium) in Beijing. Just a few years ago however such gloriously impossible builds would have been simply that – impossible, but now thanks to computer aided design (CAD) technologies it seems the sky is no longer the limit.
The first CAD systems where conceived by AutoDesk Software in 1982 and generations later CAD suites are an integral of almost every architectural practice in the world. Visualisation is the buzzword of autoCAD software and using pre-visualisation to clearly view the design of a new building has become very popular over the last couple of years. From Grand Designs to Match of The Day building visualisation is almost expected from a public use to computer generated graphics.
In fact when it comes to a major architectural project, for example the current building of the site for the London 2012 Olympics, we all expect to see fly-by visualisations before the concrete is mixed. This visualisation process has also become an art form in its own right. Filmmakers and marketing companies, among others, utilise other CAD software, such as the Maya software, to portray their concepts in an aesthetically pleasing way. Future projects such as the Newer Orleans Building and the Kunsthaus gallery in Graz, Austria, are good examples of the continued importance of autoCAD software and the pre-visualisation software phenomenon.
The endeavor of enabling architects to design a building without getting their hands dirty has been the objective of world leading design software experts such as Cadline for decades, and now with packages incorporating building information modeling (BIM) technologies such endeavours are being increasingly realised.
As well as offering autoCAD software packages, Cadline has recently launched 3D digital modeling tools Revit Architecture 2009, Revit Structure 2009 and Revit MEP 2009 for mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers. They are also one of the UK’s biggest providers of computer aided design software training and AutoDesk software asset management.
About Cadline: CADline has provided software, training and consultancy to major Architectural practices, around the world for nearly two decades. Advising their clients on current and ground breaking innovations in the virtual world Cadline are also associates of landmark construction projects
Each year, CADline train 3,500 people around the world in new technologies and provide strategic technology information to Boards and Project groups.
