Understand the basics of design tooling

00:00

In this video, I'm going to show you some of the fundamental design tooling in Autodesk Forma.

00:05

This will not include the conceptual design tools in 3D Sketch mode which is covered in a different video.

00:12

We will be using a combination of the tools available in the right-hand menu to reproduce the design option we are looking at here.

00:19

We've got buildings, vegetation limits, roads and generic shapes.

00:25

Finally, we have the 3D Sketch menu which as mentioned will be covered in a different tutorial.

00:33

Since the site is relatively large, I will start by splitting it into smaller plots.

00:38

In this example I'm using the transform tooling to subtract an area occupied by a 10m wide shape that represents a road from the site limit.

00:47

I'm using the surface tool under generic shapes to represent the road, defining its width and clicking enter to close the shape.

00:57

To subtract the surface from the site limit.

00:59

I find it useful to first move the shape to my base layers.

01:06

Next, select the site limit, followed by the shape you want to subtract from the site limit,

01:13

then navigate to the transform tool in the right-hand panel and select subtract.

01:18

There we go.

01:19

I will now repeat this procedure for all the roads or splits I want to make in this particular site.

01:26

Now that I've divided the plot into various subplots, I'm ready to start drawing some different design options.

01:32

There may be geometric height constraints that apply to your site.

01:36

You can add height constraints via the limit section in the right-hand panel.

01:40

In this example, I'm going to trace the footprint of the plot I just drew and then specify the maximum height which my design can't exceed.

01:49

This can be in meters above ground or meters above sea level, which you can adjust on the right-hand side.

01:56

In this project, I will create two 25m height constraints,

02:00

to ensure that the height of my design complements the surrounding buildings quite well.

02:07

Next, we can use the generic building tooling to trace the footprint of the constraint,

02:13

and then simply drag and snap to the top of the height boundary.

02:30

All right.

02:31

Next, I want to find a little green space in the center of this proposal.

02:36

So, I'm going to choose the surface tool and then trace the cloth. And on the right-hand side, I will make it the color green.

02:45

Perhaps there is a tree line that surrounds this plot. So, I'm going to click

02:50

"Add Trees", trace the shape, set the height and define the spacing between them.

03:02

There we go. Now we have a nice green courtyard in the center.

03:10

Let's proceed to specify the function assigned to each of these buildings.

03:15

A function defines the building's programming and can be changed in the right-hand panel.

03:19

First, select them and then via the function menu,

03:25

select whether it should be residential, commercial, unspecified or indeed, whether you want to add a new function.

03:33

In this example, I want to ensure that the first floor of all the residential buildings are actually commercial spaces.

03:41

In the right-hand panel, I will increase the floor height to 5 m and then select commercial.

03:49

When we later review area metrics associated with this proposal, you will be able to receive a breakdown of area metrics per function.

03:57

Next, I'm going to draw a hotel.

04:01

Since hotel isn't one of the default functions, I'm going to add a new function, specify hotel...

04:12

And then give it the color orange.

04:15

I can also choose whether that function will be included in the area metrics or not.

04:24

Next, we will take a look at line buildings.

04:28

Line buildings are automations that are controlled by a line.

04:32

In the right-hand panel, you can define the width and alignment of the line buildings.

04:38

You can choose whether to align the building center line,

04:44

to the left of the line, or to the right of the line.

04:48

To align with the site limit boundary. I choose to align to the left of the line.

04:54

When I hover over the site limit, the boundary which it will align to is highlighted in red.

05:00

Start drawing the building and notice that the edge of the building is aligned to the site limit.

05:05

To create an angle, simply hold and shift and continue pulling the line.

05:11

In the right-hand menu, you can add or remove floors,

05:14

set the floor height as well as choose whether to include sections or not.

05:20

You can also specify the function.

05:24

Finally, we can add circulation or define floor plans.

05:29

In the floor plan menu, you will see the different section dimensions

05:33

in the line building.

05:36

You can add floor plans for each section type.

05:41

Click the "Plus" button to start drawing a new floor plan in the floor plan sketcher.

05:46

Use the available tooling to define your units and your areas of circulation.

05:52

Under the ruler menu, you also have the option to view dimensions or areas.

05:58

You also have the option to adjust the background grid and further snapping options.

06:04

When you're done designing, simply return to design mode and view the floor plan in your building.

06:11

You can produce multiple floor plans per section.

06:15

I will now demonstrate how to add parking inside a building.

06:18

Parking is found in the right-hand panel.

06:20

When you activate parking, you will get an estimate of the number of parking spots in your proposal.

06:25

To view the graphic, remove the functions view by pressing area metrics.

06:29

You will now see a graphical representation of a parking layout appear on every floor of the building,

06:34

edit the parking parameters such as the lane width and dimensions of each parking spot.

06:39

This will give you an updated estimate.

06:41

You will also notice that there is a separate area metric for the parking spots in your key statistics overview.

06:48

In the next video, we will consider the different types of information you can get about your design option,

06:53

including the area metrics and key qualities and we'll conduct a comparison.

06:57

Thank you for watching.

Video transcript

00:00

In this video, I'm going to show you some of the fundamental design tooling in Autodesk Forma.

00:05

This will not include the conceptual design tools in 3D Sketch mode which is covered in a different video.

00:12

We will be using a combination of the tools available in the right-hand menu to reproduce the design option we are looking at here.

00:19

We've got buildings, vegetation limits, roads and generic shapes.

00:25

Finally, we have the 3D Sketch menu which as mentioned will be covered in a different tutorial.

00:33

Since the site is relatively large, I will start by splitting it into smaller plots.

00:38

In this example I'm using the transform tooling to subtract an area occupied by a 10m wide shape that represents a road from the site limit.

00:47

I'm using the surface tool under generic shapes to represent the road, defining its width and clicking enter to close the shape.

00:57

To subtract the surface from the site limit.

00:59

I find it useful to first move the shape to my base layers.

01:06

Next, select the site limit, followed by the shape you want to subtract from the site limit,

01:13

then navigate to the transform tool in the right-hand panel and select subtract.

01:18

There we go.

01:19

I will now repeat this procedure for all the roads or splits I want to make in this particular site.

01:26

Now that I've divided the plot into various subplots, I'm ready to start drawing some different design options.

01:32

There may be geometric height constraints that apply to your site.

01:36

You can add height constraints via the limit section in the right-hand panel.

01:40

In this example, I'm going to trace the footprint of the plot I just drew and then specify the maximum height which my design can't exceed.

01:49

This can be in meters above ground or meters above sea level, which you can adjust on the right-hand side.

01:56

In this project, I will create two 25m height constraints,

02:00

to ensure that the height of my design complements the surrounding buildings quite well.

02:07

Next, we can use the generic building tooling to trace the footprint of the constraint,

02:13

and then simply drag and snap to the top of the height boundary.

02:30

All right.

02:31

Next, I want to find a little green space in the center of this proposal.

02:36

So, I'm going to choose the surface tool and then trace the cloth. And on the right-hand side, I will make it the color green.

02:45

Perhaps there is a tree line that surrounds this plot. So, I'm going to click

02:50

"Add Trees", trace the shape, set the height and define the spacing between them.

03:02

There we go. Now we have a nice green courtyard in the center.

03:10

Let's proceed to specify the function assigned to each of these buildings.

03:15

A function defines the building's programming and can be changed in the right-hand panel.

03:19

First, select them and then via the function menu,

03:25

select whether it should be residential, commercial, unspecified or indeed, whether you want to add a new function.

03:33

In this example, I want to ensure that the first floor of all the residential buildings are actually commercial spaces.

03:41

In the right-hand panel, I will increase the floor height to 5 m and then select commercial.

03:49

When we later review area metrics associated with this proposal, you will be able to receive a breakdown of area metrics per function.

03:57

Next, I'm going to draw a hotel.

04:01

Since hotel isn't one of the default functions, I'm going to add a new function, specify hotel...

04:12

And then give it the color orange.

04:15

I can also choose whether that function will be included in the area metrics or not.

04:24

Next, we will take a look at line buildings.

04:28

Line buildings are automations that are controlled by a line.

04:32

In the right-hand panel, you can define the width and alignment of the line buildings.

04:38

You can choose whether to align the building center line,

04:44

to the left of the line, or to the right of the line.

04:48

To align with the site limit boundary. I choose to align to the left of the line.

04:54

When I hover over the site limit, the boundary which it will align to is highlighted in red.

05:00

Start drawing the building and notice that the edge of the building is aligned to the site limit.

05:05

To create an angle, simply hold and shift and continue pulling the line.

05:11

In the right-hand menu, you can add or remove floors,

05:14

set the floor height as well as choose whether to include sections or not.

05:20

You can also specify the function.

05:24

Finally, we can add circulation or define floor plans.

05:29

In the floor plan menu, you will see the different section dimensions

05:33

in the line building.

05:36

You can add floor plans for each section type.

05:41

Click the "Plus" button to start drawing a new floor plan in the floor plan sketcher.

05:46

Use the available tooling to define your units and your areas of circulation.

05:52

Under the ruler menu, you also have the option to view dimensions or areas.

05:58

You also have the option to adjust the background grid and further snapping options.

06:04

When you're done designing, simply return to design mode and view the floor plan in your building.

06:11

You can produce multiple floor plans per section.

06:15

I will now demonstrate how to add parking inside a building.

06:18

Parking is found in the right-hand panel.

06:20

When you activate parking, you will get an estimate of the number of parking spots in your proposal.

06:25

To view the graphic, remove the functions view by pressing area metrics.

06:29

You will now see a graphical representation of a parking layout appear on every floor of the building,

06:34

edit the parking parameters such as the lane width and dimensions of each parking spot.

06:39

This will give you an updated estimate.

06:41

You will also notice that there is a separate area metric for the parking spots in your key statistics overview.

06:48

In the next video, we will consider the different types of information you can get about your design option,

06:53

including the area metrics and key qualities and we'll conduct a comparison.

06:57

Thank you for watching.

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