Space Planning with Architectural Desktop 2005

Article #2 of a Series: Conceptual Design with Autodesk Architectural Desktop 

SPACE, IS WHAT WE SEE

In our previous article we put an emphasis on the advantages that computing technology can provide within the realm of Building Information Model (BIM) and its implementation through Architectural Desktop.

If architecture can be regarded as a human endeavor dedicated to discrete spatial organization it is logical to conclude that a basic building block of any project is the rather elusive definition of space.

Just for a moment let us imagine that the space object, which we utilize in ADT, is a finite container of a given volume. A finite environment, the properties of which we can describe through a set of inherited rules. Let us also assume that we can establish our own properties and methods for determining its character.

Following these two assumptions we are confronted with two layers of information;

a) Virtual volumetric layer that can be described through the set of measurable or visible properties.

b) Abstract information layer that can account for anything that we can associate with that space’s location, purpose and execution.

The first information layer will contain the metrics of a given space such as area, volume, location within the larger scope of the project, material qualities, and an arbitrary graphic representation that distinguishes any particular Space Object in a set of architectural documents.

In this article we will focus on graphic depicters that can be imbedded within the Space Object and a subset of techniques that will enable us to give it a specific character based on the document type.

Creating different space styles within the same use category is crucial for clear and distinct depiction of individual spaces. Establishing the hierarchy of the graphic representation will enable us to edit its physical properties in a methodical manner.

To do that first we need to establish a set of Material Property Definitions that will serve as a tool for graphic spatial representation.

Open a drawing named Spaces - Medical (Imperial).dwg from the default styles directory at the following location;

“C:\
Documents and Settings\
All Users\
Application Data\
Autodesk\
ADT 2005\
enu\
Styles”

Save it as MY_MED STYLES.DWG in the same location, or in the shared network location in the case that you work in the environment where AEC content is shared throughout the office.

At the command prompt type AecMaterialDefine and open the subset of the Style Manger that deals with the Material Definitions.

You will notice the absence of any Material Definition(MD) except for the Standard one. We will change that by adding a new Material Definition called Nurse Station MD.

Next we will edit this MD style in order to assign unique graphic attributes in conjunction with Display Representations.


fig. 1

Select General Presentation label under Display Representation and click on the empty Style override check box. This will open the Display Properties dialog box for this particular Display Representation that is associated with Nurse Station MD Material Definition.


fig. 2

Let us examine options that are available and how it is that we can modify them in order to assign unique graphic attributes to custom Space Style.

fig. 3

In the column that lists Display Components highlight the Plan Hatch and by clicking over the associated Layer component which is in this instance Layer “0” you will be prompted to select any layer from the list of available layers that are associated with Space Object through the Layer Key Style that belongs to current Layer Standard.

This is the point where you need to be aware of the importance of the layer standardization that is associated to your ADT entities and that in itself is a topic that can not be addressed within the scope of this article (Look at the help file that is available with ADT 2005 under the section “Layer Management”).

fig. 4

Let us select A-Area-Space-Patt layer, which is an AIA compliant layer that is used for hatch patterns within the Space Objects. We will also modify the color associated with our Plan Hatch in order to give it a distinct value that can be easily noticed among the other Space Styles and also accurately reproduced. The appropriate choice of color comes from ADT’s capability to work with standardized Color Books.

Again buy clicking on Color check box we will modify it from BYBLOCK into the Pantone 285 U. This color selection can be matched with a office standard and therefore there should be no need for later conversion from ADT color into something that is an approximate match with colors that are used in your planning process.

fig. 5

The following step will designate a unique hatch pattern to our Space Style when Presentation Display Configuration is enabled. Within the same dialog box switch to Hatching tab and examine the options.

fig. 6

For the sake of producing a diagram that utilizes a continuous tone we will assign Solid Hatch for Plan Hatch Display component.

In order to customize Material Definitions even further and prepare ADT objects for easy porting into the VIZ rendering engine, or to add custom parameters I strongly encourage you to examine the options under the Other tab where textured materials can be associated with MDs for various drawing types.

Accept these newly created changes.

We have just created a Material Definition with an associated override that will now get associated with the specific Space Style.

fig. 7

At the command prompt type AecSpaceStyle and highlight Nurse_Sta Space Style and Select Presentation as a default Display Configuration for the Preview window.

Proceed to edit Nurse_Sta Space Style and under the Material tab for Floor Component MD replace Standard one with our new Nurse Station MD material definition.

fig. 8

The following step will ensure that this associated definition is available for the Presentation Display Configuration.

fig. 9

Select the Display Properties tab and highlight the Plan Presentation Display Representation Set and by clicking on the Style Override check box you will initiate Display Style Override for this particular Space Style.

fig. 10

Following what was previously described now we have to commit the final change to Nures_Sta Space Style by indicating that the Hatch Display component will be described through the Material designation and in our case that is Nurse Station MD Material Definition. As illustrated in this screen capture, the Hatch Display component is no longer layer dependant but Material Definition dictates its appearance on the screen for a Particular Display Configuration.

Save your file and from the Design Palette create a space object. By default it will be assigned to the last used Space Style and in this instance it is most likely to be Standard one.

From the properties palette (Ctrl+1) change the new Space Object from being associated with Standard Space Style in being associated with Nurse_Sta Space Style, and switch the Display Configuration to the Presentation.

The next step will be to create a Custom Palette and name it Healthcare Spaces. In order to reference our newly modified Nurse_Sta Space Style within the MY_MED STYLES.DWG file, highlight the space object on your screen and drag and drop it on to the new Palette.

This procedure and its refinement in conjunction with adaptation to the specific needs of your project will give you a framework for systematic and accurate spatial representation for any project.

What we did here relates only to the ability of any ADT object to represent itself based on the current need of a document that is being produced. In other words by creating Material Definitions and by strategically implementing them based on the document type we can effectively produce multiple documents by building our model only once.

In our next article we will start utilizing geometric restraints that can be imposed on the Space Object/ Style as well as adding parametric values in the terms what kind of equipment can populate certain Space Style and how to integrate the LEED formula for Daylight Factor calculation with Space Objects/Styles and associated Window Objects/Styles.