A lighthearted blog about SketchUp and the non-profit "DesignerDojo" Initiative whose mission is to teach kids SketchUp and 3D modeling for free.
Sponsored by Viewsion- Ireland's Trimble SketchUp Authorised Training Centre.
To find out more about these tools and how to download them, visit cad addict
Note to Mac users: To install the wonderful Fredo plugins, place the main rb file and the associated folder directly into the plugins folder. (i.e. take them out of the enclosing folder. Email info@viewsion.ie if you have any problems
We came across a blog called "Insitebuilders" which is a superb reportage on how 3d drawing software is helping to change the way buildings are constructed. This (exciting, but lets face it, fairly obvious) extension to the way SketchUp is being used, is going to be a godsend to builders who are bogged down with more and more tedious paperwork as expanding legal requirements demand more and more piles of paper to fulfil legal criteria.
It will not be long before tender documentation will be based on 3d models, and anyone who wishes to keep up with the posse needs to start thinking 3d software. The question for architects/ engineers/ designers today is not "will I change to 3d software?" because the answer to that question is fairly obvious. The real question for any drawing office is "What 3d package will I use?"
Calling all engineers and architects- Engineering Toolbox has created a fantastic plugin that allows users to select from a standard array of steel and pipework components- and whats really brilliant is the ability to input bespoke lengths, colours etc.
The plugin works a treat even on my Mac! Needs SketchUp 7 to work properly.
Download the plugin here (Right-click and save file if it doesn't download properly) Check out how to install plugins on our previous blog post (below).
2. Mirror Selection This is a context click (i.e. right-click on an object) command. Input the plane (3 points) in which you want to perform the mirror operation and hit enter.
This command should have been included in SketchUp. Anyway, here it is. Once installed, you can find this command under the Draw menu or in the list of available tool buttons
This is a context click (i.e. right-click on a Group) command. A popup window allows you to input parameters for level of accuracy. (Object must be grouped and group closed)
At last we have a model of a premier Cork building up on GE. Thanks to all who nominated it for the Best of 3d Warehouse prize! Also many thanks to José Manuel (blue ribbon modeller) and Josh Reilly of Google for their assistance. Here's to more of the same in the future...
Viewsion will be looking to encourage more people to produce models for Cork City and get Cork City Council involved.
I have been beavering away on a collection of images of my work in SketchUp along with some photos of the resulting buildings. I will be adding to this collection over time and reorganising, adding captions etc.
The image below is from a model of the Glucksman Art Museum in University College Cork designed by O'Donnell & Tuomey Architects, a Dublin practise that is producing some very important work. I have placed the model on Google 3D Warehouse (many thanks to José Manuel who has mentored me on modelling for Google Earth) I submitted it to Google Earth in the hope that it will be selected for the 3D layer, and so milluns and milluns of people from all around the world will gasp in awe at their computer screens when they visit Cork in GE.... OK so maybe I exaggerate a bit... Thanks also to Josh Reilly in Google for his assistance behind the scenes.
Below is a presentation of a recent project- an energy efficient dwelling in North Cork. I have found that SketchUp representation of a building is a great way to deliver exactly what you design, rather than leaving things to interpretation by the builder (or the client...)
Below is a sample of a an energy efficient dwelling project run entirely on SketchUp without the "aid" of CAD
