Pisara bathroom furniture

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala
Video: Pisara GDL library’s functional demo

Pisara bathroom furniture library includes Pisara Finland’s collections of sinks, base cabinets, side and upper cabinets, mirrors and mirror cabinets in various variations as an ArchiCAD 19+ compatible GDL library. AutoCAD 2D and 3D models were also created based on GDL objects.

The library’s main idea is to offer a product range for designers to use through a single catalog-like GDL object, which intelligently and automatically limits further choices based on previous selections, making design quick and accurate.

Image: GDL library user interface window / Assembly settings tab

The library includes on/off options for sinks + base cabinets, side cabinets, mirrors, mirror cabinets and upper cabinets. A whole assembly is selected by default, but the designer can choose to use only one specific product. In addition, there are product-specific detailed adjustments for drawers, doors, opening sides, handles, dimensions and materials.

Cast marble sinks with base cabinets are available in widths of 500-1200mm. In addition, Custom Lamiwood and Custom Silestone assemblies also allow for multiple base cabinets and 1-2 sinks to be placed in the same assembly, as long as the chosen base cabinet is at least 600mm wide.

Image: Three main categories of sinks and base cabinets

Sink options and materials are presented in the user interface window by type and size.

Image: Sink options and Silestone quartz composite sink countertop material options

In 2D and 3D design views, all essential adjustments have been implemented in the form of movable hotspots points for different products. This makes it easy and quick to implement product dimensions and placement layouts in each space.

Image: Many design-speeding functions have been implemented in 2D space (also 3D) using movable hotspot points

The library also includes adjustments, classifications, freely placed additional information, and automatic quantity calculations for products and choices.

Image: UI 2D settings
Image: UI 3D settings
Image: UI additional info settings

Library can be downloaded from the link below:

Pisara GDL library / DWG files

Jamito shoe racks, coat racks and dressing benches

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala
Video: Presentation of Jamito ArchiCAD library

Jamito’s GDL library for ArchiCAD 16+ versions (in finnish only) includes wide selection of shoe- and coat racks and dressing benches for public spaces.

Main goal of the library was to give designers an intuitive touch and feel to select and modify products in different views. There are four different 3D detail levels for every design phase imaginable from sketching to visualizations.

Object’s settings window lets user choose product options visually and set product dimensions and materials.

Picture: Object settings window

Object settings window includes also settings for 2D and 3D presentations and links to product pages and company’s contact information.

In design views there is informative estimated shoe pair count for product configuration based on product dimensions and number of shelves. This helps designer to meet planned capacity of users in specified space.

Picture: Estimated shoe pair count as additional info

Products and amounts of different configurations are listed automatically.

Picture: Product listing

Library can be downloaded from www.jamito.fi website. Objects can also be found via BIMcomponents.com -portal by using ArchiCAD’s own search tools in object window.

www.jamito.fi

ArtLib art library

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

Art library is a service designed and implemented by GDL factory, which combines an online store with real-time BIM objects created from its content for ArchiCAD and SketchUp platforms. Service brings together artists and interior designers in a unique way, thus creating a new presentation and marketing channel for art.

Designers can get new ideas and a starting points for their interior designs through the color schemes and themes of the art works. Customers may also have special requests for the color scheme, thematic, artist, size or price of the art work. All of this information can be found on ArtLib and designer can search art works with the customer and help the customer to make an order, i.e. act as a mediator of art works.

Website is made with WordPress publishing platform, which is customized to the real-time server-side content update functionality of ArchiCAD and SketchUp libraries.

SketchUp library

Designer can choose which art works to include in downloadable SketchUp library package. Web gallery can be used to browse art works and add those which attracted interest to the basket. Contents of the basket are used to create SketchUp objects and packaged into a ZIP package when designer clicks on the library download link. Basket serves as a tool for creating the SketchUp library and keeps art works in the account’s memory as needed. Designer can display selected art works to the customer visually in SketchUp program before the customer makes an order.

ArchiCAD library

Library for ArchiCAD 19+ versions contains all the art works of the web gallery and the necessary additional information. A real-time downloadable ZIP package is created from the library on the server when the designer clicks on the download link.

User interface window

User interface window can be used to define several different search terms to narrow the set of art works. By default, all search fields are empty and the list displays all library art works.

Search can be limited by technique, style, keywords, minimum and maximum dimensions and maximum price. List of art works opens by clicking on the ”Selected art work (Valittu taideteos)” field, allowing user to select another art work from the list.

Selected art works can also be selected visually with a slider located at the right side of the user interface window on visual select – page.

Details of the art work can be seen on its own page. Designer can open the web page of the selected art work by clicking the link button and either request more information about the order or make a direct order with the customer. A request for more information can also be sent by email.

3D features

An example of a 3D presentation of an art work from the front and back. On the front, the frame is shown and on the back, as well as the rivets used for tightening the fabric. This allows the art work to be visualized in a display window, for example, so that visualizations from the inside also look realistic. Art work can also be rotated freely in all directions in 3D mode.




Illustration: Punainen Sade (Red Rain) 120×120 – Katja Hannula (2020)

ArchiCAD library presentation video (in finnish)

Laattapiste Oy surface materials

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

ArchiCAD 21+ surface materials library contains all products from Laattapiste Oy’s product ranges for wall and floor surfaces. Updates to the library’s product information and image content are automatically created directly from the product database so that designers have an up-to-date library at their disposal with thousands of product options.

Products are divided into nine different categories depending on the placement surface and base material. Categories presented below with pictures.

Search functions

Products can be browsed by product set-up or filtered searches, for example. depending on color, dimensions and price range. Products can also be searched by name or keyword. You can also use the search functions found on the Laattapiste.fi website and enter the desired product name in the object search field displayed on the pages. Each product also has a direct link from the object to the selected product’s website.

Below are examples of different search functions on the object interface window.

Browsing methods: serially, filtered, search result

Filtered search result with three different filters; three matches were found

Product name on the Laattapiste’s website, which can be copied and pasted into the object search field

Title search to select a product found on the website

Surface plane geometry and tiling styles

Surface plane geometry can be rectangular or free-form. Rectangular shape is stretched by a single hotspot and the free form contains dynamic hotspots at the vertices, so that hotspots are automatically added according to the shape.

There are four different styles of tilings: grid, overlapping grid, angled grid and fishbone. Additional controls are displayed according to the selected style. The controls also work in 2D and 3D modes. Origo of the layout can also be adjusted freely in 2D and 3D modes. Layout adjustments used in 2D mode require “Tiling” for 2D presentation and ” RGB ” or “texture” for 3D presentation.

Required number of holes can be added to the surface. For example, on the wall surface for windows and doors, and on the floor surface for sewer covers. It is easy to move holes to their locations with hotspots visible in 2D and 3D mode.

To enliven the textures, it is possible to choose the random rotation of the tiles, although there are several images of many tiles, which already guarantees a vibrant surface.

Product details

Library contains comprehensive product information for each product. Product characteristics can be viewed from many different starting points as needed. As previously stated, data for all products in the range can be obtained directly from the Laattapiste’s database, which allows an exceptionally comprehensive product information to ease designer’s work.

ArchiCAD adjustments for presentations

Settings for 2D and 3D presentations can be found on UI window. 3D presentation can be selected from three different options:

  • Simple = showing surface shape, no discrete tiles
  • RGB = showing the basic color of the tile, no texture
  • Texture = displaying tile texture images

This allows phasing out the design and speed up the performance of the software if necessary. Product choices do not change when presentation settings are changed, so the quantity calculation provided for each selected product gives an accurate usage by square meters.

The 2D presentation can be changed between contour and layout. Layout option is used if you want to display the layout style of the tiles or adjust layout parameters in 2D mode.

Assistant options are used to display the control functions of the texture origo and layout adjustment hotspots.

Product selection mode vs. Design mode

To enhance performance of the object, use mode can be selected according to the design stage. Product selection mode handles product information and thus enables product selection. Design mode (fast drafting mode 2D / 3D) does not handle product information, but locks the selected product, making the use of the object much faster in 2D and 3D design modesObject can also be used in 2D and 3D modes when the product selection mode is selected, but it slows down the software considerably.

Product selection mode selected
Design mode selected

Quantity calculation

It is also important for design projects to have products and quantities of their choice listed.

Example: Product information and surface areas of products used in project

Library’s presentation video

A video on YouTube about designing the bathroom in practice.

Laattapiste Oy bathroom furniture

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

ArchiCAD object library for Laatapiste Oy contains 16 product groups divided into different product categories. A total of more than two hundred different products are available plus different materials and additional features.

Products can be found in a single library object and customized products can be found in their own separate folder. Product selection is very simple. First select the category, then the product and finally the model or configuration. Additional options are displayed if the products also have hand-side or material options.

All geometries have been created on a ”one-source” basis, i.e. 3D models (from Revit) already made have been converted and optimized for ArchiCAD using unique software developed by GDL factory. Software also adds smart features automatically to the geometries that can be used in ArchiCAD.

As an example of programmatically enhanced intelligence, I present how in converted geometries the appearance of extra lines in both 3D mode and 2D sections has been solved programmatically.

The figure below shows four different settings for line adjustment. By default, automatic adjustment is selected, in which case the object itself adjusts the way the edges are displayed, depending on the view, to optimal. In some special cases, designer may need to adjust displaying of the edges on his own, so this too has been made possible. Automatic adjustment also gives the best result when visualizing in 3D.

Automatic, Hidden edges, Reduced edges, Visible edges

Above is a 3D design mode view with different edge controls and below is a 2D section view from the front. If you select ‘Hidden edges’ you can hide the product from the view in 2D sections.

User interface window

Product selection is clear and simple and therefore saving time when designing bathrooms.

UI window: Product category options

BalcOne modular balconies

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

BalcOne is a prefabricated modular balcony that speeds up the construction of balconies saving significantly time for the building process.

BalcOne ArchiCAD library was implemented for in-house use to speed up accurate design and visualization.

More information about modular balconies from BalcOne Oy.

balcone.fi

Grado Oy KIDE-staircases

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

No screws, bolts, or visible fasteners can be found on the Grado KIDE-staircases. Its glass rails have no railing. KIDE-staircases combines traditional craftsmanship with the latest LED technology. Stair frame is made of steel, making it very graceful (strength 8 mm). Frame can be painted in a shade suitable for the interior.

With the GDL object produced for ArchiCAD 16+ versions, designers can design the most stylish and modern staircases to homes, offices and public spaces.

Dimensions of the staircase and its parts can be modified both in the user interface window and in 2D and 3D mode with the help of moveable hotspots. Types of stairs are the main staircase and the balcony staircase, depending on the depth of the steps.

Glass rails and handrails can be displayed or removed separately on both sides, which is an important feature when the stairs are attached on one or both sides of the wall.

Surface materials can be configured for frame, steps and handrails.

The LED lighting offered as an option can be visualized and the intensity of the lighting can be adjusted.

The quantity calculation function automatically lists all the parameters of the staircase, which enables Grado to produce exactly the right custom staircase for the customer.

User interface window

Stair type, dimensions and structure options

LoOok Industries – furniture for offices and public spaces

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

LoOok Industries furnishings are finnish design and offer a feel-good atmosphere in contrast to the hectic nature of modern lifestyle, both in offices and in public spaces. Shapes and inspirational color options offer designers a playground where the normality is unknown.

LoOok Industries is also designer-friendly by offering its products in many different 3D formats for different design softwares; ArchiCAD, Revit, SketchUp and AutoCAD. Multi-format process developed by GDL factory enabled all these formats to be created cost-effectively without compromising quality. Nowadays, designers should be provided with BIM libraries in several formats, thus setting designers on the same line regardless of the software they use.

Libraries contain all LoOok Industries products and their surface materials. In ArchiCAD’s user interface window’s first page provides the material settings and next page provides 2D and 3D view settings. Very straight-forward UI speeds up productivity.

One of the most important features of the library is high quality geometries that allows realistic visualizations. Geometries are produced by ”single source” principle. GDL factory’s multi-format process avoids of repeating the same work, thus each step with different formats adds value to the whole.

User interface window

Tämän kuvan alt-attribuutti on tyhjä; Tiedoston nimi on 2020-02-24_01h56_34.png
BULLDOG easy chair – Material options and link button to product page
Tämän kuvan alt-attribuutti on tyhjä; Tiedoston nimi on 2020-02-24_02h09_53.png
2D and 3D settings / Simple 3D presentation

Talpet Oy – real estate laundries

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

Talopesulat Oy supplies Talpet washing machines, equipment and furniture to real estate washing and drying rooms, much of which are manufactured in Finland. Their comprehensive product range includes all the products needed in real estate laundries and drying rooms.

ArchiCAD 16+ GDL library contains all the products necessary for the design of real estate laundries and drying rooms, as well as eight different model room solutions with ready-made product choices. Model room solutions makes the work of the designer much easier while still enabling total customization by designer.

All used Talpet products placed in the project can be listed in quantity calculations to be used as an attachment to the request for tender.

Quantity calculation list of products

User interface window

All library products with different configurations and accessories can be found within the object and designer does not have to search for products in separate file folders. Products are divided into their own categories, under which product models and their different configurations can be found with accessories and special information.

Hierarchial product selection: Category –> Model –> Assembly –> Options –> Special options

It is also useful to check essential product information, for example. electricity and water connections and water drainage. This information is available directly on the product information page for all products in the selected configuration.

Extensive product information can be found on all products in the selected configuration

Sanka – shower walls and cabins

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

ArchiCAD 16+ GDL library contains 5 different sets of models and several variations for model types, dimensions and glass materials. Product choices are made easy for the designer using the pictorial type menus. Dimensions can also be stretched in 2D and 3D modes and the opening angles of all doors can be adjusted.

User interface window

Niemen tehtaat Oy – Isla furnitures for seniors

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

Isla furnitures for seniors has been designed and tested in collaboration with care professionals and accessibility experts, and the furnitures are made of high quality materials.

ArchiCAD 16+ GDL Library contains most of the furniture in the Isla collection, except for the latest models. Library is easy to use and contains furniture upholstery options.

Library is light-weight, so it is also suitable for larger design projects without unduly reserving the resources of the software. It’s easy to create a query for tenders using the quantity calculation that lists product choices and their properties.

Skaala windows

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

In SKAALA window collection you can find windows that are suitable for each home, which are very heat-resistant and sound-resistant. Whether you are planning a window renovation or a new construction project, you can find suitable products in the selection.

Window library for ArchiCAD 21+ versions makes it easy to determine the window type and its structure. In accordance with building regulations, the window types are selected first with a range of U-value. After that, either the window to be opened or fixed and with or without sunscreen is selected. Only window models that meet the criteria are beeing listed for selection options.

Modular or free dimensioning can be used for sizing the window. Options for window frame thickness are displayed according to the limited window models.

Window diagram allows you to visually select the frame layout from nine different basic options. In addition, visual glass dividers can be added for each window both vertically and horizontally.

Materials can be selected separately for all product components. Library also has built-in side boardings and a rain plate.

Text content shown in 2D mode and quantity calculations can be adjusted. You can also see the exact dimensions and window identification in window listing. In the freely used value field, the designer can add any information, such as the placement floor and apartment in a building.

User interface window

Selection of window family and the model by limiting value settings
Settings for dimensions and structure

Kalevala-kaluste – modern finnish national romantic furnitures

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

Kalevala-kaluste have been inspired by domestic furniture design, which was inspired by national romance, from more than 100 years ago. The cosy collection is suitable for private homes that cultivate a traditional style, and for example for seniors care houses, whose interiors preserve traditional aesthetics and modern security, sturdiness and durability.

TLibrary contains the following objects: chair, tables, table groups, vertical cabinet, cabinet groups, 1,2 and 3-door drawers and beds.

BIM libraries are provided for complete set of four different softwares: ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, Revit and SketchUp. Libraries were created with the help of programmatic format conversion and optimization software developed by GDL factory, allowing the geometry originally created in Revit to be used as source material for the ArchiCAD library without compromising quality.

Designer can choose upholstery materials either freely or from the Jugend fabric collection manufactured by Annala Oy. Colours of the wooden frames in the collection can also be changed freely, but it is worth asking from Kalevala-kaluste what their recommendations are. Standard color for wooden surfaces is white.

Starting points for library developement

  • Cost efficiency without compromising quality
  • Libraries for the four most common BIM platforms
  • Realism in visualizations
  • ArchiCAD Library compatibility with free-of-charge BIMcomponents.com website for sharing objects to designers worldwide
  • Standard materials and option for free-choice materials

User interface window

Easy to use product settings / Furniture Group 1800×900

Downloads

Kalevala-kaluste BIM Libraries

Polaria and Erlau bathroom furniture and accessories

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

Library includes Polaria bathroom furniture and Erlau bathroom accessories with different product parameters. In addtion, library contains 16 different model room solutions that are fully customizable by the designer. Model room is first given dimensions of the room and the products are placed in the space in a practical way.

Products of the model rooms and their placements are carefully considered in advance and found to be functional in practice. From the designer’s point of view, model rooms are a great starting point for quick-start the project as pre-selected products can be replaced, removed or added freely, and can be moved along the wall in 2D and 3D modes vertically and sideways with hotspots . Colour options of the model rooms are integrated to ensure a harmonious colour scheme. Individual products can diversify the space both in terms of products and colours.

Hinged products such as handrests and shower seats are also adjustable in 3D mode to the upper or lower positions.

To facilitate the customer’s query for tender, a convenient quantity calculation function has been implemented, which lists all individually placed and model room-based products with selected product parameters.

Starting points of the project

  • User-friendly functionality of individual products in both design and visualization
  • Inclusion of product information and variations in product parameters
  • Functionality of hinged products in 3D mode
  • Versatile model rooms
  • Wall-specific interface for customizing product choices of model rooms
  • Moveability of the products of model rooms in both vertical and horizontal in the user interface window and in 2D and 3D modes
  • Measuring accuracy
  • High quality geometries with detail control
  • Quantity calculation for all products and their variations
  • Color options per product and model room
  • Visual enhancements such as shower curtain and its adjustments

User interface window

Wall-specific product selections and placements of the model room. Back wall of the rest room is selected. Z and X placements are used to determine the placement of the product relative to the selected origo of the wall to be modified.

Download

Polaria / Erlau Model room download link

 

Martela Oyj furnitures for offices and public spaces

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

Martela’s ArchiCAD library includes a wide range of products for different work and learning environments and care for the whole of their life cycle. The furnishings are suitable for both workstations and different meeting spaces.

The objects in the library contain different variations of the products as well as material options. All the furniture options used in projects with all the features can be listed through the quantity calculation, so that customer order requests are created conveniently.

Starting points for library creation

  • Smart product and material options update
  • Ability to convert and optimize existing 3D models in different source formats
  • View options for edge visibility in converted geometries and automatic surface smoothing for glossy materials
  • Quantity calculation of products and their variations

User interface window

Latest objects (2019) in the library have an updated interface window that allows for pictorial options for parameters that are difficult to explain in number or text format. The re-designed interface also includes other user-friendly improvements such as product search for the selected product directly from the object to Martela’s web pages by clicking ‘ ? ‘ sign. User can also freely enter additional information, such as the room in which the furniture is intended to be placed.

Pinta EQB table top model selection in the updated user interface window

Download

MARTELA BIM materials

PUUINFO wooden halls

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

Wooden halls – object is intended as a tool for quick sketching. When using the wooden halls object, ArchiCAD program models the hall’s wooden frame in the precision required by the architect’s pre-design.

Object contains the most common types of wooden supports used for large tendons: straight, belly and brush beam, boomerang beam, arch, three-joint, pull-rod arch, pull-rod trap girder, A-propeller and brush crossbar. Belly Bar can be adjusted to an even Height Bar and this hall model can also be tilted from one side to a desk ceiling.

Either automatic sizing or manually adjustable dimensions can be selected for structural dimensions.

User interface window

Wooden hall object showing tab for hall dimensions of the 3-joint ring

Download

PUUINFO – Wooden halls GDL object

Hani-Tuote Oy sanitary facilities and equipment for people with reduced mobility

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

HANI-Tuote Oy offers comprehensive and functional solutions for sanitary facilities in public spaces and toilet and bathroom facilities for disabled and elderly people. The basis of product development is cooperation with different stakeholders, such as designers, healthcare professionals and end-users. Up to 80% of the products are fully domestic.

ArchiCAD 11+ compatible GDL library consists of individual products and model room solutions that accelerate product placement. Model rooms customize product placement according to the dimensions of the room and their product content can be customized to your liking.

The library is very light in implementation (approx. 3MB) so it is also excellent for large ArchiCAD projects without overloading the resources of the software.

Library’s characterizations

  • Ease-of-use
  • Individual products and ready-made model room sets
  • Ready-made product choices and placements of model rooms
  • Editing product choices in model rooms
  • Material choices
  • Wheelchair object to help with space requirements
  • Measuring accuracy

Download

Hani-Tuote Oy – GDL Library for ArchiCAD 11+

Molok DeepCollection

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

The main idea of the Molok Deep Collection System is to take advantage of the vertical shape, leaving two thirds of the container below ground level. This ingenious invention gives users many advantages over traditional waste management; significantly improved collection capacity, extended collecting intervals, a more hygienic environment, easier container placement, and a very comfortable collection method for users.

Applications

MolokClassic

  • residential properties
  • schools, kindergartens, hospitals, hotels
  • recycling and regional collection points
  • shopping centres
  • exercise facilities
  • harbours, beaches, rest areas, cemeteries, campgrounds

MolokDomino

  • recycling and regional collection points
  • residential properties
  • schools, kindergartens, hospitals, hotels
  • shopping centres
  • exercise facilities
  • harbours, beaches, rest areas, cemeteries, campgrounds
  • architecturally demanding sites, public buildings


MolokFestival

  • public events
  • parks
  • exercise facilities
  • area collection points
  • properties


Molok CityKita

  • parks
  • urban environment
  • schools, kindergartens, hospitals, hotels
  • shopping centres
  • exercise facilities
  • harbours, beaches, rest areas, cemeteries, campgrounds

Benefits

  • 60 % of the waste container is underground
  • lifting-based waste collecting increases occupational safety
  • water-protected and use-resistant structure
  • customizable layout
  • economic and environmental benefits
  • block collection – recycling point near residents


Library’s characterization

  • user-friendly introduction of product options and features
  • selection and capacity calculation of waste categories
  • measuring accuracy
  • quantity calculation


ArchiCAD user interface window and 3D presentation

MolokClassic – User interface window
MolokDomino / Molok CityKita / MolokClassic

Download BIM materials

www.molok.com / for designers

Metrirunko element

Posted on by Jarkko Hoivala

Metrirunko element (©TMX) is a simple construction system that is the next step in the direction of pre-fabricated construction . The “idea” of the element is an exact combination of elements, which allows for the rapid manufacture of wooden frame element buildings without any tie-ups with package house or other material suppliers. Windows locations are completely free to choose on site. Elements are easily erected by three men.

Applications:

  • Terraced houses
  • Small houses
  • Holiday homes
  • Economic buildings
  • Garages
  • Courtyard buildings

Benefits:

  • Measuring accuracy
  • Affordability
  • Flexibility
  • Lightness

Library’s characterization

  • User-friendly
  • Support for creative design as possible
  • Recovery of cut-off element parts already at design stage
  • Free placement of doors and windows
  • Quick inclusion in an existing plan
  • Measuring accuracy
  • Hierarchical numbering of elements and the production of wall diagrams for building phase blue prints
  • ArchiCAD 2D and 3D presentations

ArchiCAD 2D and 3D views

Metrirunko object in 2D: Element splitted into three parts and added openings for door and windows. Measurements added to wall diagram.
Metrirunko object in 3D: Adding wall openings with moveable hotspot.

Download

Metrirunko object for ArchiCAD 11+

Metrirunko instructions (in finnish)