housing units

[decorators3]

Hi

Here is a plot layout for a proposed seniors complex  (  23 units broken up into 5 complexes.) I have been asked to quote on this project for materials and rendering  . The floor plans  are  all the same except for accessible apartments.  Plans are easy to import -

 

So I guess I'm trying to figure out how to  get started on this should I be fortunate to be successful in my quote . (ie) where to start in my plan and how to keep the distances etc .    I've never imported a plot layout before

 

Thanks in advance

[ericepv]

When I do a project like this (I've done several similar developments) I break it down to a few parts...

• Time to model the housing unit/units
• Time to create the lot. Do you need to grade the terrain or is it a flat lot? If the former, do you have a CAD topo map to import into Chief?
• Time to draw the roads and driveways. Again, do you have a CAD file of the roadways which you can import into Chief?
• Time to place the housing units (best to create a symbol from your house model which can then be placed on the lot (Again, a CAD file or scaled PDF of the layout will be your guide for placement.

Importing a DWG of your lot is pretty simple. There are lot's of tutorials in the Knowledge Base on this, here's one https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/1056/import-a-surveyor-dwg-file-for-a-site-plan-or-terrain-perimeter.html

 

Hope this helps - Eric

[decorators3]

Thank you   Eric  much appreciated

[Gawdzira]

Send the project to @Renerabbittand then mark it up. Seriously, this will tank the CA rendering engine. You might be able to do it with converting units to symbols but once you do that changing materials becomes impossible to manage.

[decorators3]

By the way  your web site is amazing

[SHCanada2]

make the house symbols and then put them on a plan with just the roads. I've done one with 14 units and it is fine to render, if that is what they are asking for the render. or are they asking for street view of just one unit or 5. if so that would be even easier.

 

One I sent to rene for a better rendering and he put in nice realistic terrain, but I had setup everything on the plot plan and the house symbols before I sent it to him

I agree with Eric, importing the plot plan is simple. I find the roads with the curves more challenging and time consuming if they only are providing non CAD

[decorators3]

7 hours ago, SHCanada2 said:

make the house symbols and then put them on a plan with just the roads. I've done one with 14 units and it is fine to render, if that is what they are asking for the render. or are they asking for street view of just one unit or 5. if so that would be even easier.

 

One I sent to rene for a better rendering and he put in nice realistic terrain, but I had setup everything on the plot plan and the house symbols before I sent it to him

I agree with Eric, importing the plot plan is simple. I find the roads with the curves more challenging and time consuming if they only are providing non CAD

thanks jason

[robdyck]

One important factor to modelling multiple buildings is to be VERY stingy with your surface count. If you do that and then import your building models, there's a good chance you won't have too many issues. This means adjusting ALL default settings prior to modelling the building to avoid unnecessary surfaces, like drywall, flooring, house wrap, sheathing, interior trim, etc.

 

[decorators3]

2 hours ago, robdyck said:

One important factor to modelling multiple buildings is to be VERY stingy with your surface count. If you do that and then import your building models, there's a good chance you won't have too many issues. This means adjusting ALL default settings prior to modelling the building to avoid unnecessary surfaces, like drywall, flooring, house wrap, sheathing, interior trim, etc.

 

Thanks that makes sense- so glad for this forum!