Multiple views - building a house from top, left, right (etc

mjb11800

Hi!
Here's a question... what in your opnion is the recommended way to go about building a house from multiple views? Before I start and get myself in a mess I thought I'd ask your advice to how you go about this?

For instance, if I start with the floor plan and create all the exterior walls what is the best way to thenmodel the windows and doors from another view? Would I drag the model across in front of the "front" CAD plan, switch to xray mode and then detail in the windows?

Or perhaps model (seperately) the front, rear, left and right side and assemple them all together afterwards?

My other thought (this might be mad mind you) is to assemble the CAD plans into an actual house (ie 4 walls, roof and floor) and then model from there?

ANY advice would be absolutely gratefully recieved - I've just been given my first plan to work with and I'm having a panic!
Huge thanks in advance, Matt.

TIG

There are some very good video tutorials on how to model a building from CAD plans...
Try these for basic CAD import and 3d creation...
1= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtqJh-DUG30
2= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsnT8KN8xIM&
3= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXbyrZnqxOM
There are 134 videos in that series alone - there are others too...
Like these two good ones on elevations/roofs etc:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtE8q9RAl-M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPCEoIcBfcw
So you should be able to find something to help you !

mac1

There are a couple of tutorials in this forum aslo
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=723
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=752&p=79190&hilit=+How+a+pro+builds+a+house+in+Su+pt+2+#p79190

mjb11800

Hello! Can I just say I'm astounded by how quick you kind folks answered! Thank you very much - really appreciate it!!

I'll have a read/watch this evening

I've been handed a nightmare first project for building in sketchup its an old , very large French gothic house with towers, multiple levels, and various roof degree's. Must admit, when I opened that CAD file, I had a genuine OMG moment... and didnt know where to start. I've worked with sketchup on and off over the last few weeks and I feel this is way beyond my skills, but hopefully with these links it'll make my first project a success. In at the deep end and no mistake.

Thanks again!

android no. 12

this is all completely subjective, but here's how I do it:
create the main structure of the house, i.e. walls, ceiling, ground floor, then add the floors, then add the internal walls. I end up using the section plane a lot. This method helps me think about the model as I am making it.
For a bungalow, I would start with the ground floor and just use a floor plan.
in any project I would add underground floors, if needed, after adding the other floors.

You can lookup "Sketchup house timelapse" or "Sketchup house howto" on youtube for good guides, here's one I made: http://tinyurl.com/ytccht1

Jean Lemire

Hi folks.

For a simplified idea, see this SU file.

3D House from 2D plans.skp

mjb11800

Thanks guys, with a lot of trial and error and using the guides you all posted up I manged to get one of the plans done. I started with the floor plan, built all the exterior walls, moved the entire model across (and behind) the left side CAD plan to pull the walls up to the right height. I then traced the windows, doors etc from the left side plan and basically just dragged them across onto the face of my model and push pulled from there. Worked really well
Oh and a tip for Maxwell users or anyone who gets noisy glass after a long render (like me) if you apply digital camera noise removal in photoshop (although I used paintshop) it clears up the glass super-nice!

sonder

Many ways to skin a cat!

Here's what I do:

Draw the floor plan or import it if you use ACAD.
Extrude the walls to the desired height.
Set indidual level (floor plan and walls) as a group and assign its own layer.
Repeat the same for other floors
Draw the roof and repeat the same steps.

That gives you a basic model

I never draw in different scenes. I always draw in 3D and stick to one scene that is labeled "working model" You can name it whatever you like. I keep this scene simple for speed - no shadows or fog. Now you can go in and edit individual floors, adding windows and doors without affecting geometries of the other floors or roof. Just use layer control so you can easily isolate the group you are working on or you risk accidently erasing one of the other groups. The other thing you need to watch is that you are drawing in the correct layer, or verify after you are done.