Feature
Graphisoft Building Together Following the release of Archicad 25, Graphisoft aired over 30 talks in an online event, covering technology, case studies and the experiences and views of architects on today’s hot topics, writes Martyn Day
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hile many of us have now be viewed on-demand. All talks can been forced to work from be filtered into five groups: Keynote, Trend home over the last 18 Talk, Designed with Archicad, Roundtable months, the global BIM and Archicad 25 what’s new? conference season didn’t miss a beat and For this article we’ve chosen a talk from simply went online. each section but there’s a lot of other good Some of last year’s events had a feeling stuff. Irrespective of which BIM tool you of being held together by bubble gum, but use, the ‘Designed with Archicad’ section this year the industry raised its game and is by far the richest and features customvirtual events have looked a lot slicker, less ers talking about projects from all over time consuming and benefitted from being the world – USA, Croatia, Holland, Italy, planned for the medium. Hong Kong and Norway. In September, fresh after Keynote: Cradle to cradle as the launch of Archicad 25, Getting Dr. an opportunity in the conGraphisoft held its ‘Building Michael struction industry Together’ conference over Braungart as a Graphisoft headlined with a three days, for a few hours each day. Historically, speaker was a fantastic talk from Dr. Graphisoft ran something it coup and he did Michael Braungart. In the called its Key Customer of sustainable design, not disappoint. world Conference, a rather excluthere is one key handbook — It’s worth sive invite-only, physical Cradle to Cradle: Remaking event which moved around registering just the Way We Make Things by the world. Going online William (Bill) McDonough for his 30 means that Building and Dr. Michael Braungart. minute talk Together can be seen by all, Published in 2002 the alone. I for free, and now on book’s message of upcycling demand. The only downside guarantee you’ll is all about keeping materiis there’s no free beer. in closed-loop industrial have a different als Software companies can cycles. perspective on spoil their events by making We are massive fans of the talks all about their architect McDonough and the material products. Sometimes it feels his efforts to educate the impact of like a never-ending sales world on eco-friendly buildings pitch. I’m glad to say that design. His TED talk on Graphisoft established a ‘What would buildings and really healthy balance products look like if designbetween Archicad technical sessions, ers took into account all children, all specase studies and round table discussions, cies, for all time?’ is an absolute classic and gave space for people within practice (tinyurl.com/TED-McDonough) to discuss some hot topics and provide McDonough partnered with German food for thought on some of the issues we chemist, Braungart, who had defined face — not just as an industry, but as a ‘lifecycle development’ in the 1980s to species. The underlying theme for this formulate sustainable materials and proyear’s event was sustainability. cesses. In this talk and following Q&A, There were 30+ talks, all of which can Dr Braungart does not hold back on what
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he thinks! Highly informative stuff. ■ tinyurl.com/GR-Braungart
Trend talk: Hiring the next generation of architects - Graphisoft’s global recruitment survey Graphisoft’s manager of global education, Szabolcs Mikó, gave an interesting talk on the results from the company’s research into the challenges of hiring new talent. How do they choose their new hires? What are they looking for? Does software knowledge really matter, or is it more about the architectural portfolio? How do new architects get their training? Mikó also gave an insight into Graphisoft’s strategy for Archicad education and how it is supporting students. ■ tinyurl.com/GR-NEXTGEN
Designed with Archicad: hypercars Marko Dabrovic of Croatian architectural practice 3LHD gave a fantastic talk on what probably is the country’s most interesting project and client. Top Gear fans may be very aware of a company called Rimac; it makes the fastest electric supercar on the planet. In 2017, presenter Richard Hammond spectacularly crashed the one and only development car, the Concept One. Founder Mate Rimac is the Croatian equivalent of Elon Musk. While he produces the occasional supercar, his core business is in supplying batteries to the high-end and automotive manufacturers. 3LHD got the job of designing the Rimac Hypercar facility, which included a test track, factory, office buildings and extensive landscaping, with sheep and geese. Rimac is a vegetarian; he was very keen that his employees have a canteen which looks out onto grazing animals, so they can ponder the meat they are eating! Certainly worth a watch. ■ tinyurl.com/GR-designed
www.AECmag.com
05/10/2021 15:57
