Archicad
Archicad is a building information modeling (BIM) software application developed by Graphisoft for architects, designers, engineers, and other architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals to create, document, collaborate on, and visualize building projects from conceptual design through to construction phases.[1] First released in 1987 for the Apple Macintosh platform, it pioneered integrated 2D and 3D design capabilities on personal computers and has since evolved into a comprehensive tool supporting Windows and macOS operating systems.[2] Graphisoft, the developer of Archicad, was founded in 1982 in Budapest, Hungary, by a group of mathematicians as one of the country's first private software ventures during the communist era.[3] The company debuted an early version of Archicad at the 1984 Hannover Fair, marking it as one of the earliest true 3D architectural design software solutions for personal computers, and achieved global sales of around 1,000 units by 1988.[2] Since 2007, Graphisoft has operated as a subsidiary of the Nemetschek Group, a German software conglomerate, while maintaining its headquarters in Budapest and serving users in over 100 countries.[4][5] Archicad stands out for its intuitive interface, which facilitates parametric modeling, algorithmic design, and data-rich BIM workflows, enabling users to generate accurate construction documentation automatically from 3D models.[1] It supports open collaboration through standards like IFC for OpenBIM interoperability and integrates with tools such as Rhino, Grasshopper, and Enscape for enhanced visualization and analysis.[6] As of 2025, the latest version, Archicad 29, incorporates AI-powered features for design intelligence and streamlined documentation, reflecting ongoing innovations in sustainable and efficient building design.[7]Overview
Product Description
Archicad is a commercial building information modeling (BIM) and computer-aided design (CAD) software primarily used for architectural design, developed by Graphisoft for both Windows and macOS platforms.[1] It enables architects and designers to create, manage, and visualize building projects through an integrated digital environment that supports the full architectural workflow.[1] The core workflow in Archicad revolves around a unified platform that combines 2D drafting, 3D modeling, visualization, and automated documentation, allowing users to work seamlessly across these dimensions without switching applications.[1] Central to this is the "Virtual Building" concept, where 2D inputs automatically generate a real-time 3D model, facilitating simultaneous design exploration, data management, and consistency across project views. This approach ensures that changes in one view propagate instantly to others, enhancing efficiency and reducing errors in the design process.[1] Archicad serves primary use cases in architectural planning, interior design, and basic structural and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) modeling, accommodating projects from small residential spaces to large-scale commercial buildings.[1][8] For instance, it supports detailed interior layouts with precise furniture and fixture modeling, while integrating MEP elements directly into the architectural model for coordinated multidisciplinary work.[9][8] Regarding system requirements, Archicad demands a minimum of 8 GB RAM, a DirectX 11-compatible graphics card (with Metal support on macOS), and at least 5 GB of free disk space, running on Windows 11 or macOS 14 Sonoma and later.[10] Recommended configurations scale with project complexity, such as 16 GB RAM and 4 GB VRAM for entry-level residential designs, up to 64 GB RAM and 8 GB VRAM for high-end projects like high-rises.[10]Company Background
Graphisoft was founded in 1982 in Budapest, Hungary, by physicist Gábor Bojár and co-founder István Gábor Tari, with an initial team focused on developing innovative software for personal computers during the era of communist Hungary.[11][12] The company's early efforts centered on creating advanced CAD solutions tailored for architects, culminating in the 1987 launch of Archicad, recognized as the first commercial BIM software for personal computers.[13] This pioneering approach positioned Graphisoft as a leader in architectural design technology from its inception. Since 2006, Graphisoft has operated as a subsidiary of the Nemetschek Group, following the acquisition of a majority stake, which has supported its global expansion while maintaining its headquarters in Budapest and subsidiaries and representatives in multiple countries worldwide.[14][3] The company's mission emphasizes democratizing design through open BIM standards, fostering collaborative workflows, and integrating sustainability and AI-driven tools to enhance building performance and environmental responsibility in recent years.[15][16] Graphisoft's achievements include serving over 200,000 users globally with Archicad, reflecting its enduring impact on the AEC industry, and hosting the annual IGNITE conference, a key event for unveiling updates, fostering community collaboration, and showcasing advancements in BIM technology.[3][17]History
Origins and Early Development
The development of Archicad began in 1982 when Gábor Bojár founded Graphisoft in Budapest, Hungary, amid the early liberalization of private enterprises under communist rule. Initially focused on terrain modeling software for microcomputers, the project targeted the Apple Lisa platform to create an integrated architectural design tool accessible on personal computers, rather than expensive mainframe systems.[18][19] The first prototype, known as Radar CH, emerged in 1984 for the Apple Lisa, demonstrating early capabilities in 2D drafting and 3D modeling of building elements. This laid the groundwork for Archicad's core innovation: automatic 3D generation from floor plans, powered by a database-driven approach that treated building components as intelligent objects. Despite the era's hardware constraints—such as limited RAM and processing power on 1980s personal computers—Graphisoft pioneered object-oriented programming concepts to manage complex building data efficiently, enabling seamless 2D/3D integration without manual redrawing.[20][18][21] Archicad's commercial release occurred in 1987 for the Apple Macintosh, introducing the "Virtual Building" paradigm that unified design, documentation, and visualization in a single model. Key features included basic rendering support and printing capabilities, allowing architects to produce photorealistic outputs and construction documents directly from the model. The software quickly gained traction among architectural firms seeking affordable alternatives to proprietary CAD systems, expanding its user base worldwide by the early 1990s. In 1993, Graphisoft released the first Windows version (4.16 for Windows 3.1), broadening accessibility and solidifying Archicad's role in the AEC industry.[19][18][20]Key Milestones and Innovations
In 2003, Archicad version 8.1 introduced significant advancements in 3D modeling, including enhanced direct editing capabilities in the 3D window and improvements to the Geometric Description Language (GDL) scripting for parametric objects, enabling more intuitive manipulation of building elements in three dimensions.[22] These updates marked a shift toward more integrated 3D workflows, allowing architects to refine models without constant switching between 2D and 3D views, which streamlined design iteration and reduced errors in complex geometries.[23] By 2009, the launch of advanced Teamwork features in Archicad 13 revolutionized multi-user collaboration, introducing server-based, on-demand element access that permitted simultaneous editing by distributed teams while minimizing conflicts through delta server technology.[24] This feature transformed Archicad from a single-user tool into a robust platform for real-time project coordination, significantly boosting productivity in large-scale architectural practices and setting a precedent for BIM collaboration standards.[25] In 2014, Graphisoft unveiled BIMcloud with Archicad 18, providing cloud-based project management that extended Teamwork capabilities to remote, scalable environments for global teams, enhancing data security and version control.[26] Concurrently, Archicad achieved full certification for IFC2x3 Coordination View 2.0 export and excelled in the buildingSMART COBie Design and Construction Documents Challenge, solidifying its interoperability with industry standards for openBIM workflows.[27] These developments accelerated adoption in multidisciplinary projects by ensuring seamless data exchange across software ecosystems. The 2007 acquisition of Graphisoft by Nemetschek Group, completed through a majority stake purchase, propelled Archicad's global expansion by integrating it into a larger portfolio of AEC software, fostering cross-product synergies and increased market penetration in Europe and beyond.[5] Entering the 2020s, Archicad emphasized openBIM standards through enhanced IFC support and the deeper integration of sustainability tools, such as EcoDesigner STAR, which became natively embedded in version 26 without requiring separate licensing, allowing architects to perform energy simulations directly within the BIM model.[28] Subsequent releases, including Archicad 27 (2023), 28 (2024), and 29 (2025), have incorporated AI-powered design intelligence, improved collaboration tools, and advanced sustainability analysis, further advancing efficient and eco-friendly building practices as of November 2025.[7] Archicad's innovations have driven its use in high-profile projects, such as the Zaryadye Concert Hall in Moscow, where it facilitated rapid modeling of complex structures like walls and trusses in a three-and-a-half-year timeline.[29] The software has garnered numerous industry accolades, including repeated wins for BIM Product of the Year at the Construction Computing Awards and Best of Show at the AIA Conference on Architecture, underscoring its impact on advancing BIM practices.[30][31]Core Functionality
BIM Modeling Tools
Archicad employs an element-based modeling approach within its BIM workflow, where core building components such as walls, slabs, roofs, and stairs function as intelligent objects that encapsulate both geometric and non-geometric data. Walls, for instance, can be modeled as straight, curved, trapezoidal, or polygonal forms with either basic single-component structures or complex composite assemblies defined by building materials and layers.[32] Slabs serve as horizontal elements for floors, ceilings, or split levels, supporting customizable contours and thicknesses to represent structural and non-structural surfaces.[33] Roofs enable the creation of single-plane, multi-plane, or custom shapes, incorporating pitches, edges, and openings while integrating with underlying structures like walls.[34] Stairs, modeled via dedicated tools, allow for graphical input of treads, risers, and structures, ensuring compliance with building codes through parametric constraints on dimensions and turning types.[35] These elements store non-geometric attributes such as material properties, thermal data, and structural parameters, facilitating integrated design and analysis.[32] A central feature of Archicad's BIM modeling is the automatic generation of diverse model views from a unified 3D model, ensuring consistency across documentation. Floor plans display elements as two-dimensional projections based on a global cut plane, while sections and elevations are dynamically generated by placing markers on the floor plan to slice through the model, revealing internal geometries and relationships.[36] The 3D view renders the full model in real-time, allowing navigation and visualization of spatial interactions. This single-model paradigm means modifications to elements, such as adjusting a wall's height, propagate instantly to all linked views, including how walls automatically update in sections to reflect junctions and intersections.[37] To maintain modeling accuracy, Archicad provides precision tools including dimensioning for measuring distances and angles, snapping mechanisms for aligning elements to grids or existing geometry, and layer management for organizing and controlling visibility of model components.[38] Additionally, built-in collision detection identifies physical intersections or clashes between 3D elements, such as overlapping beams and ducts, generating reports to resolve coordination issues early in the design process.[39] These tools support a prerequisite understanding of building elements, where users must grasp how core components like walls interact dynamically to form coherent structures. For documentation output, Archicad's interactive schedules extract quantities and properties from the model, producing lists of elements with metrics like areas, volumes, and counts filtered by criteria such as layers or materials.[40] These schedules feed into layouts, which compile views, drawings, and annotations into construction documents, enabling automated updates to reflect model changes and supporting quantity takeoffs for cost estimation.[41] Parametric enhancements, such as custom object scripting, can extend these core tools for more specialized modeling needs.[1]2D and 3D Design Capabilities
Archicad provides a suite of 2D drafting tools essential for creating precise floor plans and technical drawings. The Line tool allows users to draw straight lines with customizable pens, layers, and hotspots for snapping, while the Arc/Circle tool enables the creation of curved elements using center-radius or three-point methods for accuracy. Fills and hatches are applied via the Fill tool, which supports uniform, gradient, or vectorial patterns to represent materials like concrete or wood, with options for cut fills in sections and cover fills in elevations. Dimensions are editable using the Dimension tool, which automatically updates with model changes and supports linear, angular, and radial measurements, and annotations are added through the Label tool for attaching descriptive text to elements.[42][43] In 3D, Archicad's Morph tool facilitates freeform modeling by allowing users to create and edit organic shapes without importing external geometry, starting from basic forms like prisms or spheres and refining them through push-pull extrusion, edge dragging, or revolving profiles. Real-time navigation in the 3D window supports orbit for rotational viewing, pan for horizontal/vertical movement, and zoom for scaling, accessible via mouse controls, keyboard shortcuts, or the Explore Model command for immersive walkthroughs. Section and elevation cuts are generated dynamically using the Section tool, which slices the model to produce 2D projections from 3D solids, with editable views switching seamlessly between projection modes.[44][45][46] Visualization features include an integrated physically based rendering engine that simulates realistic lighting and materials directly in the 3D view, with options for soft shadows and ambient occlusion without separate rendering steps. Sunlight simulation is achieved through Sun Study tools, which animate solar paths based on geographic location and time to assess shadows and daylighting over a defined period. Archicad's material libraries offer extensive predefined surfaces with textures, reflectivity, and transparency settings, applicable to all 3D elements for photorealistic outputs using engines like Cineware or Redshift.[47][48][49] Editing modes allow fluid transitions between 2D plan views and 3D solid manipulation, where changes in one propagate to the other via the BIM model. Performance optimizations include Graphic Overrides, which apply rule-based visual styles—such as color-coding by element type or layer—to streamline display in large models, reducing visual clutter without altering geometry. VR walkthrough support is provided through BIMx, enabling immersive navigation of the 3D model on compatible headsets like Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, with synchronized updates from Archicad views.[50][51]Advanced Features
Parametric Objects and Scripting
Parametric objects in Archicad are defined using the Geometric Description Language (GDL), a proprietary scripting language developed by Graphisoft that enables architects and designers to create customizable building elements without modifying core software tools.[52] GDL, which is based on BASIC and has evolved since 1983, allows for the generation of library parts such as doors, windows, and furniture that respond dynamically to project parameters like dimensions, materials, and contextual elements.[52] These objects are stored as external files in Archicad's library system, ensuring they can be reused across projects via master templates or loaded libraries, promoting consistency in design standards.[53] Library parts leverage GDL's parametric capabilities to adapt intelligently to the building model; for instance, doors and windows automatically adjust their reveals, sills, and frames to match the host wall's thickness and composition, using built-in parameters such asWALL_THICKNESS and WALLHOLE_DEPTH.[54] This adaptability is achieved through parameter-driven scripts that link object geometry to environmental data, allowing users to configure instances via the Object Settings dialog without altering the source file.[53] Master templates facilitate reuse by embedding pre-configured GDL objects into project setups, enabling firms to standardize elements like custom furniture across multiple designs.[55]
The GDL scripting process involves three primary script types executed in sequence for each object instance. Parameter scripts define and initialize user-editable values, such as door width or material type, using commands like PARAMETERS and VALUES to set defaults and ranges.[55] 2D scripts generate plan-view representations with primitives like LINE, ARC, and CIRCLE, often referencing binary data via FRAGMENT2 for efficiency.[55] 3D scripts construct the model's geometry using solids such as BLOCK, PRISM, and CYLINDER, combined with transformations like ADDX for positioning and ROTy for rotation.[55]
A representative example is a parametric staircase generator, where the 3D script employs a FOR-NEXT loop to iterate PRISM commands based on parameters for step count, height, and tread depth, creating adaptive structures that scale with floor-to-floor dimensions.[55] The master script, executed first, handles shared calculations across all scripts, such as deriving complex values from parameters to minimize redundancy.[55]
Objects are placed and managed using Archicad's Object Tool, which accesses the library via the Navigator palette, allowing drag-and-drop insertion into the model.[56] Editing occurs through the GDL Object Editor, opened from the selected instance, where users can subclass objects by creating subtypes or favorites with preset parameters for quick reuse.[57] The Object Master Window provides a unified interface for modifying parameters, scripts, and components in one environment.[58]
Complex GDL scripts can introduce computational overhead, particularly in large models where repeated calculations or intricate loops slow rendering and navigation.[59] Best practices include calculating values once and storing them in variables or the transformation stack, avoiding redundant operations in loops, and limiting binary data usage to optimize performance.[59] For API extensions, GDL can interface with custom add-ons to enhance scripting flexibility, though this is typically handled in broader customization workflows.[55]